Fairbanks North Star Borough is home to some serious inversions in the winter. Cold air gets trapped in lowlands and valleys and with little to no wind, wood smoke and various other emissions can create hazardous air quality conditions. In an effort to
combat these situations in the winter, a new Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is trying to eliminate as many older wood fired heaters as possible. When the law became effective, on June 9th, 2017, State Statutes require the removal or replacement
of any wood fired heating device that does not meet the state's emission criteria before the property can be sold, leased or conveyed. Older devices have higher emissions compared to newer stoves and reducing their number is expected to have a good influence
on air quality within the Fairbanks North Star Borough. One thing to keep in mind is that this regulation may be changing - there is a lot of opposition to government regulations dictating how you heat your home.
What this means for sellers:
- When you decide you want to lease or sell your home, check your wood stove to make sure your device is compliant. You can check here for a list.
- If you have a wood fired device that is not on the list, you need to decide to replace or remove the device. Do so prior to listing your home so it will not delay a sale.
- Apply for the wood stove changeout program to save you money while replacing an old device. Click here for details.
What this means for buyers:
- If you purchase a home that has a wood stove, make sure it is compliant or demand seller remove or replace it.
- If the home you want has an older wood stove, use that as leverage to get something else you want in the transaction such as a closing cost credit or lower purchase price.
- Use this as an opportunity to get a quality new wood stove.
For more details check out:
Department of Environmental Conservation Real Estate Requirements Website
Fairbanks North Star Borough Wood Burners Facebook Page
FNSB Air Quality Division
