Burning wood is no longer the most efficient way to heat your home, thanks to high-efficiency home-heating systems.
If you still heat your home with wood, be sure to follow proper burning practices that will help you use less wood, save money and prevent excessive smoke so that everyone can enjoy better health.
In order to prevent health issues and nuisance, it is recommended to avoid the use of indoor open-hearth fireplaces and grandfathered uncertified wood appliances when the air quality conditions are poor.
Wood heating best practices
In the Central Okanagan, 30% of air pollution comes from residential wood burning. Wood smoke contains small particles (PM2.5) and chemicals that can be harmful to your health and the local air quality in your community. If you use wood for heating your home or for entertainment/ambient purposes, it is your responsibility to burn wisely.
Scientific and medical research proves that wood smoke contains toxic chemicals that are harmful to human health.
Wood smoke contains small particles (PM2.5) and chemicals that can be harmful to your health, particularly for those with respiratory conditions
Particulate matter (PM2.5) was classified as carcinogenic to humans in 2013. Research studies prove links between short and long-term exposure to PM2.5 and decreased cardiovascular health and morbidity; additional studies have also drawn links to atherosclerosis, adverse birth outcomes and childhood respiratory disease
Burning wet or moist wood is dangerous to your health since it produces more smoke
Small particles and pollutants in wood smoke can trigger asthma attacks
Exposure to wood smoke can cause watery eyes, stuffy noses and chest tightness. Everyone may experience symptoms but children and seniors are especially vulnerable
Research has shown that there is no threshold below which smoke has no health effects. This means it is important to minimize the amount of smoke produced and humans' exposure to it
Please consider your and your neighbours health when you burn
Highly visible smoke from your chimney is a sign that you may be operating your stove incorrectly.
Myths and facts about wood smoke
Myth - Wood smoke is not harmful
Fact
The negative health effects of wood smoke have been extensively documented in hundreds of scientific studies. Pollution generated by wood burning is associated with an array of health problems – from a runny nose and coughing, to bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, pneumonia, contributing to premature death.
Myth - “I can just shut my windows and I'll be fine.”
Fact
Smoke contains tiny particles that are carcinogenic to humans. The fine particle pollutants from wood burning are so small that they infiltrate even the most well-insulated and weather-stripped homes. Studies show that particle pollution levels inside homes reach up to 70% of the outdoor pollution levels.
Myth – Pollution from wood burning is not significant enough to affect air quality
Fact
In the Central Okanagan, 30% of air pollution comes from residential wood burning appliances and another 8% from open burning overall. 38% is a significant amount of air pollution that we can play a role in reducing!
Myth – Wood is more cost effective than other fuels
Fact
Depending on your house's characteristics, there are other inexpensive options like natural gas. Fireplaces are inefficient; residents would have to burn more wood to heat their homes using a fireplace than using a wood appliance. If you must choose wood burning as your source of heating for your home, the EPA-certified wood burning appliances heat more efficiently, using about 1/3 less wood and creating 90% less smoke.
Myth – Wood burning fireplaces are a safe way to heat homes
Fact
Wood burning appliances are safe only when used properly. In 2007, Fire Losses in Canada reported 131 fires in BC that were related to wood heating.
Why the moisture content of wood is important
Burning wet wood is a waste of energy. When a live tree is cut, the moisture content can be greater than 50% (half of the weight is water). Therefore, it is best to let freshly cut wood sit for at least 6 months to dry before burning it.
In the Central Okanagan, the moisture content of the wood is required to be under 20%, preferably around 15%. Burning seasoned wood helps reduce air pollution, saves time and money.
(Check with local hardware retailers for the availability of wood moisture metre measuring devices.)
Wood heating troubleshooting
If you need assistance with your wood stove, check out this wood stove troubleshooting guide. It may have the answer you're looking for.
Troubleshooting information for wood stoves and fireplace inserts
Community wood smoke reduction program
Since 2001, the Central Okanagan has offered a Community Wood Smoke Reduction Program (CWSRP) - formerly Wood Stove Exchange Program (WSEP) - in partnership with the Ministry of the Environment to encourage citizens to exchange their old wood stove for an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified product to prevent air pollution in the region.
This effort has seen more than 1,900 Okanagan residents exchange their old, non-EPA certified wood stoves for new technology products. This has prevented 175 tonnes of particulate matter from polluting our air each year (based on BC Ministry of Environment reduction estimates).
Please note: effective January 1, 2023 exchanges from wood stoves to natural gas or propane-fired appliances will no longer be supported. This change aligns the program with the climate targets in the Clean BC Roadmap to 2030. Check for available rebates at Fortis BC or BC Hydro.
Options for exchanges under the CWSRP include:
Electric heat pumps (also eligible for additional Clean BC incentives)
Emissions certified pellet stoves and fireplaces
Emissions certified wood stoves
Electric fireplace inserts
Why exchange your wood stove?
Old wood burning appliances burn inefficiently and create more air pollution than new appliances
Helps reduce air pollutants in the home
Helps people with asthma or with other respiratory issues breathe better
CWSRP incentives for 2023
Incentives are available to residents living in the Central Okanagan.
The total rebate will never be more than the cost of the appliance.
Purchase invoice date must be between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023.
The incentive is per stove and limited to one stove per household.
The removed wood appliance must be demolished, disabled, or recycled to claim the incentive.
