Heating Your Home With Wood. Wood is not a perfect fuel, but there really is no such thing. All fuel burning, indeed all energy use, causes environmental impacts. The most often cited impact, is from old-style wood heating, visible as smelly smoke curling from chimneys. The new advanced technology wood stoves, fireplaces and furnaces that are certified low emission by the US Environmental Protection Agency can burn with no visible smoke and ninety per cent less pollution than appliances of thirty years ago.
The particular form of wood used depends upon factors such as source, quantity, quality and application. Sawmill waste and construction industry by-products also include various forms of lumber tailings. Some consider wood fuel bad for the environment, however this is not the case if proper techinques are used.
Wood heating is practiced on a small scale, the fuel is usually harvested from a local resource, and the users gain a more complete understanding of their impacts on the environment than users of other energy sources. As environmentalists have suggested, these are some of the very features needed for economic and environmental sustainability. Families who heat their homes with wood responsibly should be recognized for their contribution to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a sustainable energy future.
Although wood is a good fuel with advantages for individual families, it is not a good fuel for all families in all regions. For example, wood is not a good fuel for serious heating in multi-family dwellings or in the downtown core of our large cities. Wood is best used as a fuel outside cities, in small towns and rural areas, where the cost of firewood and population density are lower.
Wood pellets are another form of fuel that is commonly used in Pellet stoves some of which utilize automatic feeders for continuous operation. The particular brand of pellet does matter as BTU’s vary only slightly from brand to brand, but ash content, length consistency, and impurities may vary greatly. Impurities increase “klinkering” or “caking” of ash in the burn pot. There is a huge difference between 1% ash and 0.25% ash.
With appropriately certified and operated modern wood heaters, the use of good quality wood fuel is one of the most efficient and cheapest forms of heating in colder climates. The replacement of existing national domestic heating needs supplied by wood with gas and electricity would result in a significant net increase in carbon dioxide emissions, while the application and enforcement of national standards for wood heaters and wood fuel would substantially reduce particulate emissions.
Always choose a WETT Certified Professional to inspect your wood burning appliance. In Barrie Ontario the Barrie Home Inspector is available to supply all the information and perform your insurance inspection of your wood burning appliances. Visit our WETT Inspection Site for information and to book your WETT Inspection. Most insurance companies now require a WETT Inspection for new installations or existing installations if you are buying a new home.
Want to find out more about WETT Inspections for all your wood stove, pellet and fireplace needs. Call Roger at 705-795-8255
WETT Certified inspections are only $75.00 when included as part of home inspection.
WETT Inspections for Wood Burning Appliances. Wood Energy Technology Transfer Inc. (WETT Inc.) is a non-profit training and education association managed by a volunteer Board of Directors elected by holders of valid WETT certificates. Through its administrative designate, WETT Inc. functions as the national registrar of the WETT program. Through professional training and public education, WETT Inc. promotes the safe and effective use of wood burning systems in Canada.
A certificate holder will not knowingly contravene any federal, provincial or municipal law, regulation or by-law relating to the sale, installation, inspection or maintenance of woodburning systems. Tests of individual advanced technology stoves show that they produce between 60 and 90 per cent less smoke than the old ‘airtights’. Most advanced stoves average between two and five grams of smoke per hour of use, whereas the old stoves emit as much as 40 grams per hour. In Libby, Montana, where 1130 old wood stoves were replaced by EPA certified models between 2005 and 2007, the average outdoor air pollution (from all sources) was reduced by 30 per cent and indoor air pollution by 70 per cent compared to previous years. All cities and towns with concerns about winter air pollution can achieve big improvements by promoting the use of only advanced technology wood heaters.
Like any other human endeavor, wood heating can be done badly or well. Firewood can be harvested poorly, burned dirty and its heat wasted. The harmful behavior of those who burn wood badly has led to continual attacks in the media on the whole idea of residential wood heating. The increasing public backlash and government response to wood smoke, particularly in urban areas, is of such concern to us here at woodheat.org that we created a new site called The Woodpile to serve as a place to discuss the future of wood heating. Please visit The Woodpile and give your views on the state of wood heating today.
