WETT Inspections in Niagara & Hamilton
If your home has a wood stove, fireplace, fireplace insert or other solid-fuel-burning appliance, a WETT inspection can provide important information about the safety, condition and compliance of the installation.
WETT inspections are commonly requested by insurance companies and during real estate transactions, but they can also be performed simply to better understand the condition of an existing wood-burning system.
I provide WETT inspections throughout Niagara, Hamilton and surrounding areas.
What Is a WETT Inspection?
A WETT inspection is an evaluation of a solid-fuel-burning appliance and its venting system performed by a WETT-certified professional.
The inspection evaluates visible and accessible components of the installation against applicable codes, standards, appliance certification requirements and manufacturer installation instructions.
Depending on the type of system, this can include the:
- Wood stove, fireplace or fireplace insert
- Chimney and venting system
- Hearth and floor protection
- Clearances to combustible materials
- Chimney termination
- Flue and connector components
- Applicable installation and safety requirements
Following the inspection, you receive a written WETT inspection report documenting the installation and any deficiencies identified.
WETT certifies the individual performing the inspection. WETT does not certify or approve the appliance or installation itself.
A More Detailed Visual WETT Inspection
The WETT inspection I provide is documented as a Visual inspection, but I do not believe that means simply looking at the appliance and chimney from the easiest available location.
My approach is to obtain as much useful visual information about the wood-burning system as reasonably possible.
When conditions allow and the roof can be safely accessed, inspecting the chimney from roof level is preferred. This provides a much better view of the chimney exterior, cap and termination and, where the chimney design and conditions allow, provides an opportunity to look directly down the flue.
If I do not access the roof, a drone is always used to obtain a closer view of the chimney exterior, cap, flashing and other visible components that may be difficult or impossible to properly evaluate from the ground.
Viewing the flue itself is also an important part of the inspection. Wherever possible, the goal is to obtain a view of the flue from both the top and bottom.
This is particularly important with masonry chimneys using clay tile liners. With age, clay liners can become cracked or misaligned, mortar joints can deteriorate or be missing, and gaps can develop between liner sections. These conditions may affect the ability of the flue to safely contain smoke and combustion products.
Additional inspection equipment may be used where appropriate to improve visibility of accessible portions of the chimney, flue and venting system.
Depending on the particular installation, accessibility and conditions encountered, additional accessible components may also be examined more closely.
These additional efforts may go beyond the minimum requirements of a Visual WETT inspection. However, the inspection is still documented as a Visual inspection and the methods used will vary depending on the appliance, chimney construction, accessibility, weather conditions and safety.
The objective is to perform as detailed an inspection as reasonably possible rather than simply completing the minimum required inspection.
Why Would I Need a WETT Inspection?
One of the most common reasons homeowners first hear about WETT inspections is because their insurance company requests one.
A Visual WETT inspection is the starting point for insurance and real estate purposes. If conditions are identified during the inspection that cannot be adequately evaluated visually, a Technical or Invasive inspection may be recommended.
A WETT inspection may also be useful:
- When purchasing a home with a wood stove or fireplace
- When selling a home
- When requested by an insurance company
- When the installation history is unknown
- When an appliance has not been used for an extended period
- When there are concerns about the appliance or chimney
- When changes have been made to the wood-burning system
- For general peace of mind before using an existing appliance
Buying a Home With a Wood Stove or Fireplace?
If you are purchasing a home containing a wood-burning appliance, having the system inspected before taking ownership can provide valuable information.
Many wood stoves, fireplaces and chimneys have been in service for decades. The current homeowner may not know who installed the appliance, when it was installed, whether alterations were made, or whether all components were installed correctly.
This can be particularly important with older homes and cottages where wood-burning systems may have been installed or modified by previous owners.
A WETT inspection can identify visible deficiencies and help you understand whether repairs, modifications or further evaluation may be required.
Chimney Fires Can Cause Hidden Damage
A chimney fire does not always result in obvious damage inside the home, and in some cases a homeowner may not even realize that a chimney fire has occurred.
The high temperatures produced during a chimney fire can damage clay flue liners and other chimney components. Cracking, deterioration or displacement within the flue can create a serious concern the next time the fireplace or wood stove is used.
Ontario’s Fire Code specifically requires a chimney, flue and flue pipe to be inspected after a chimney fire.
If a chimney fire is known or suspected to have occurred, the system should be inspected before being returned to use.
How Often Should a Chimney Be Inspected?
Ontario’s Fire Code contains specific requirements for the inspection of chimneys, flues and flue pipes.
Ontario Fire Code 2.6.1.4 requires every chimney, flue and flue pipe to be inspected to identify dangerous conditions:
- At intervals not greater than 12 months
- When an appliance is added
- After a chimney fire
This does not mean that a complete WETT inspection must be performed every year.
For homeowners who do not require a new full WETT inspection, I also offer a reduced-fee annual maintenance inspection of the chimney, flue and flue pipe to address the 12-month inspection requirement of the Ontario Fire Code.
This annual inspection is intended for routine ongoing inspection and maintenance and is separate from a complete WETT inspection that may be required for an insurance company, real estate transaction, system change or other specific concern.
The Fire Code also requires chimneys, flues and flue pipes to be cleaned as often as necessary to keep them free from accumulations of combustible deposits.
Regular inspection and maintenance can help identify deterioration, damaged components, excessive deposits and other conditions before they become more serious.
WETT Inspection Reports for Insurance
For insurance purposes, the inspection begins with a Visual WETT inspection.
Following the inspection, you receive a completed WETT inspection report identifying the appliance and venting system inspected and documenting the findings.
If a condition is identified that cannot be adequately evaluated during the Visual inspection, further investigation or a higher level of inspection may be recommended.
It is important to understand that a WETT inspector does not issue a “WETT certificate” or “approve” an installation. The report documents the condition and compliance of the system based on what could be inspected at the time.
If deficiencies are found, they will be identified in the report along with recommendations where appropriate.
What If Part of the System Cannot Be Inspected?
Like any inspection, there can be limitations.
Some components may be concealed behind finished walls, ceilings, chimney construction or other materials and cannot be evaluated during a Visual inspection.
Where a component cannot be inspected, this limitation will be documented. If conditions or visible evidence indicate that additional investigation is warranted, a higher level of inspection or further evaluation by an appropriate WETT-certified professional may be recommended.
Roof access, drone inspection and the use of additional inspection equipment can often provide considerably more information without invasive work, but no visual inspection can determine the condition of every concealed component.
(1) Every chimney, flue and flue pipe shall be inspected to identify any dangerous condition at intervals not greater than 12 months, at the time of addition of any appliance, and after any chimney fire.
