Woodstoves and Fireplaces

This page is dedicated to residential fuel combustion and incentive programs offered by the District to reduce pollution from woodstoves and fireplaces.

Wood smoke is waste. Any smoke that escapes from your wood stove or fireplace is wasted fuel that may stick in your chimney as creosote or be released as air pollution. Wood smoke contains particulates such as PM 10 and PM 2.5 as well as toxic air contaminants and other criteria pollutants.  An old or poorly installed wood stove can result in higher maintenance costs, greater risk of smoke in your home, and more pollution.

Beginning in 1990, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began certifying woodstoves for emissions levels. Properly installed EPA certified wood stove and fireplace inserts offer many benefits. They burn wood efficiently, more safely, and heat your home effectively with much less smoke. With EPA certified wood stoves and fireplace inserts, you should see only a thin wisp of steam coming from your chimney.

Burning Efficiently Guidance from EPA on how to burn wood more efficiently.

General Information Basic information from EPA on types of wood burning devices, selecting the right model and size, and local retailers in your area.

Rule 3.17 Wood Burning Devices includes requirements for newly installed wood burning devices.  This includes wood stoves and fireplaces in both Yuba and Sutter Counties.  Newly installed wood burning devices must meet EPA-phase II emissions certifications.  For a list of EPA-certified wood stoves visit:

List of EPA-Certified wood stoves

Woodstove Changeout Program 2011/2012  The Feather River Air Quality Management District is offering vouchers to residents of Yuba and Sutter Counties who replace or retrofit an old wood stove or wood burning fireplace with a cleaner, EPA-certified appliance.  To quality, you can replace a:

Pre-1990 wood stove with a new, EPA-certified wood stove

Pre-1990 wood stove with a pellet stove

Pre-1990 wood stove with a gas-stove

or

Retrofit existing fireplace with a EPA-certified insert.

The woodstove or fireplace must be in operational condition, and permanently installed in a residence in Yuba or Sutter Counties.

The 2011 grant program begins on October 28, 2011, at 3:00 pm.  The District has allocated $20,000 for this program.

Vouchers will be mailed directly from the District and will contain the District's official seal.  The vouchers should arrive around November 1 and must be redeemed by November 30, 2011.  Any unredeemed vouchers will be given to the next person on the waiting list.

Vouchers must be used at a pre-approved retailer. For more information, visit:

 
Woodstove Changeout Program

Visit the Airwatch Northwest's website to view short videos on how to select a wood burning appliance and how to operate your wood stove more efficiently:

http://www.airwatchnorthwest.org/homeheating/index.htm

 

For more information on the pollution caused by woodstoves and fireplaces, please visit the District's Particle Pollution webpage.