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Wett Certified Inspector – Level 1 

WETT Certified Inspector for Barrie, Angus, Alliston, Everett, Tottenham, Innisfil, Orillia, Bradford, Wasaga Beach, Elmvale, Lefroy and Creemore.  WETT Inspections can usually be booked within 48 hours and sometimes sooner.  If you are buying a new home with a wood burning appliance we always recommend you have your chimney cleaned prior to inspection,  this will reveal any deficiencies that may be hidden by soot and creosote.  Masonry chimneys and fireplaces can be very expensive to repair, we recommend having WETT Inspection done prior to completing purchase of your new home.

WETT Certified Inspector

A WETT Certified Inspector can inspect your wood burning appliance ensuring proper installation. A level 1 WETT (Wood Energy Transfer Technology) Inspection is a visual check of wood burning stoves & fireplace installations against relevant standards and codes. Most insurance companies will require inspection of wood burning appliances by a WETT certified inspector as a condition of insuring the building. The provided report will give the insurance company the information they need to insure your home.

WETT Certified Inspector –  Savings

WETT Certified Inspection Savings – Wood burning appliance inspections are available as a standalone service or as an add on to a home inspection. WETT inspection as part of Home Inspection package is only $75.00, a savings of $100.00.   Any safety issues with the installation will be clearly identified to you so that you know what needs to be done and the seller may pay for needed repairs.

Many Canadian home owners are surprised that their insurance company requires them to have their wood burning appliance inspected. Although your stove may be “certified” by ULC or another listed rating agency, that only supplies the required installation instructions for that particular appliance. There are three agencies which test or list wood burning appliances; C.S.A., Underwriters Laboratories, and Warnock Hersery. Your insurance company will require that your stove be inspected by a WETT Certified Professional Inspector prior to issuing an insurance policy.

The testing agency will set up a manufactures appliance in accordance with the installation instructions and perform a test firing. They set up thermal couplers at all sides of appliance to ensure unit does not exceed safety requirements for temperature. Only when the unit passes this test will a ULC rating sticker be allowed to be attached to appliance.

As part of your Wett Inspection your appliance will have all its parts inspected including chimney, damper and vents. All parts have to be in good condition and operable in order for your appliance to pass this part of the inspection. A broken damper or cracked chimney would be cause for failure.

When installing your wood burning appliance you will have to ensure all clearances on rating data tag are met. If there is not rating or listing tag then the minimum distance to combustibles will be 48 inches. If required, you may install a radiation heat shield which can allow up to 67 percent reduction in clearance. This shield has to be constructed in strict accordance to CSA B365 requirements.

Wood appliances will usually have either a single wall or double walled pipe. Usually most people use a double walled pipe to avoid the 18 clearance required by use of single wall pipes. When passing through a wall or chimney a listed thimble is required. A listed thimble can reduce the required 18 inches of clearance required to 2 inches.

If your masonry chimney has damaged clay flue tiles most experts will recommend installing a flexible stainless steel liner. These liners come in various sizes and are guaranteed for life. This re-lining method is both faster and cheaper than repairing a damaged masonry chimney.  If you are installing a Fireplace Insert then you are required to have a chimney liner installed.

Many fires are caused by individuals not cleaning their wood burning appliance and chimneys. Regular inspection and cleaning is the most important method of preventing chimney fires. Take down the stove pipe at least once or twice during the heating season and clean out the soot. Removing the accumulated soot saves fuel, increases heat and minimizes the danger of fire.

For more information visit WETT Inspections

ULC – Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) is an independent product safety testing, certification and inspection organization.

CSA – CSA Group is a not-for-profit membership-based association serving business, industry, government and consumers in Canada and the global marketplace.

Warnock Hersey – The Warnock Hersey Mark (WH) is North America’s leading product safety and performance mark for building and construction products.

ULC – Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) is an independent product safety testing, certification and inspection organization.

CSA – CSA Group is a not-for-profit membership-based association serving business, industry, government and consumers in Canada and the global marketplace.

Warnock Hersey – The Warnock Hersey Mark (WH) is North America’s leading product safety and performance mark for building and construction products.

Reducing clearances to combustible material can some times be the only way that your particular wood stove will meet installation requirements of manufacture or CSA B365.  There are a number of products that can be used to reduce Clearances to Combustible Material

Chart for Reducing Combustible Clearances

The CSA B365 Chart below gives the amount of reduction you can achieve using various products installed in accordanace with require Installation Guide Lines.   This method of reducing Clearancs can also be used on Certified Wood Stoves and Space Heaters.

WETT Clearance to Combustibles Chart

Clearances Required for Uncertified Wood Stove

Uncertified Wood Stove Clearance

 

 

Does my insurance company require a WETT Inspection?

 In fact, most insurance companies today require a Level 1 WETT inspection to insure your home.

A WETT Inspection by the Barrie WETT Certified inspector will ensure that your system is installed and operating correctly, and that it poses no threat to your home and family.  With the price of electricity and propane going through the roof, more and more people are turning to wood burning systems to heat their homes. While cheaper than electricity, it also poses a greater risk of fire. If you currently heat your home (completely or partially) with wood, it is in your best interest to have your system inspected by a Wood Energy Technical Transfer (WETT) specialist.

 

Read More About Barrie WETT Inspections

 Call Roger Frost today to book your WETT Certified Inspection.   705-795-8255

 Report is issued at time of inspection.