Don’t you just love sitting around the fireplace, wrapped up in a blanket, enjoying a steaming cup of coffee? Now that the holiday season is here, most of us are spending our evenings near the hearth with our family and friends. And we get it! There’s nothing like enjoying the coziness and ambiance of a merry fire crackling in the fireplace.
Humans have burned wood since the earliest of times, and many individuals believe that as long as something is natural, it wouldn’t harm us. Sadly, that’s not true! According to scientists, wood smoke can be hazardous to our health. Learn some common myths and facts about wood smoke to help reduce its health impacts on yourself and your loved ones.
1. Myth- Burning wood couldn’t be bad considering it’s a natural substance.
Wood has been used to make fires for the past 400,000 years. However, that doesn’t mean inhaling wood smoke wouldn’t affect our health. Tobacco, arsenic, asbestos are also natural ingredients that tend to harm our health, and it’s the same with wood smoke.
As a matter of fact, wood smoke can cause allergies, strokes, asthma, and heart attacks in humans.
2. Myth- Wood Smoke Isn’t As Bad As Other Air Pollutants
Where you live determines the quality of the air you breathe. For instance, if you’re living near an industrial area, you should worry about metal emissions in the air. If you’re living in the city, your biggest concern should be vehicle emissions. Similarly, if you spend most of your time near chimneys, you should be worried about wood smoke.
3. Myth- EPA Certified wood stoves are the answer!
This is, in fact, another myth. Although EPA-certified wood stoves don’t pollute the air as much as uncertified ones, they degrade with time, emitting highly toxic dioxins. Furthermore, EPA-certified wood stoves require seasoned wood. This leaves a lot of space for human error.
Even if these certified wood stoves are used brand new, they are still more polluting than appliances that use natural gas to heat your homes.
To learn more about Chimneys and Fireplaces, visit our website. We, at CT Chimney Repair, provide many chimney services. These include fireplace remodeling, paver repair services, chimney repair services, etc. For more details, feel free to contact us.
