March 24, 2009
COLDSTREAM, BC - lt's that time of year again; time to change out your old wood stove for a
new efficient model! With great incentives being offered and an opportunity to improve air quality
and your heating efficiency, it truly does pay to change out your wood heating appliances.
The Great Okanagan and Similkameen Wood Stove Change Out Program runs through to April
30, 2009. This program gives North Okanagan consumers changing out their old technology
wood stoves an opportunity to replace them with new EPA/CSA emission approved wood, gas,
pellet or electric appliances. The first 75 change outs will be given a $250 cash rebate from the
Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) program. Dealers in the area are also giving
purchase discounts of $150 off the suggested retail price depending on the make and model of
the stove.
ln addition, the LiveSmart BC program offers federal and provincial rebates when you do
upgrades to your home; those upgrades include your wood heating appliances. Coupled with the
recently announced Federal Home Renovation Tax Credit, this is a good time to consider
changing over your old wood heating appliances.
The goal of the Great Okanagan Wood Stove Change Out Program is to encourage homeowners
to trade in uncertified, dirty-burning wood stoves and replace them with new, EPA and CSA
certified, clean burning appliances. Retailers have documentation that shows the emission
ratings of all the new stoves. With today's new technology, they can burn up to g0% cleaner than
old wood heating appliances. The changed out stoves are then recycled, not resold.
It's not just the new stoves that help you burn more efficiently, it's also HOW and WHAT you
burn. An easy way to check if your wood appliance is working properly is to go outside and check
your chimney. lf smoke is pouring out - you aren't burning efficiently. The wood may be too wet,
the appliance may be too big for the home, the chimney may not be working properly, the size of
the wood may hinder efficient burning or the box may have been loaded incorrectly.
Nicole Marzinzik, Air Quality Coordinator for the RDNO, has this advice. "lf there is continual
smoke coming from your chimney, then something is wrong. lt is possible to burn throughout the
day and night without smoke." Should you be unable to discover the source of your smoke,
Marzinzik says wood heating retailers are happy to help.
Additionally, the RDNO will be hosting a Burn Smart workshop on Thursday April 2, 2009 at the
Okanagan Science Centre. Wood heat specialists will be on hand to demonstrate how to
properly install, maintain and operate a wood heat system and will teach participants why wood
smoke could be a sign of a potential safety hazard. The free Burn Smart workshop starts at 6:00
PM with an outdoor demonstration followed by the indoor workshop at 7:00 PM.
More information on the Great Okanagan Similkameen Wood Stove Change Out Program and
the Home lmprovement lncentive Program can be obtained from these participating retailers:
Applewood Heating and Air Conditioning, D and B Home Fires, Greenwood Energy Services,
Home Building Centre, OK Builders Supply, Shepherd's Home Hardware, and Vernon Stone
Products.
The 'Great Okanagan Wood Stove Change Out' is a clean air program of the Central, North and
Okanagan-Similkameen Regional Districts. For more information and program details visit
www.rdno.ca.
For more information:
Nicole Marzinzik
Air Quality Coordinator
250-550-3773
Karmen Peace, B.Sc.
Waste Reduction Coordinator
250-550-3743
Additional lnformation:
To Minimize Pollution from your wood burning appliance please follow these simple steps:
- Firewood should be seasoned by splitting and stacking it at least eight months before it is
burned. Your woodpile should be covered in a way that keeps rain and snow off but
allows air to circulate through it. Dry seasoned wood burns best!
- Burn only clean, dry wood in your wood stove. Never burn green, wet, painted or treated
wood including plywood, pressboard, railway ties or utility poles. Never burn household
garbage in your wood stove or fireplace!
- Burn only small bright fires. Start the fire using small pieces of wood kindling, and keep
the fire moderately hot, adding larger pieces of split wood as required. Do not damper
down the fire too much, as this will produce a smoky, oxygen-starved fire.
- Watch for signs of incomplete burning such as visible smoke coming from your chimney
or long, lazy flames in the firebox. When you see these signs, more air is needed to
improve your fire. You must open the dampers to allow additional air into the stove.
- Don't burn on fair or poor air-quality days. Your wood smoke will add significantly to the
problem, particularly on days of atmospheric inversions and still winds.
- Buy the right stoves for your needs. The most common mistake is choosing a stove too
large for the area to be heated. A stove that is too large for your home will have to be
dampered down to maintain a comfortable temperature, thus creating smoke and
increasing air pollution.
- Don't burn in moderate temperatures. Save your wood for cold days. When you do use
your wood stove or fireplace, keep the fire small and bright and only burn clean, dry
wood.
- Don't damper down your fire, as this will produce a smoky, oxygen-starved fire. Ensure
that you follow the manufacturer's instructions for the safe operation and maintenance of
your particular stove. Check your chimney frequently for creosote build up; a common
cause of house fires.