Energy is actively debated on several fronts these days. The Gulf of Mexico oil spill, drilling in the arctic, and the Alberta tar sands spark debate about the environmental wisdom of continued oil exploitation. Climate change is caused mainly by the combustion of fossil fuels, something that goes on at a spectacular rate around the world. Peak oil – meaning the maximum possible global production rate of conventional oil – has entered the mainstream discussion after a decade of lurking in the shadows. But judged by policy discussions about our energy future, wood heating is virtually nonexistent.
In April 2004, the CANMET combustion labs of Natural Resources Canada published results of its own research into dioxin emissions from wood stoves. Here is how the report authors described the results and presented them in a graph:
“When the total emission factors for each stove type are averaged, the certified stove produced 363 pg TEQ/kg dry fuel and the conventional stove produced 847 pg TEQ/kg dry fuel.
The certified woodstove produced lower PCDD [dioxin] and PCDF [furan] emissions than the conventional stove. This result is the opposite to the findings of the Environment Canada study. The effect of burn rate is dependent on the type of stove. For the conventional stove, a high burn rate produced more PCDD and PCDF emissions than a low burn rate. The opposite was observed for the certified stove, a low burn rate produced a more PCDD and PCDF emissions than a high burn rate.” Now we have the two most carefully instrumented investigations into dioxin emissions from wood stoves ever conducted producing opposite results. And the EPA certified stove is shown in the second study to produce less than half dioxin emissions of the conventional stove, on average.
Whatever energy source you choose, its use will have an impact on the environment. The best energy sources are renewable and the best of those are solar power and wind power because their environmental impacts tend to be low. As good as they are, though, they do have their problems and limitations. Wood is another renewable energy source with its own problems and limitations, some of which can be managed and minimized, others of which cannot. But when it is used effectively, wood is a fine fuel compared to all the other options we have available.
The Barrie Home Inpector is a Certified WETT Inspector and provides services in Barrie, Alliston, Orillia, Midland, Penetang, Bradford, Newmarket, Innisfil, Tiny Beaches, Oro-Medonte, Springwater, Stayner, Wasaga Beach, Alcona Beach, Lagoon City, Brechin, Angus, New Lowell and many other communities in Simcoe County.
WETT Inspections in Barrie ON. Cast iron and steel have almost identical conductivity ratings and both are suitable for stoves; however, the Insurance Information Institute recommends cast iron. In either case, the thicker the metal, the longer the stove will last.
About 70 percent of a stove’s usable heat comes from radiation; therefore, it is important that it be made of a metal with a high conductivity rating, be a color that aids heat radiation, and have enough surface from which the heat can radiate. It should be airtight to aid combustion and lined to retain heat for prolonged radiation.
An appliance with less than 75 mm (3 in) of clearance between the floor protection pad shall be supported off the floor protection pad by two courses of 90 mm (3.5 in) thick hollow masonry, clay or concrete units, arranged so that the hollow cores in the two courses are at right angles to each other to permit air circulation through them.
The clearance between a solid-fuel-burning appliance and a fuel oil storage tank shall be at least 1.5 m (5 ft). except that the authority having jurisdiction may permit a lesser clearance in accordance with CSA Standard B139.
The ceiling protection shall have a least 75 mm (3 in) edge clearance on all sides, as shown in Figure 6. If an adhesive is used to support noncombustible material, it shall not ignite or lose its adhesive qualities at temperatures likely to be encountered. The heat shield mounting hardware shall be installed to allow full vertical ventilation. Such hardware shall be placed not closer than 200 mm (8 in) from the vertical center-line of the appliance, except for diagonal corner installations.
A combustible is anything that will burn, including wallpaper, wood studs, certain types of insulation (e.g., polystyrene), and paneling. Even so-called “fire-resistant” gypsum board (drywall) panels are considered combustible.
Even if a wall has a non-combustible surface of tile or brick, it is still considered combustible if this surface is mounted on combustible material such as gypsum board and wood studs. Only a wall of concrete or brick without wood behind it, or one made of metal studs with a totally non-combustible covering, can be considered non-combustible.
The WETT Certified Inspector provides a detailed inspection of your wood burning appliance and your flue pipe or chimney system. Most insurance companies will require a WETT Certified Inspector to inspect your new home or newly installed wood burning appliance prior to issuing insurance on your home. For any information on WETT Certified Inspections and answers to questions concerning installations, visit Barrie WETT Inspections.
