Outdoor Wood Boilers
What is an outdoor wood boiler (OWB)?
A freestanding stove placed outside the home that heats water.
An OWB* contains:
- A large firebox for logs up to 72"
- A reservoir to heat water
- A short chimney
*Neighbor and owner complaints about these units are growing!
Why are OWBs bad for our air?
- Burning green or wet wood, or trash increases smoldering and smoke
- Basic design causes smoldering
- They can emit thick, black, smoke
- Short chimneys emit smoke close to the ground
- One OWB emits the same pollution as 1,000 oil furnaces
- Smoke can trigger asthma attacks and other health problems
What are the effects of OWB emissions?
- Short-term health effects including: eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, and asthma attacks
- Long-term heath effects including: asthma, heart and lung disease, and cancer
- Increased air pollution, which contributes to smog
- Disputes among neighbors
Are OWBs regulated by NYS?
- NYS is currently drafting Part 247
- OWBs may currently be regulated by your local government
- For complaints about OWBs, contact your regional DEC office using the following OWB log forms:
- Outdoor Wood Boiler Smoke Log (PDF, 30 Kb) - Used to identify periods when smoke being emitted from an outdoor wood boiler appears to be heaviest. This is usually related to the cycling on and off of combustion air to the boiler unit.
- Outdoor Wood Boiler Nuisance Log (PDF, 29 Kb) - Used to identify when and how your comfortable enjoyment of life and property were compromised due to smoke and odor emissions from an outdoor wood boiler.
For more information about OWBs, including a diagram of how they heat a home and Phase 2 qualifications, a link to EPA's website is available under Offsite Links.
