Webinars

​Causes and Solutions to Indoor Air Smoke from Wood and Pellet Stoves

January 14, 2025 | 1:00 - 2:30 PM (EST)

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This webinar will look at the most common reasons that smoke comes from wood and pellet stoves, how to diagnose it, and the best ways to fix it. There is little data about what percent of homes with wood or pellet stoves have problems with indoor wood smoke. And, it is often hard for consumers to know whether the installation, the chimney pipe, the stove, or the operator is the main cause of the problem. This webinar is designed for homeowners who have experienced smoke leaking from their stove, firewood banks and tribes who help wood heated homes, and for agencies trying to reduce indoor and outdoor wood smoke.

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Speakers 

Mansel Nelson

Mansel Nelson’s formal education includes a BS in Chemistry and graduate studies in Chemical Engineering. For twenty-six (26) years Mansel has served with the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) located at Northern Arizona University. Prior to working with ITEP, he served in the US Army Chemical Corps and taught community-based high school chemistry on the Navajo Nation. As a Program Manager, he prepares Native American students for careers applying science and engineering to environmental issues impacting tribal communities. He also conducts training for Tribal Environmental Staff on maintaining Healthy Tribal Homes and Healthy Tribal Schools.

Presentation Title: "Wood Stoves: More Than Just Staying Warm"

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Aileen Gregory 

Aileen Gagney is the Technical Advisor and Trainer for the Tribal Healthy Homes Network, training Tribes throughout EPA Region 10 in all aspects of healthy indoor environments, including building science. She works in Tribal homes, schools, buildings, and childcare facilities providing assessments, consulting, training, and education, utilizing the AirMATTERS tool kit and the SmokeMATTERS tool kit. She is the former director of the American Lung Association’s Master Home Environmentalist program which provided environmental home assessments, consulting and trainings on healthy homes principles to communities throughout Washington state, national hospitals, CBOs, and other entities. She has been working to create healthy buildings for over 40 years.

Presentation Title: "The Impact of Wood Smoke on Human Health and Filtration Solutions That Are Effective, Low-cost, and Readily Available"

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Bob Ferrari

Bob Ferrari is currently the Director of Education at the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG). He is certified by Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), the National Fireplace Institute (NFI) for wood, gas, and pellet, F.I.R.E., and the Building Performance Institute (BPI) as a Building Analyst. He started in the chimney service business in 1984. He built his business into a fleet of 7 trucks, two locations, and a hearth store, eventually selling the business in 2021. He served on the National Chimney Safety Guide for (NCSG) Board for 8 years. His jobs have covered everything hearth related from cleaning chimneys to fire investigation.

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Ken Davis

Ken Davis is a wood heater designer with over 15 years of experience developing compliant and efficient heating systems. With a background in mechanical engineering focused on mechatronics and control theory, he brings a practical and innovative approach to balancing performance, emissions, and user experience in stove design.

Presentation Title: "Balancing Performance and Emissions: A Stove Designer’s Perspective on Minimizing Smoke Spillage"