Exchange type from uncertified wood to:
Central Okanagan communities
Westbank First Nation members
Bounty- no exchange needed
New electric insert
$400
$400
$300
EPA1 wood stove
$500
$1,000
Pellet stove
$750
$1,500
Heat pump2
$1,000
$2,000
OWB to EPA1 OWB
$350
OWB to Pellet Boiler
$750
OWB to Heat Pump
$1,500
1 To be eligible for a rebate, the new wood stoves and Outdoor Wood Boilers (OWB) should be emission certified and must meet the following emission limits and legislated setbacks:
Wood stoves - the emission limit is 2.0 g/h (crib wood) or 2.5g/h (cord wood)
OWB - the emission limits for EPA 2020 Residential Hydronic Heaters is, 0.10 lb/mmbtu heat output for each individual burn rate (crib wood) or 0.15 lb/mmBtu heat output for each individual burn rate (cord wood) and meet the legislated setbacks:
OWB must meet legislated setbacks to provincial regulations the OWB should be installed not less than 40 m from each parcel’s boundaries. If the boiler uses pelletized fuel then must be installed not less than 10 m from each of the parcel’s boundaries.
2 For uncertified wood stove to heat pump exchanges, an additional $300 incentive may be offered if the wood stove is removed and demolished.
Okanagan Rockworld 2695 Kyle Rd., West Kelowna Website
The Fireplace Den 3-1753 Dolphin Ave., Kelowna Website
White's Barbeque and Fireplace Centre 160-2000 Spall Rd., Kelowna Website
Steps to exchange your old wood stove
Contact your home insurance company before you replace your old wood burning appliance to learn if you can save on home insurance. They’ll let you know if the stove will qualify as a secondary heat source, and whether there are any additional requirements (such as WETT inspection).
According to Bylaw 773 and other local bylaws within the Central Okanagan, if you would like to install a wood burning appliance it must beEPA 2020 orCAN/CSA B415.1 certified.
As of September 15, 2021 to obtain the incentive in the Central Okanagan, the new woodstoves and outdoor wood boilers should be emission certified and meet the stringent emission limits and legislated setbacks:
For Woodstoves- the emission limit is 2.0 g/h (crib wood) or 2.5g/h (cord wood).
For Outdoor Wood Boilers (OWB) – the emission limit is 0.10 lb/mmbtu heat output for each individual burn rate (crib wood), 0.15 lb/mmBtu heat output for each individual burn rate (cord wood) and meet the legislated setbacks:
According to provincial regulations the OWB should be installed not less than 40 meters from each parcel’s boundaries. If the boiler uses pelletized fuel then must be installed not less than 10 m from each of the parcel’s boundaries
Please confirm the EPA 2020 certification in the following databases:
Search: Room Heaters for wood stoves and pellet stoves
Search: Central Heaters for forced-air furnaces and hydronic heaters (otherwise known as outdoor wood boilers)
There is no online database for CAN/CSA B415.1 certified appliances. The user manual specifies the attained certification which must be CSA B415.1 and no other CSA or UL numbers. For the WSEP incentive, stringent emission limits apply.
Electric heat pumps should meet the criteria for BC's Home Renovation Rebate and Clean BC Better Homes program.
Recycle your old wood stove (retailers can help you with the recycling paperwork or provide related information). To destroy a stove:
An online rebate application has been setup. The application could be sent by retailers or residents. Before applying, please verify the following requirements:
The following files are required to complete the online application:
The invoice of the NEW certified appliance (same full name and installation address of the applicant).
Recycling receipt of the OLD removed appliance (same full name and installation address of the applicant).
If the NEW appliance uses wood as fuel (wood or pellets), the appliance should meet the stringent emission limits (EPA 2020) and residents should complete the Mandatory BC Wood Smoke Education Course: a proof of completion is required:
Instructions to get the course’s proof of completion: When you finish the course (all quizzes) right after the section “When not to burn” Click “Print Results”, add the applicant’s Name, right-click, “Print” and save the file as “Results applicant’s name.pdf”. Attach this file to your online application.
If the NEW appliance uses other fuel (electric) the BC Wood Smoke Education course is NOT mandatory.
Have the building permit number and the user manual of your new appliance ready to get the following information: brand, model, emission limits for woodstoves (g/h) or for boilers (lb/mmBtu).
Every participant applying for a WSRP rebate should complete a mandatory short “WSRP Participant’s Survey” to track the BC program’s results. Proof of completion is required:
Instructions to get the Survey proof of completion - when you finish the survey click 'Print or Get PDF of answers'. Save file as WSRP Participant Survey - (insert Applicant name.pdf). Attach this file to your online application.
Westbank First Nation members applying could receive an increased incentive if:
The installation address is within Westbank First Nation reserves #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12 -Check the RDCO map
Attach Status Card image/pdf to the application
To apply for the rebate, please fill out this online Rebate Woodstove Application form
If all required and complete information is received, air quality will process the rebate application and the client will receive the cheque directly to their mailing address in about 4 to 5 weeks.
Video resources
Watch these wood burning videos for great advice on getting the most out of your wood burning appliance.
Introduction to wood stoves
Safety and maintenance information for wood stoves and fireplace inserts
Wood smoke: tips for a cleaner burn
Five rules to follow for an efficient fire
How to buy, split and store wood
How to burn wise with an EPA catalytic stove
How to burn wise with an EPA non-catalytic stove
Troubleshooting information for wood stoves and fireplace inserts
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