subject: Wett Inspections And Why They Are Important [print this page] When you have a home with a fireplace or other wood burning appliance, you should be having regular WETT inspections to make sure that nothing has gone wrong with it. Remember, having a wood burning appliance in your home essentially places a blazing fire right there inside your home, so you cant afford for any part of that appliance to fail because it could cost you your home.
WETT stands for Wood Energy Technology Transfer, which is a non-profit organization that handles education and training to teach inspectors about wood burning appliances. The organization focuses on making sure that wood burning appliances all across Canada are operating safely by providing training to retailers of wood energy products and maintenance and installation for wood burning system. The organization also issues certificates to inspectors who pass their various training programs so that others know they are fully trained on wood burning appliances and how to stay safe.
WETT Certifications
One of the greatest misunderstandings about WETT inspections is the thought that they result in certification for your wood burning appliance. Some insurance companies may request that you have your appliance WETT certified, but that isnt really an accurate request. The inspectors who perform WETT inspections are themselves certified by WETT, but they wont be certifying your appliance in any way other than saying whether it passed their inspections.
These inspections are important because in Canada, wood burning appliances are not regulated in any way. WETT cant officially certify appliances, although they can train inspectors thoroughly about proper installation and maintenance on these wood burning appliances. The organization maintains a strict code of ethics which all WETT inspectors must abide by. Of course it does not officially oversee its certified inspectors, but the organization does have internal protocols in place for dealing with any inspectors who break the code of ethics. It also cannot advocate on behalf of consumers who have a concern about the inspection that was done on their wood burning appliance or fireplace.
When performing an inspection, experts who are WETT certified will typically take a close look at these components of the appliance:
- The chimney
- The damper
- The firebox
- The flue and liner
- Whether there is an adequate amount of clearance between the appliance and surfaces that are combustible.
- The smoke chamber
- If the hearth or other protection for the floor is adequate
Inspectors will typically provide you with a report at the end of the inspection, letting you know whether there are any parts of your appliance that need attention. They can also help you learn about proper maintenance so that your appliance always stays in good working order and doesnt threaten your family or your home.
A malfunctioning wood burning appliance can damage your home or hurt your family, so it is essential that you have regular inspections done at least once or twice per year. WETT keeps an updated registry of all companies that are certified to perform inspections geared specifically at wood burning appliances. Their certified inspectors are always up to date on the latest practices in the industry.
You may think that you cant afford an inspection of your fireplace or wood burning appliance right now, but the question you should be asking yourself is whether you can afford not to have one.
