Given the potential threat a wood burning appliance can pose to residents of a home, a proper WETT  inspection can not only give you the peace of mind you need when buying a home, any insurance companies will require it (and an annual inspection/chimney sweep is required by our Fire Code). 

Why Would I Need a WETT Inspection?

Most people who are buying a home with a wood burning stove or fireplace, changing a component in the installation or who have a new one installed should have a WETT Inspection, if for no other reason than the safety of you and your family.

With any wood burning appliance, the potential for harmful gases to be released into your living environment along with combustible materials to ignite is increased.  It is mandatory these appliances are installed correctly, maintained properly and regularly inspected.  

A WETT specialty inspection is part of many Home Inspections and part of the home insuring process. In fact, most homeowners first hear about WETT inspection because an insurance company asks that their appliances be examined by a WETT certified inspector.

Most if not all insurance companies in Canada require that any home using wood burning appliances to be thoroughly inspected by a qualified WETT certified inspector before being insured.

Just what is included in a WETT Inspection?

Unfortunately not all WETT Inspections are the same, as are not all WETT certified inspectors.  The vast majority of inspectors are what is called a SITE Basic Inspector (SITE = System Inspection & Technical Evaluation).  These must be inspected by a WETT Certified Inspector.  However, the SITE Basic Inspector is only able to perform inspection on Readily Accessible components - which is actually less than the Home Inspector!  They generally do not even go on the roof.  This means that a large portion of the system is only inspected by using binoculars from the ground and many measurements are only estimated.

Most do not enter the attic, and in some cases that is considered a Level 3 Inspection (more on this later - but a SITE Basic Inspector can only do Level 1 inspections).

Many fireplace inserts can also not be properly inspected by SITE Basic Inspectors as they are limited in what they can do.

If the inspection contains areas they can not inspected they either label as UTI or call another Inspector who can perform the inspection.

The Bottom Line

Keep in mind that a WETT Inspection is much more than just something to offer you peace of mind, if wood-burning appliances are a part of your home’s features, it is of paramount importance that these appliances are both installed properly and inspected for your safety.

But to do the job properly and avoid a potential disaster, please do yourself a favor.  Find somebody who is also a WETT Certified Chimney Sweep and if possible also a SITE Comprehensive Inspector.  These individuals are trained and have the experience ( and highest level of WETT Certification possible ) to do ANY Inspection and are generally far more experienced than any Basic Inspector.  Good luck and don't take chances.  The SITE Comprehensive Inspector can perform Level 1, 2 or 3 Inspections.

To quote another Home Inspector, Bruce Grant in Orillia, he says on his website "Homebuyer alert:: The WETT inspection, a disaster in the making.  ... Frankly, that type of inspection is a disaster waiting to happen to you the homebuyer! ... Do not get a WETT inspection alone. You must, for safety sake, have a certified sweep clean and inspect the entire chimney and the firebox prior to using any woodburning appliance. "