Home heating
Home fires are a significant source of air pollution in some Otago towns.
We all breathe what we burn, so here are some Burn Dry, Breathe Easy tips that will ensure you get more heat from your firewood, and help reduce air pollution in your town.
Switching to a higher performing, or approved heating appliance can also greatly improve the air quality.
Burn Dry Breathe Easy tips
- Always make sure the wood you are burning is dry. It’s better for you, your home and the environment.
- Stack your firewood off the ground, out of the rain and with plenty of airflow so it dries faster.
- Purchase your firewood before Christmas to allow it dry out before the following winter.
- Use a wood moisture meter to check if your firewood is dry enough to burn. Less than 25% moisture means more heat and reduced smoke.
- A well-built fire of scrunched up paper, kindling, and firewood with plenty of airflow ensures a well-heated home and less smoke.
- Don’t burn wet or green firewood, treated wood or household rubbish as they can release harmful toxins into the air.
- To reduce smoke overnight, make sure you can still see flames when you turn your fire down.
Below you’ll find additional information, building on tips above.
Only burn dry wood or paper
A hot fire built with dry wood produces very little smoke. If you see dirty smoke coming from your chimney, it’s a sign your fire doesn’t have enough oxygen or you’re burning something toxic. Both release pollutants into the air.
Burning dry wood gives you more heat from each log, warming your home faster. Your fire will also burn hotter, meaning less pollution.
Have your flue swept once a year to improve air flow and help to prevent a chimney fire.
Is your wood ready to burn?
- Look
- Dry wood is dull in colour.
- Feel
- Dry wood has a low moisture content, so it is much lighter than wet or freshly cut wood.
- Listen
- When you knock two larger pieces together, they should sound hollow or produce a lighter “KLACK”ing sound. If the wood is too damp, it will sound like a dull “THUNK”.
- Take out the guess work
- Use a wood moisture meter to check that your firewood has less than 25% moisture. Split a log, then take three readings from the split surface. While you could insert the pins on the meter into one end of a log, generally the ends of logs are drier than the inside. The display will show a moisture percentage. You can get wood moisture meters at most hardware stores.
What not to burn
Burning these kinds of materials can release harmful toxins into the air.
- Treated wood
- Off cuts from building sites (avoid treated wood, wood with nails, glue or other contaminants)
- Old decking
- Rubbish
- Green waste
- Plastic
- Clothes
- Electronics
- Disposable nappies
Note: Burning coal is not permitted in Air Zone 1 towns.
Approved heating appliances
Different areas have different rules about the burner you can install.
- Air Zone 1 (Alexandra, Arrowtown, Clyde and Cromwell) and Milton: burners must have an emission rate less than 0.7 g/kg and a thermal efficiency of at least 65%.
- Air Zones 2 and 3 (rest of Otago): burners must meet the MfE guidelines of an emission rate less than 1.5 g/kg and a thermal efficiency of at least 65%.
Appliances that are approved in Air Zone 1 and Milton are:
- Heat pumps (all models)
- Flued gas heaters
- Pellet fires
- Ultra-low emission wood burners (see table below):
Ultra-low Emission Wood Burners
Brand and Model |
Type |
Water Heater |
Froling S4 Turbo 15 |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
Froling S4 Turbo 22 |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
Froling S4 Turbo 28 |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
Froling S4 Turbo 38 |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
Froling S4 Turbo 40 |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
Bionic Fire Studio |
Freestanding |
None |
RAIS Bionic Fire |
Freestanding |
None |
T-ART |
Freestanding |
None |
T-SKY eco 2 |
Freestanding |
None |
Maxen Cargill 350-D |
Freestanding |
None |
Maxen Cargill 350-W |
Freestanding |
None |
Maxen St Clair 350-D |
Freestanding |
None |
Maxen St Clair 350-W |
Freestanding |
None |
Stella ULEB |
