Do you require a basic visual inspection such as for insurance or pre-purchase of a home equipped with a wood burning appliance or fireplace? A basic visual inspection is a general overview of the readily accessible parts to determine if the system meets current regulations. We provide Certified WETT inspections on your fireplace, wood stove or pellet stove.
With over 20 years experience as a WETT Certified Inspector we can provide your “Site Basic” inspection that most insurance companies now require. If you include your WETT Inspection as part of our home inspection package the fee is only $75.00 appliance.
What’s in a WETT Inspection?
When performing a WETT inspection there are a number of areas that your trained inspector will inspect. Items such as the chimney, the liner, the smoke chamber, damper, firebox and other working parts inside the fireplace or woodstove to make sure that they are working properly. The inspector will also make sure clearances to combustible materials are within guidelines so you can use your wood burning appliance safely.
How to Become WETT Certified?
There are a number of steps an individual has to complete on the path to obtaining WETT Certification. Candidates first have to pass a code compliance course to gain the required 
knowledge concerning various code regulations for wood burning appliances.. Then they can choose to become a certified tech or advisor, earn their certification in chimney sweeping, or earn a WETT certification in SITE basic. Inspectors only become certified after at least 80 weeks of work in the field and require a letter of reference. Inspectors who choose to become WETT certified in SITE basic also have to complete 30 inspections of wood burning appliances, which further ensures that they have the necessary knowledge.
The majority of insurance companies now require any wood burning appliance, wood stove, pellet stoves or fireplaces, to be inspected by a WETT Certified Inspector.
Areas required to be inspected are:
- Chimney
- Liner / Flue
- Smoke Chamber
- Damper
- Firebox
- Hearth / Floor Protection
- Clearance to Combustible Surfaces
Ensuring the proper installation and operation of wood burning appliances is important for the safety of your families home. Improper installation could cause a over heating or fire condition which could be life threatening if not detected in time. We inspect your wood burning appliance and provide a WETT Inspection report at the time of the inspection.
Some things you can check yourself to see if your heater/chimney will pass inspection:
- Appliances need to be certified by CSA, OTL, ULC or Warnock Hersey, to a current standard. If your stove is certified it will have a plate or sticker, usually on the back of the stove, that will tell you if the unit is certified, and which lab certified it. If the appliance has been modified or the label is not attached, it is no longer certified.
- In mobile homes, appliances need to be specially certified for mobile home installation and have direct combustion air installed. The stove’s instruction manual may list other requirements.
- Existing Stainless chimneys must be listed to ULC S629, be installed according to the Manufacturer’s Certified Instructions and be of all the same brand. (tested and certified as a complete system). If there is no manufacturer’s sticker on any of the chimney components an inspector may not be able to pass it.
- Quite often a masonry chimney will not have adequate clearance to combustibles. If the masonry chimney is inside the house there must be a 2” clearance, ½” if the chimney is partly or completely outside the building. Combustibles include framing, floor joists, floors, ceilings, paneling, etc. Also the chimney must extend right to the ground. If the masonry is resting on any sort of wooden support (called a bracket chimney) it will fail.
Understanding Dampers in Wood Stoves
Flue Pipe Installation
Reducing Clearances to Combustibles
Arrange a WETT Inspection in Barrie
If you are unsure of any of your units requirements, please call Roger for a FREE CONSULTATION at 705-795-8255