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Air Quality Monitoring
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Air Quality and Your Health
Woodsmoke and Your Health
Wood Stove Exchange Program
Planning

Wood Stove Exchange Program 

Metro Vancouver residents are eligible to receive a $250 rebate to trade in their old uncertified wood burning appliance for a new low emission appliance. Please note that rebate funding is limited and will be issued to qualifying residents on a first come, first served basis.

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How To Participate
Step 1 – Find out if you qualify
To find out which appliances can be traded in and which can be purchased as replacements, and also to confirm whether or not you reside within the program area boundaries, you can:
  1. Review the information posted on this web page:
    • Program Area
    • Qualifying Appliances for the Metro Vancouver Wood Stove Exchange Program
  2. Contact Grace Cockle, Metro Vancouver Program Coordinator. 
  3. Contact a participating Retailer (see section below).

Step 2 – Shop
When you are ready to shop for your new low-emission appliance, visit a participating retailer (see section below) to arrange purchase.

Step 3 – Obtain permits
Contact your municipality about obtaining a building permit for the installation of your new appliance. Also, before you exchange your old wood burning appliance, it is recommended that you contact your insurance company to find out if there are any savings associated with the exchange of your old appliance. Also, you may need to confirm if your insurance company imposes any additional requirements, such as an inspection by a WETT (Wood Energy Technical Training) certified technician, for the installation of the new appliance.

Step 4 – Fill out paperwork and disable & recycle your old appliance
Your retailer will help you to fill out the necessary paperwork and also with the disabling & recycling of your old wood appliance. If preferred, residents can disable and recycle their old appliance, however, prior to beginning these steps on your own, you must contact the Metro Vancouver Coordinator or your retailer for important information on the proper procedure.

Step 5 – Receive your rebate
The rebate amount is $250 per appliance. The Retailer will forward all the required paperwork and documentation to Metro Vancouver for verification and processing and then you will receive a cheque in the mail. Please note that it may take up to 8 weeks after all the paperwork has been submitted by the Retailer, before you receive your rebate.

Program Area
To be eligible for a rebate you must be a Metro Vancouver resident and the exchange must take place within a dwelling located in the region. The Metro Vancouver region includes the following 21 municipalities, treaty First Nation and electoral area:
 
• Village of Anmore
• Village of Belcarra
• Bowen Island Municipality
• City of Burnaby
• City of Coquitlam
• Corporation of Delta
• City of Langley
• Township of Langley
• Village of Lions Bay
• District of Maple Ridge
• City of New Westminster
• City of North Vancouver
• District of North Vancouver
• City of Pitt Meadows
• City of Port Coquitlam
• Tsawwassen
• City of Port Moody
• City of Richmond
• City of Surrey
• City of Vancouver
• District of West Vancouver
• City of White Rock
• Electoral Area A*
*Electoral Area A includes: the University of British Columbia, the University Endowment Lands (including Pacific Spirit Regional Park), the islands of Bowyer, Passage and Barnston, the west side of Pitt Lake, the northern portion of Indian Arm, and portion of land between the District of West Vancouver and Squamish Lillooet Regional District (excluding the Village of Lions Bay).


Qualifying Appliances for the Metro Vancouver Wood Stove Exchange Program Appliances That Can be Traded In
The following original appliances qualify for an exchange under this Program:
  1. A free-standing non-EPA certified “stove”. A “homemade” or “barrel” stove. 
  2. A so-called “airtight” non-EPA certified fireplace insert, or tube type heat exchanger with a face plate and door (like the ‘Free Heat Machine’ or Welenco) that is currently installed in an open hearth fireplace. 
  3. A non-EPA certified “wood furnace” (ducted, forced air, home heating appliance) – may only be replaced by an EPA certified wood furnace or Pellet furnace.
  4. A wood-burning Cook Stove. 
Qualifying Replacement Appliances
The following NEW appliances qualify to replace a qualifying old wood burning appliance under this Program:  
  1. An EPA certified wood stove, a pellet stove, or a high efficiency gas stove/fireplace. 
  2. An EPA certified wood insert, a pellet insert, electric insert or a high efficiency gas insert. 
  3. An EPA certified factory-built fireplace – may only be accepted if it is replacing a NON EPA certified WOOD STOVE OR NON EPA certified WOOD INSERT (not an existing factory built fireplace). 
  4. Value of rebates cannot exceed value of appliance!
WHAT DOES NOT QUALIFY as a Replacement Appliance
(Program funding will not be provided to install these appliances.) 
  1. Electric stoves or fireplaces (replacement electric inserts are allowed). 
  2. Factory built (“zero clearance”) fireplaces. 
  3. Wood cook stoves – Cook stoves are EPA exempt therefore are not covered by this program. They may be replaced by an EPA certified stove or other “non-cooking” product within the qualification list above. 
  4. Outdoor appliances (replacement unit must be installed in an area with 4 walls, ceiling and a door). 
  5. Tin heaters/tent stoves – something NOT used in a residential application.
Participating Retailers
The following retailers are currently participating in Metro Vancouver Wood Stove Exchange Program:
 

