Document g2x466opwyppe9dKzn5DNKgxQ

2/10/2017 Menu Burn W ise Best Burn Practices | Burn W ise | US EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Search EPA.gov Burn Wise Share Contact Us Burn Wise Best Burn Practices Properly installed, correctly used wood-burning appliances should be smoke free. If you see or smell smoke, you may have a problem. Reduce smoke inside and outside your home using the steps below: Building a Fire Safe Practices Money-saving Tips Building a Fire An efficient fire requires good firewood, using the right wood in the right amount, and good fire building technique. Get the best efficiency from your wood stove or fireplace using the following steps: Season wood for at least 6 months. Store wood outdoors, off the ground, with the top covered. Dry Seasoned Wood https://w w w .e p a .g o v/bu m w ise /b u m -w ise -b e st-b um -p ra ctice s 1/5 2/10/2017 Burn W ise Best Burn Practices | Burn W ise | US EPA Burn only dry, split, well-seasoned wood. Properly seasoned wood is darker, weighs less, and sounds hollow when hit against another piece of wood. Build a M odular Wood Shed Plans and Materials List (PDF) Wood burns best at a moisture content of less than 20 percent. Test wood with a wood moisture meter before you burn it. Start fires with newspaper, dry kindling, or all natural fire starters, or install a natural gas or propane log lighter in your open fireplace. Buy and burn locally cut firewood to decrease the risk of transporting invasive forest pests to your property. Learn more from the D on't Move Firewood campaign. Safe W ood-burning Practices When using your wood burning appliance, follow these guidelines for safe operation: Keep flammable items, like curtains, furniture, newspapers, and books, away from your Smoke Alarms Each year, about 3,000 people die in residential fires in the U.S. mainly from smoke inhalation. A properly installed and maintained smoke alarm is one of the best and cheapest ways to be warned early of a potentially deadly fire. appliance. https://w w w .e p a .g o v/bu m w ise /b u m -w ise -b e st-b um -p ra ctice s 2/5 2/10/2017 Burn W ise Best Burn Practices | Burn W ise | US EPA Only use newspaper, dry kindling and all-natural or organic fire starters. Never start a fire with gasoline, kerosene, or charcoal starter. Do not burn wet or green (unseasoned) wood. Many wax and sawdust logs are made for open hearth fireplaces only. Check your wood stove or fireplace insert operating instructions before using artificial logs. If you use manufactured logs, choose those made from 100 percent compressed sawdust. Build hot fires. For most appliances, a smoldering fire is not safe or efficient. Keep the doors of your wood-burning appliance closed unless loading or stoking the live fire. Harmful chemicals, like carbon monoxide, can be released into your home. Carbon Monoxide Detectors Smoke from wood that is not burned completely contains a number of chemicals, including carbon monoxide (CO). More than 150 people die annually from CO poisoning related to the use of home heating appliances. CO is odorless and colorless. If you use a wood stove or fireplace, install a digital CO detector, which sounds an alarm when CO levels increase. Protect Your Family and Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Regularly remove ashes into a covered, metal container. Store the container outdoors on a nonflammable surface. Keep a fire extinguisher handy. Check your local air quality forecast before you burn. W hat Not to Burn These can materials release toxic or harmful chemicals when burned, and may damage your appliance: Household trash, including cardboard, plastics, foam and the colored ink on magazines, boxes, and wrappers Coated, painted, and pressure-treated wood Ocean driftwood, plywood, particle board, or any wood with glue on or in it Wet, rotted, diseased, or moldy wood Plastic, asbestos, rubber, manure and animal remains Money Saving Tips Improve the insulation in your home to reduce overall heating needs and heating bills. Caulk around windows, doors, and pipes to seal air gaps and add weather stripping to doors and windows. Check out EPA's ENERGY STAR Home Improvement for additional tips. https://w w w .e p a .g o v/bu m w ise /b u m -w ise -b e st-b um -p ra ctice s 3/5 2/10/2017 Burn W ise Best Burn Practices | Burn W ise | US EPA Find local tree cutters who will deliver wood to your home. They save on landfill dumping fees, reducing landfill use, and you may end up with discounted firewood. Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem. Burn Wise Home What You Can Do Where You Live Consumers Types of Appliances Choosing Wood Burning Appliances Best Burn Practices Health Effects Energy Efficiency Installation and Maintenance Frequently Asked Questions Partners Agencies Publications Additional Resources Discover. Accessibility EPA Administrator Budget & Performance https://www.epa.gov/bumwise/burn-wise-best-bum-practices 4/5 2/10/2017 Contracting Burn W ise Best Burn Practices | Burn W ise | US EPA Grants No FEAR Act Data Privacy and Security Connect. Data.gov Inspector General Jobs Newsroom Open Government Regulations.gov Subscribe USA.gov White House Ask. Contact Us Hotlines FOIA Requests Frequent Questions Follow. LAST UPDATED ON FEBRUARY 8, 2017 https://w w w .e p a .g o v/bu m w ise /b u m -w ise -b e st-b um -p ra ctice s 5/5