Tips to limit air pollution from wood-burning heaters

27 May 2025

As the weather turns cold, Hawkesbury City Council is sharing the Environment Protection Authority’s tips for using wood-burning heaters correctly to reduce airborne pollution.

Woodsmoke can cause breathing difficulties, especially for people suffering from existing respiratory conditions, such as asthmatics, and for very young children and frail older people. There is also evidence that smoke pollution can cause cardiac problems.

Unfortunately, Hawkesbury City Council receives many complaints about the smoke from wood-burning heaters every year. Where Council officers identify excessive smoke from wood heaters, authorised officers can issue enforcement notices to improve the operation of a wood heater.

Follow the EPA's top tips for better wood heater operation.

• Always burn small logs of aged, dry hardwood – unseasoned wood has more moisture and is more likely to smoke.
• Store firewood under cover in a dry ventilated area; freshly cut wood needs to be stored for 8–12 months before use.
• Never burn rubbish, driftwood or treated or painted wood. These pollute the air and can be poisonous.
• When lighting a cold heater use plenty of dry kindling to establish a good fire quickly.
• Stack wood loosely in the firebox so air can circulate – don't cram the firebox full.
• Turn off the warm air circulation fan when lighting up and when refuelling.
• Keep the flame lively and bright; your fire should only smoke for a few minutes when you first light it and when you add extra fuel.
• Open the air controls fully for five minutes before and 15–20 minutes after reloading.
• Don't let your heater smoulder overnight – keep enough air in the fire to maintain a flame.
• Check your chimney regularly – if there is smoke coming from the chimney, increase the air supply to your fire.
• Clean the chimney every year, to prevent creosote build-up.

To install a wood-burning heater in your house, you must first seek Council approval as required under the Local Government Act.

If your wood-burning heater is older than 20 years, it may no longer comply with current regulations, and it is strongly recommended that you replace it with alternative cleaner heating methods or a new wood-burning heater compliant with the Australian Standard AS4012 and A4013 with a particulate emission factor of less than 1g/Kg.

For further guidance on optimising your wood heater, visit https://ow.ly/UmPL50VW5b1 or the EPA website.