I know I’ve smelled it around my neighborhood-the first smells of wood smoke have begun to fill the air, indicating we are heading into the official heating season. While it smells great to most of us, it can have a very harmful impact on our indoor air quality. Keep in mind that smoke is a mixture of both tiny particles and gases produced when the wood burns. The finer particles can make their way into your eyes or lungs, where they can prove aggravating to pre-existing conditions, such as lung disease, asthma, and bronchitis.
Some simple steps can be taken to help minimize wood smoke inside your home, and ultimately protect your health. For example, use only seasoned wood for burning. These sound hollow when you “smack it” against another piece of wood, look darker, and has cracks at the ends. Also-and I’m guilty of this one-only use newspaper and dry kindling to start a fire. Never use gasoline, kerosene, charcoal starter or propane to get the fire roaring. Speaking of roaring, that’s the goal: be sure to build a hot fire. These are more efficient, and ultimately safer, then smoldering fires. And lastly, don’t burn materials that can release harmful chemicals, such as: garbage, cardboard, coated or painted wood, particle board, plywood, or wood with glue on it.
Regardless of how often you burn wood in your home, even if only occasionally, it is strongly recommended that you install a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector. If you already have them, be sure to check the batteries and test them at least a few times a year, if not more frequently. If you are a frequent viewer of “Weekend Today in CNY”, you’ll probably remember Gordon Kotars of the Taunton fire department. Representing the “Fire Fighters Association of the State of NY”, Gordon reminds us twice a year to check our smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
So stay warm, and most importantly stay safe this heating season!