Freestanding |
None |
Logaire LUF2000 ULEB |
Freestanding |
None |
Logaire LUF2000 Woodbox ULEB |
Freestanding |
None |
Logaire LUF3000 (ULEB) |
Freestanding |
None |
Masport Cashmere pedestal (ULEB) |
Freestanding |
None |
Masport Clutha Ash ULEB |
Freestanding |
None |
Masport Clutha ULEB |
Freestanding |
None |
Masport Clutha Woodbox ULEB |
Freestanding |
None |
Masport Coronet pedestal (ULEB) |
Freestanding |
None |
Masport Cromwell |
Freestanding |
None |
Masport Hurunui (ULEB) |
Freestanding |
None |
Masport Hurunui Ash (ULEB) |
Freestanding |
None |
Masport Hurunui Leg (ULEB) |
Freestanding |
None |
Masport Kaituna Ash |
Freestanding |
None |
Masport Kaituna Leg |
Freestanding |
None |
Masport Kaituna Pedestal |
Freestanding |
None |
Masport Kaituna Wood stacker |
Freestanding |
None |
Masport Mystique |
Freestanding |
None |
Masport Rakaia |
Freestanding |
None |
Masport Rangitata Beveled |
Fireplace insert |
None |
Masport Waimakariri ASH |
Freestanding |
None |
Masport Waimakariri LEG |
Freestanding |
None |
Masport Waimakariri PED |
Freestanding |
None |
Firenzo Lady Kitchener Ultra (Drawer) |
Freestanding |
None |
Firenzo Lady Kitchener Ultra (Leg) |
Freestanding |
None |
Firenzo Lady Kitchener Ultra (Pedestal) |
Freestanding |
None |
Firenzo Lady Kitchener Ultra (Platform) |
Freestanding |
None |
Blaze King Chinook CK20.NZ |
Freestanding |
None |
Blaze King Chinook CK30.NZ |
Freestanding |
None |
Blaze King Sirocco SC20L.NZ |
Freestanding |
None |
Blaze King Sirocco SC20P.NZ |
Freestanding |
None |
Blaze King Sirocco SC30L. NZ |
Freestanding |
None |
Blaze King Sirocco SC30P. NZ |
Freestanding |
None |
Metro Ultra Insert |
Fireplace insert |
None |
Metro Ultra Tiny Rad |
Freestanding |
None |
Metro Ultra Wee Rad |
Freestanding |
None |
Metro Ultra Xtreme Rad |
Freestanding |
None |
Metro Wee Rad Ultra |
Freestanding |
None |
Pyro Classic |
Freestanding |
None |
Pyro Mini |
Freestanding |
None |
Jayline PR300CD (ULEB) |
Freestanding |
None |
Jayline PR300CS (ULEB) |
Freestanding |
None |
Jayline PR300DR (ULEB) |
Freestanding |
None |
Jayline PR300WS (ULEB) |
Freestanding |
None |
Jayline UL200 |
Freestanding |
None |
Jayline Walltherm Air |
Freestanding |
None |
Xeoos Twinfire X8 |
Freestanding |
None |
ETA SH20 Gasification Boiler |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
ETA SH30 Gasification Boiler |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
ETA SH40 Gasification Boiler |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
Tropicair Duo |
Freestanding |
None |
Tropicair Duo Wet |
Freestanding |
Wetback |
Tropicair Rua |
Freestanding |
None |
Harris Ferva Saturn |
Freestanding |
None |
Woodsman Coleridge (Leg) |
Freestanding |
None |
Woodsman Coleridge (Pedestal) |
Freestanding |
None |
Woodsman Kanaku ULEB |
Freestanding |
None |
Woodsman Serene |
Freestanding |
None |
Woodsman Serene Petite |
Freestanding |
None |
Woodsman Serene WB |
Freestanding |
Wetback |
|
|
|
Ultra-low Emission Pellet Burners
Brand and Model |
Type |
Water Heater |
Easypell 16-20kW |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
Easypell 25-32kW |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
FlumenFire Blenda |
Freestanding |
None |
FlumenFire Coralla |
Freestanding |
None |
FlumenFire Morgana |
Freestanding |
None |
Froling PE1 25 |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
Froling PE1 30 |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
Froling PE1 35 |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
Attack Pellet 30 Automatic Plus |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
Woodpecker Executive 25 kw |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
Woodpecker Pellet Boilers (20kW) |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
Woodpecker Pellet Boilers (30kW) |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
Ecoflame FS-1 |
Freestanding |
None |
Ecoflame FS-1 |
Freestanding |
Wetback |
Oriel |
Freestanding |
None |
Pellco Milford Pellet Fire (freestandin |
Freestanding |
None |
Sirocco Slimline |
Freestanding |
None |
Animo Adevo |
Freestanding |
None |
Animo Avito |
Freestanding |
None |
Animo Pure |
Freestanding |
None |
