The Utah Department of Environmental Quality predicts that air quality will slowly improve early this week but caution should still be used. Monday’s forecast shows air quality in Uintah and Duchesne regions under the category of Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups but by Tuesday is expected to improve slightly. Voluntary actions requested include not using solid fuel burning devices, reduce open burning, and reduce vehicle use. TriCounty Health Director Jordan Mathis says that families relying on their wood burning stoves for heat can still make a difference by learning how to use the wood stove efficiently and effectively. Efficient heat is clean heat, shares Mathis. The most common method used for high-efficiency stoves is to add prewarmed combustion air above the fire. Perhaps the easiest tip for improving efficiency is to always use dry wood. It provides heat and burns more efficiently, cutting down on emissions. Another easy tip is to keep the stove hot. Keeping it at a high combustion zone and with a steady feed of dry wood you can be sure your fuel is as completely combusted, minimizing emissions.
