Wood Stove Exchange and Wood Storage Tips Aimed at Improving Air Quality
Thursday, January 17, 2013 @ 3:58 AM
Prince George, B.C.- The Wood Stove exchange program has chalked up another successful season with 50 of the available 55 vouchers issued for a $500 rebate to those who traded in their old wood stove for a new efficient natural gas, pellet or emission controlled model.
In addition to the woodstove exchange program, P.G. Air conducted a pilot project to assist folks in achieving improved firewood drying and storage practices.
In all, about 2,000 homes were visited and about 100 surveys completed. “ It was really just to inform people about the optimum moisture range for the wood they are burning” says Terry Robert, Executive Director of the Prince George Air Improvement Roundtable (PG AIR).
The manner in which firewood was being stored was examined, tips on how to properly season the wood, and in some cases, tarps and moisture meters, were handed out.
Program coordinator, Tiffany Bonnett says the proper moisture level should be in the 15-25% range. “With a high efficiency wood stove, and proper moisture content of wood, a home owner could reduce their cordwood use by 1/3.” It is also estimated that properly seasoned wood in a high efficiency woodstove reduces fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions by about 62 kgs a year.
Robert says the surveys show that many people weren’t aware of the impact moisture content could have on the efficiency of their wood stove, its impact on the environment or that there is a bylaw in the city which calls for only properly seasoned wood to be used in a wood stove. Robert says he knows of one homeowner who now makes the search for proper moisture levels part of his annual wood gathering chore “He is using the moisture meter to check the moisture content of logs, and only takes those that have the lowest readings.”
It is difficult to say if the woodstove exchange program and wood moisture content study are having a positive impact on the airshed. Robert says that can only be known if there is a significant improvement in the quality of ambient air.
Comments
We put in a pellet stove about 8 years ago. What we have notice is that the pellets do not burn as clean as they used to. There seems to be moisture in some bags where retailers store them outside. Is anyone else having this problem?
Hey this is probably an idea that the recent air quality pepole came up with. this is great idea I am sure this wil improve our air quality.lol
Cheers
“It is difficult to say if the woodstove exchange program and wood moisture content study are having a positive impact on the airshed”
What a bunch of BS.
It has an effect on reducing the effect on a nighbouring house or two on days when there is not enough venting and a local inversion wafts the emissions to the adjacent houses and there is someone ther to breathe it in.
As far as the total air shed goes, I defy any scientist that has expertise in this area to show that is has any meaningful effect. I would love to see that argument made.
It is on the first basis that I think this program has some validity, not on total air shed impact and subsequent impact on the the health of the total population..
Those of us in neighboring houses really do appreciate it when our neighbors burn properly. Asthmatics really appreciate it!
Remember the study commissioned by city hall and done by a California company that stated 1 in 4 homes in PG used wood for heat. Council sure swept that under the carpet in a hurry.
So moisture content 15 -25%. Is that wet basis or dry basis. There is a big difference.
so 50 woodstoves were replaced – are these 50 that the people would have replaced anyway and we are just handing out $500 for fun or were these replacements driven by the program?
The high efficiency woodstoves may help but will not solve the problem, as for them to be as emmission-free as possible various optimal conditions must be met. It can be quite surprising to see (and smell) just how much smoke can come from them. It is interesting to read that there are communities in Canada which are looking at banning all wood burning appliances, including the so-called high efficiency ones.
I really want one of those new stoves and would probably go for the trade except that I want my old stove for the cabin at the lake. I paid 450 dollars for my old stove in 1974 (it’s a fisher) 400 lbs of 3/8″ metal and cast iron doors and brick lined. There is no way I am giving my stove up for their measly 500 bucks. When I can afford a new stove, I’ll just go buy one. Bet I can get a good deal in July.
I have to say; there is no heat in that beetle killed pine. It,s too dry. For good heat you need some pitch in the wood. The birch I hauled in June is now perfect for burning and I’m quite convinced that a new stove would make it 50% better.
I agree Big Bore – out at the cabin we have an unlimited supply of beetle kill and it makes almost no heat at all. On the same note, it makes almost no smoke at all too LOL. It just goes PHOOOOM!
Where do you get one of those moisture meters?
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