Champion Duos Plus |
Freestanding |
None |
Champion Ena Plus |
Freestanding |
None |
Champion Tria Plus |
Freestanding |
None |
Heatilator ECO-ADV-PS35 |
Freestanding |
None |
Mia Whisper |
Freestanding |
None |
Rika Como |
Freestanding |
None |
Rika Como II |
Freestanding |
None |
Rika Corso |
Freestanding |
None |
Rika Cosmo |
Freestanding |
None |
Rika Domo Pellet Fire |
Freestanding |
None |
Rika Filo Pellet Fire |
Freestanding |
None |
Rika Interno |
Fireplace insert |
None |
Rika Kapo |
Freestanding |
None |
Rika Livo |
Freestanding |
None |
RIKA Memo 9kW |
Freestanding |
None |
Rika Miro |
Freestanding |
None |
Rika Pico |
Freestanding |
None |
Rika Primo 6kW |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
Rika Primo 8kW |
Freestanding |
None |
Rika Revo |
Freestanding |
None |
Rika Revo II |
Freestanding |
None |
Rika Roco |
Freestanding |
None |
Rika Sono |
Freestanding |
None |
Rika Sumo |
Freestanding |
None |
Rika Topo |
Freestanding |
None |
ÖkoFEN Pellematic PES 16 |
Freestanding |
None |
ÖkoFEN Pellematic PES 20 |
Freestanding |
None |
ÖkoFEN Pellematic PES 25 |
Freestanding |
None |
ÖkoFEN Pellematic PES 32 |
Freestanding |
None |
ÖkoFEN Pellematic PES 36 |
Freestanding |
None |
ÖkoFEN Pellematic PES 48 |
Freestanding |
None |
ÖkoFEN Pellematic PES 56 |
Freestanding |
None |
ÖkoFEN Pellematic PES 64 |
Freestanding |
None |
ÖkoFEN Pellematic PESK 41 |
Freestanding |
None |
ÖkoFEN Pellematic PESK 55 |
Freestanding |
None |
ÖkoFEN Pellematic PESK 64 |
Freestanding |
None |
Parkwood Compact (damperless) |
Freestanding |
None |
Parkwood Compact standard |
Freestanding |
None |
Parkwood Maxi Standard |
Freestanding |
None |
Enviro EF2 Classic FPI CB |
Fireplace insert |
None |
Enviro EF2 Classic FS CB |
Freestanding |
None |
Enviro EF3 Bayview FPI CB |
Fireplace insert |
None |
Enviro EF3 Bayview FS CB |
Freestanding |
None |
Enviro EF5 Evolution FS CB |
Freestanding |
None |
Enviro Mini FS CB |
Freestanding |
None |
Enviro Olympian FPI CB |
Fireplace insert |
None |
Enviro Olympian FS CB |
Freestanding |
None |
Ravelli Camino |
Fireplace insert |
None |
Ravelli Corina RBV 8010 compact |
Fireplace insert |
None |
Ravelli Dual 7 |
Freestanding |
None |
Ravelli Elena |
Freestanding |
None |
Ravelli Elena RV100 |
Freestanding |
None |
Ravelli Monica |
Freestanding |
None |
Ravelli Natural 7 |
Freestanding |
None |
Ravelli Pompeii HRV 140 Touch |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
Ravelli Rosa R70 |
Freestanding |
None |
Ravelli Sara |
Fireplace insert |
None |
Ravelli Sofia RBV 7010 Compact |
Fireplace insert |
None |
Ravelli Sri Amalfi |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
Ravelli Whisper 7 |
Freestanding |
None |
Metro Bay FS |
Freestanding |
None |
Metro Bay Insert |
Fireplace insert |
None |
ETA PC25 |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
ETA PC32 |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
ETA PU 11 |
Freestanding |
Hot Water Boiler |
Who can I talk with about heating my home more efficiently?
The Cosy Homes Trust offers Otago residents free guidance about how to access subsidies for heating and insulation. They also provide general advice on keeping your home warm, dry and energy efficient. cosyhomes.org.nz
EECA’s Warmer Kiwi Homes programme covers up to 80-90% of the cost for ceiling and underfloor insulation and up to 80% of the cost of heating appliances (heating appliance capped at $3,000). eeca.govt.nz
Home heating FAQs
My neighbour’s chimney is smoking badly. What can I do?
Speak with your neighbour or contact the ORC Pollution Hotline on 0800 800 033 (24/7). We will need the address, date and time, a photo if possible and a description of your complaint.
Can I burn coal?
You can’t burn coal in Alexandra, Arrowtown, Clyde, Cromwell or Milton. Elsewhere in Otago, you may burn coal so long as the smoke doesn’t cross your boundary and annoy your neighbours.
What does dirty burning look like?
Dirty burning produces dark grey, black or brown smoke. There should be a small amount of smoke being emitted from your chimney for the first few minutes while your fire gets going. After the fire is hot there should be very little visible smoke.