Woodstove Program

Approximately half the homes in the greater Olympic Peninsula and Coastal area of Washington have some type of wood burning heating device, ranging from wood stoves to fireplaces. There is an increasing body of scientific evidence that associates particulate matter pollution from wood stoves with a variety of health impacts. The very young, the elderly and people who suffer from circulatory and respiratory illnesses are among those most severely impacted. In 1987 the Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater urban area was determined to be in violation of federal air quality standards for particulate matter (PM10). Since that time a variety of State and Local Woodstove Regulations have been adopted to help minimize the impact of wood stove emissions on public health. When monitoring data indicate that pollution levels are rising, ORCAA may declare a Burn Ban which restricts certain burning activities in specific areas.

Those among us who rely on our woodstoves for heat, or otherwise enjoy the use of wood burning appliances or fireplaces, can do several things to minimize the impact of our burning activities on our neighbors.

Woodstove Change-Out Program

To help improve air quality in areas significantly impacted by woodsmoke, residents of Port Angeles and Port Townsend may take advantage of an ORCAA-sponsored Wood Stove Change-Out Program.

Qualifying residents can receive a $500 rebate toward the purchase and installation of a new Washington State certified woodstove, Washington State certified fireplace insert, or pellet stove that replaces their old uncertified woodstove or fireplace insert. A $750 rebate is available for the purchase and installation of any propane or gas stove that replaces an uncertified woodstove or fireplace insert. Additional rebates are available for installing or fixing a furnace or heat pump when removing an uncertified woodstove or fireplace insert.

To qualify, residents must live within Port Angeles city limits or its associated urban growth area (UGA) or the Port Townsend area.  In addition, more than two cords of wood must be used per heating season or the stove must be used for heating purposes at least three days per week.

Local woodstove and fireplace dealers have information about the rebate.  Please feel free to contact them about the rebate or if they are not aware of the rebate please have them contact ORCAA.  If you have any additional questions please contact ORCAA at (360) 539-7610.

Good burning practices for fireplaces, inserts, and woodstoves include:

  • Burn dry seasoned wood. Season wood outdoors through the hot, dry summer for at least 6 months before burning it. Properly seasoned wood is darker, has cracks in the end grain, and sounds hollow when smacked against another piece of wood.
  • Build small hot fires.
  • Make sure the fire has plenty of air.  OPEN the damper.
  • Relight the fire in the morning.  Do not let the fire smolder overnight.  This creates a lot of smoke and creates dangerous creosote buildup.
  • Let the fire burn down to coals and then rake the coals toward the air inlet, creating a mound.  Do not spread the coals flat.
  • Reload by adding at least three pieces of wood each time, on and behind the mound of hot coals.  Avoid adding one log at a time.
  • Step outside and look at your chimney.  If you see smoke, the wood is not burning completely.  Smoke coming from the chimney means air pollution.