Think Twice Before Setting Up an Outside Wood Burning Furnace

Many people have not heard of an outdoor wood burning furnace. This is a good thing. Many who know what they are would rather not have ever smelled one.

The definition of an outdoor wood burning furnace (also known as an OWF) is a wood fired boiler that is housed in a small insulated shed that contains a smoke stack. These furnaces carry heated water to homes through underground pipes. This is how the furnaces heat the homes. But some people don't use the furnaces to heat their homes they use them to heat swimming pools, Jacuzzis or hot tubs.

Why do people use these types of furnaces? Basically, they believe they can save money. The wood is the main source of the heat. Little electricity is used. The water is continually piped over and over again.

But please don't get excited and think you want one of these. Stop and think first.

What happens when you burn wood? What do you get in return? Smoke. What happens to the smoke that these furnaces make? Your neighbors smell it, your neighbors inhale it.

Is this safe? In one simple answer, NO.

OWF's are harmful to our environment and to our human health. OWF's produce a lot of thick smoke. Smoke from these OWF's contain unhealthy amounts of particulate matter, dioxin, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrochloric acid, formaldehyde and other toxic air pollutants.

Exposure to this smoke from OWF's can increase respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms. These symptoms can range from asthmatic sensitivity (asthma attacks), lung illnesses and even cancer. Of course, it shouldn't be surprising that studies have proven that children, the elderly and people with pre-existing cardio or respiratory problems are extremely at risk at being around OWF's.

What can you do if you are a neighbor of a person owning an OWF and who refuses to listen or worse yet laughs at your complaints? First, you should talk to your local health agencies and see what they have to say.