Reducing smoke from woodheaters

Australians have been burning wood for centuries to keep themselves warm in winter. Many still enjoy the warmth and comfort of a woodheater.

However, woodheaters are often the major contributor to ambient levels of particles in urban and regional areas during the cooler winter months, and their use can lead to exceedences of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for particles.

Scientists have shown that smoke from a woodheater means:

unburnt fuel emitted into the atmosphere;
pollution causing respiratory problems; and
potentially hundreds of dollars a year wasted.

Minimising woodsmoke pollution contributes to significant health benefits for everyone by improving our air quality, reducing the maintenance and running costs of your woodheater, and saving you money.

As a result, the improved management of woodsmoke emissions is an air quality priority. The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts is working with State, Territory and Local Governments to reduce the amount of woodsmoke in our urban areas.

This work includes community education on the correct operating practices for woodheaters, seeking improvements to woodheater installation and emission standards, and sponsoring research to improve our understanding of woodheater emissions.