Wood burning is known as one of the major sources of particulate matter in outdoor air, especially in residential areas where many stoves and fireplaces are in use. According to the RIVM, wood burning is a significant source of particulate matter in the Netherlands, and that particulate matter largely consists of the smallest particles (PM2.5). It is less well known that a wood-burning stove can also affect air quality inside your own home, at times when smoke enters the room instead of going up the chimney.
When does smoke enter the room?
In a well-functioning, well-maintained stove with dry wood, the smoke largely stays in the stove and goes outside via the chimney. However, there are a few moments when particulate matter and smoke can still enter the room: when opening the door to add wood, when lighting the fire while the chimney is still cold, and during incomplete combustion due to damp or overly large wood. On its page regarding the health effects of wood smoke, the RIVM describes that the elderly, children, and people with respiratory or heart conditions are particularly sensitive to this particulate matter.
Damp wood is a major cause
Wood that is not properly dried (with a moisture content above approximately 20 percent) burns less cleanly. This creates more smoke and soot, and the chance of smoke entering the room when opening the door is greater. Well-dried, split wood that has been stored for at least a year burns much cleaner.
Maintenance makes a difference
A chimney that is not swept regularly does not draw as well, which increases the chance of smoke in the room. Also, a stove with a worn door seal or a broken gasket can allow smoke to escape that should really remain inside the stove.
Practical tips
If you have young children at home, also read the advice from the Lung Foundation (Longfonds) about healthy air for children, in which wood smoke is explicitly mentioned. Furthermore, these tips help:
- Only burn well-dried wood, preferably stored for at least a year under a dry, ventilated shelter.
- Have the chimney swept and inspected annually.
- Open the stove door slowly and not too often; it is better to add wood less frequently rather than opening the door constantly.
- Ventilate the room briefly after adding wood, especially if smoke has been released.
- When replacing your stove, choose one that meets current emission standards.
If you notice that the air in the room with the wood stove often feels a bit heavier, an air purifier with a HEPA filter can help remove particulate matter that has been released from the air. Our recommendation is the Dynter AirPure Plus PA244, which features a HEPA13 filter that, according to the specifications, filters 99.97 percent of particulate matter from the air. More information can be found at dynter.eu.