Rotorua residents with indoor open fires have until January 31 to switch to 'clean heating” before indoor open fires can't be traded under the Hot Swap scheme.

From February, however, the scheme continues for enclosed wood burners. A report that estimates 22 lives would be saved from banning indoor open fires can be read here.

Rachel Hatcher with Councillor Lyall Thurston (left) and regional council environmental data officer Charl Naude. Photo: Supplied.

The ban on using open fires for home heating is one of the actions from the Rotorua Air Bylaw to help meet the Ministry for the Environment's National Environmental Standards for Air Quality.

Rotorua has the worst air quality in the North Island, promoting Bay of Plenty Regional Council has introduced a Hot Swap Scheme.

Despite a ban on lighting indoor open fires coming into effect last May, the air quality in the area still exceeds safe and acceptable national standards.

The biggest source of air pollution is from home heating fires, and councillor Lyall Thurston says it's a community-wide problem.

'We all need to take action to help clean it up,” says Lyall.

'We won't see the positive effects immediately but you can make a difference by choosing cleaner heating, using alternative heating options such as heat pumps and pellet fires, and only burning dry wood.

'Being warm is just as important as breathing clean air. We do not want to sacrifice one for the other. Old wood burners should be replaced because they produce more smoke than the clean air approved ones.

Local teacher Rachel Hatcher is also concerned about the air quality in the city.

Her two eldest children suffer from asthma and, given there is no family history of it, she believes the condition is related to poor air quality.

'It's worrying to see how bad the air pollution is,” says Rachel. 'I was shocked at how black the filters are after monitoring the air in my neighbourhood, knowing me and my family breathe that in.”

Rachel has an upgraded clean air approved wood burner in her home. She thinks the regional council's Hot Swap scheme is a great initiative.

If you use a wood burner, only burn dry, seasoned wood as it emits less smoke than wet wood.

Get your wood now to ensure it has time to dry, and stack it loosely to let air flow through the pile. Wood should also be stacked off the ground.