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The City of Whyalla has received some complaints regarding smoke from residential wood heaters.
All complaints are investigated by Council under the Environmental Protection Act 1993.
As part of this process, Council Compliance Officer Katrina Popplewell said staff will consult with the owners of the wood heaters in question to help eliminate any excessive smoke output.
“It’s been a cold start to winter and we understand people want to keep warm,” Katrina said.
“Wood heaters are a fact of life in some Whyalla houses and an important source of warmth and comfort for many families.
“We just want to help people utilise their heaters in the best possible way to keep their homes warm while not impacting on other people’s lives.”
There are some handy tips for those with wood heaters to help reduce pollution and to ensure your heater is working properly to heat your house adequately. As always, when dealing with fire in the house, the utmost care should be taken and children watched carefully at all times.
Here’s a few easy tips to help control the smoke output from your wood heater:
- Only use dry seasoned untreated wood
- Freshly cut wood needs to be stored in a dry ventilated area for at least 12 months before using. Store the wood in a crisscross fashion to allow air to circulate freely. Wood heaters work best when fire wood is completely dry and well-seasoned.
- Keep your heater and flue in good working order. We only recommend heaters that meet current standards.
- Ensure your chimney or flue is high enough to allow combustion gases to disperse
You can also source information on wood heaters from the following website: https://www.epa.sa.gov.au/environmental_info/air_quality/assistance_and_advice/smoke_from_domestic_heating
Residents can also contact Council on 8640 3444 for more information on wood heaters. We have information pamphlets, DVDs and can also advise you in person.
IF YOU NEED TO REPORT SOMETHING:
Residents can make complaints, report issues and give feedback on Council-controlled matters by downloading the My Local Services app http://www.lga.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=4099 or your phone or tablet.
Download the FREE app and press the “report it” button to bring up an easy-to-fill-out form. You can also include pictures with this form. This app has many other features, like a message system to remind you to put your bins out, to keep you informed on many council services and news.
Alternatively you can use the customer enquiry form on our wwww.whyalla.sa.gov.au website or email direct council@whyalla.sa.gov.au. You can also come into the Civic Building offices during business hours or call 8640 3444 any time of the day.