Abbotsford:

  • Alpha Home Energy Centre Ltd., #2 – 31550 South Fraserway, 604-852-1212

Bowen Island

  • Bowen Building Centre Ltd., 1013 Grafton Road, 604-947-9622

Burnaby:

  • Solace Homeworks, 4025 East Hastings Street, 604-291-0342

Coquitlam:

  • Fireplaces To Go, 1150 United Boulevard, 604-523-3404

Langley:

  • Dave’s Heat Zone Fireplaces Ltd., #201 – 20771 Langley By-Pass, 604-533-2198
  • Delco Fireplaces Ltd., 20679 #10 Highway, 604-530-2166 
  • Firemaster Energy Options Ltd., 22661 Fraser Highway, 604-530-5693
  • R.E. MacDonald Stoves & Stones Ltd., 3711 – 248 Street, 604-856-1551

Maple Ridge:

  • Big Valley Heating & Sheet Metal Ltd., 11868 – 216 Street, 604-467-6474
  • Dagg’s Gas Gallery, 604-466-4909 or 604-551-3473  
  • Warm Hearth Heating Centre,11834 – 226 Street, 604-467-2200

Mission:

  • The Olde Stove Works, 33507 Thompson Avenue, 604-826-5669

Port Moody:

  • Solace Homeworks, 3054 St. Johns Street, 604-461-5656

Richmond:

  • The SHP Fireplace Warehouse, #105 – 11091 Bridgeport Road,  604-231-8923

Surrey:

  • Gasland Equipment & Fireplaces Inc., 2418 King George Highway, 604-536-4502
  • Mr. Fireplace Ltd., 13377 – 78 Avenue, 604-591-2261

Vancouver:

  • Vaglio Fireplaces Ltd., 3600East Hastings, 604-298-6494
Additional Rebates & Incentives
British Columbians replacing their uncertified wood burning appliance for a new low emission unit may be eligible for additional incentives or grants through the following programs:
  1. Terasen Gas: EnerChoice Fireplace
  2. Federal Government: ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes Program
  3. Provincial Government: LiveSmart BC – Efficiency Incentive Program

For more details about these programs please visit their respective websites. Also, please note that these incentives and/or grants are NOT part of the Metro Vancouver Wood Stove Exchange Program and must be applied for separately.

Wood Heat Workshops
In conjunction with our exchange program, Metro Vancouver is hosting free "Wood Heat Workshops” and everyone is welcome to attend! These workshops are designed to provide residents with the following information:
  • planning, installing and maintaining a wood heating system
  • smart burning techniques to maximize efficiency and minimize emissions
  • firewood preparation

Metro Vancouver has already hosted two wood heat workshops. The first workshop took place on November 4, 2009 in Langley, and the second took place on March 3, 2010 in the District of North Vancouver.

Stay tuned to hear about when and where our next free “Wood Heat Workshop” will be offered!

For more information
If you have any questions, or for more information about this program, contact Grace Cockle at Metro Vancouver or talk to a participating retailer (see section above).

 Related Links & Resources

Learn about wood smoke health impacts, tips on firewood purchasing & storage and ways you can reduce your wood smoke emissions by reviewing the information in the following guides, brochures, videos and related links:

Resources

Metro Vancouver Wood Stove Exchange Program Coordinator
Grace Cockle
phone number 604-436-6722
fax number 604-436-6701
e-mail grace.cockle@
metrovancouver.org  

 Rebates
For 2009 / 2010 Metro Vancouver has funding available for 140 rebates.  As of July 16, 2010, there are 70 - 80 rebates remaining.

Fast Facts

Burning Your Wood

  • Use well-seasoned firewood that is split to the right size for your appliance. 
  • Use small pieces of wood kindling and newspaper to start your fire. 
  • Burn small, hot, bright fires. 
  • Open the stove or fireplace damper to increase air circulation and improve burning. When you see smoke, it’s a sign of oxygen starvation and incomplete burning. 
  • Do not dampen or hold your fire overnight. This creates excessive emissions and promotes the formation of creosote.

Maintaining Your Wood Stove and Your Home

  • Have your wood burning appliance inspected and cleaned at least once a year by a technician certified under the Wood Energy Technical Training (WETT) program. 
  • Keep your stove pipe and chimney clean. Empty ashes from your wood stove and fireplace frequently. 
  • Install a smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide detector in your home. 
  • Reduce your heating needs by making your house more energy efficient.