Wood Burning

I used to look forward to the cool, winter months when I could use my wood burning fireplace. I loved the warmth, the sound and smell — that is until I learned that wood burning is actually pretty bad for my breathing process.

Upon researching the effects of "enjoying" the smell of a wood burning fireplace, I discovered that smoke is made up of a mixture of gases and fine particles, with the fine particles being the biggest health threat. These microscopic fine particles, also called particulate matter (PM), can cause health problems such as burning eyes, runny nose and, more seriously, bronchitis. In addition, PMs also aggravate chronic heart and lung disease. Folks most susceptible to the effects of smoke are older adults (who are more likely to suffer from chronic heart and lung disease), people with asthma, emphysema, and children, whose respiratory systems are still developing.

But all is not lost if you still want to enjoy the sights and warmth of a fireplace. Using an air purifier — preferably a HEPA air purifier — can greatly reduce the PMs from fireplace smoke. HEPA air purifiers are designed to remove at least 93% of fine particles from the air, making breathing cleaner and easier, even when enjoying a wood burning fireplace. In addition, a HEPA air purifier will also clean the air of other harmful airborne particles, including dust, pollen, pet dander, mold and bacteria. So the benefits of a HEPA air purifier go beyond just the obviousness of cleaning up smoky air. The benefits also include cleaning indoor air in general.