SITE (System Inspections and Technical Evaluation)
SITE is a set of standardized guidelines recommended by WETT for the inspection and evaluation of wood-burning and other solid fuel burning systems. This chart identifies what each inspection level includes, its purpose and process. An inspection at any level
may include more but not less than that outlined in the “SITE Chart and Guidelines”.
To find out more valuable information on WETT Inspections visit WETT INSPECTOR for all the information you will need when installing a wood stove, fireplace or pellet stove
Level 1 Inspection “Readily Accessible”
Level 2 Inspection “Accessible”
Level 3 Inspection “Concealed Accessibility”
Scope (What is Included)
The inspection of “readily accessible” components of: (1) A wood/solid-fuel burning appliance, or
(2) A site-built fireplace, and
(3) The venting system for:
a)The proper use of required components, and
b)clearance to combustibles, and
c)readily visible system obstructions or deposits.
(1)A Level 1 inspection, and (2)an inspection of all “accessible” components of the system for clearance to combustibles and for obstructions or deposits, and
(3)an evaluation of the construction, sizing, condition and suitability of “accessible” components of the system.
1)A Level 1 and 2 inspection, and (2)an inspection of system components in areas of “concealed accessibility” for clearance to combustibles, and
(3)an evaluation of construction, sizing, condition and suitability of components of the system in areas of “concealed accessibility”, and
(4)an examination of surrounding construction for evidence of damage.
Purpose (Why and When)
(1) To verify code compliance of the readily accessible components: (a)At a homeowner’s request, or
(b)with a homeowner’s permission, when requested by a third party such as a Realtor, insurance company, home buyer or seller etc.
1)When a Level 1 inspection is deemed insufficient because of a detected or suspected compliance issue or hazard, or (2)when verification of the suitability and integrity of the system components is required, or
(3)after an operating malfunction or external event that may have caused damage to the system, or
(4)if the system experiences combustion spillage events, or
(5)when an appliance is replaced, or
(6)when a major system component is replaced or requires significant repair.
(1)When a Level 2 inspection is deemed insufficient because of a detected or suspected compliance issue or hazard that cannot be fully verified without access to concealed areas, or (2)after an incident that may have caused damage to any concealed parts of the system or building construction related to the system.
Process (What to Expect)
1)A basic visual inspection by a WETT certified SITE inspector; performed without a ladder or specialized tools. (2)A report using WETT’s recommended inspection checklist(s) or similar checklist(s), for the type of system being inspected.
(1)Inspection of accessible system components, which may include disassembly of accessible system components, by a WETT certified SITE Comprehensive Inspector, or by a WETT certified Technician, as a part
of an installation or major system component repair process. (2)A report using WETT’s recommended checklist(s), or similar checklist(s).
(3)A written evaluation of the suitability and integrity of the system
(1)The inspection by invasive means of concealed areas of the system by a WETT certified SITE Comprehensive Inspector, including the removal of nonstructural building components and/or the disassembly of parts of the system. (2)The possible use of specialized tools and equipment.
(3)A comprehensive written report of the findings and possibly including inspection checklists.
Wood Energy Technology Transfer Inc. (WETT Inc.) is a non-profit training and education association. Through professional training and public education, WETT Inc. promotes the safe and effective use of wood and solid-fuel burning systems in Canada. SITE and WETT Inc. are registered trademarks of WETT Inc.
The Ontario Fire Code requires homeowners to maintain the safety of their chimneys and inspect them at least once a year. Consulting a WETT (Wood Energy Technical Transfer) Certified chimney sweep will ensure the present and future owners’ safety, and help relieve the liability issues for all parties involved.
Many insurance companies in Canada are requiring Wood Energy Technology Transfer (WETT) inspections, an inspection of wood burning appliances, before issuing insurance. A WETT-inspector will visually inspect the safety of any wood-burning appliances.
Many insurance companies in Canada are requiring Wood Energy Technology Transfer (WETT) inspections, an inspection of wood burning appliances, before issuing insurance. A WETT-inspector will visually inspect the safety of any wood-burning appliances. Call the Barrie Home inspector for all your wood burning inspection requirements.
The Orillia Home Inspector is WETT Certified and has been providing WETT inspection services since 2005. Let the Orillia Home inspectors expertise and training protect your home and investment. Whether purchasing a new home with a fireplace or wood stove or installing a new wood burning appliance call the Orillia Home Inspector.
