WETT Inspection Services, Repairs, and Installations by a WETT Advanced Technician & Advanced Chimney Sweep, System Advisor & Installer.
We serve Real Estate transactions, Insurance Company requirements, and Home owner requirements.
Your Brockville areas WETT SITE Comprehensive Inspector, also serving Perth, Smiths Falls and all surrounding areas.
My name is Richard Winters, and I am the Owner of Armada Inspection Services.
I am a WETT Certified Advanced Technician, Installer, Advanced Chimney Sweep, and WETT SITE Comprehensive Inspector, the highest level of certification available.
Have a question? Contact Armada Inspection Services anytime. Call or Email Richard 7 days a week.
“We inspect every home as if it was for family, friends, or ourselves. We always do the same for our clients.”
Call: 613-802-8068
Send E-mails to:
[email protected]
WHATS WRONG WITH THIS FACTORY CHIMNEY?
When the home was purchased, a WETT Inspection Report was provided for the factory chimney shown, as well as the associated wood stove and flue pipes. At first glance there is a few non-compliance issues notable, missing support brackets and a missing support arm, but this was the least of it.
This factory chimney is rated to ULC-S604 and is NOT compliant for use with a wood stove. This chimney is only certified for use with gas or liquid fuel appliances. I estimated the cost to replace with a proper ULC-S629 certified chimney, and correct all non-compliance at $7,000. The owner wanted a second opinion. It came in at $7,400. The individual whose name is on the inspection report is not listed with WETT.
Trust but verify. It would have saved a lot of money in this case. Now they own the problem.
What is a WETT Inspection?
Wood Energy Technology Transfer (WETT) is the national registrar of the WETT program in Canada.
Their website can be found at; https://www.wettinc.ca
A WETT Inspection is a typical requirement for property insurance or a Real Estate transaction when wood burning appliances are involved. In these cases a Level 2 (Technical) inspection should be demanded. A Level 1 (Visual) inspection could leave you with thousands in repairs after the fact.
The requirement for a WETT inspection should be straight forward, it is for the safety of you, your family, and your property. Insurance companies will require a WETT Inspection Report if you have wood burning appliances. Although a Level 1 (Visual) inspection report was accepted in the past some companies are now requiring Level 2 (Technical) inspection reports. Please confirm with your insurer what their requirements are.
If deficiencies are found during an inspection they will be recorded as ‘non-compliance’ items, as they do not comply with current code requirements. There is no ‘Grandfathering’ accepted. All installations must comply with the multiple current code requirements.
Far too often people think that there is only one WETT Inspection Standard. This is understandable as most companies advertise “We Do WETT Inspections”, when in fact there are Three (3) WETT Levels of Inspection.
Level 1 (Visual) Inspection. This is the lowest level of certification, and the lowest level of inspection, yet companies advertise “We Do WETT Inspections”. A WETT Level 1 (Visual) Inspection should NEVER be the primary inspection for any wood burning appliance. If non-compliance issues are found they will recommend a Technician look at it.
Level 2 (Technical) Inspections can only be completed by a Certified Technician or Certified Chimney Sweep. A Level 2 (Technical) Inspection should be the minimum standard for all installations.
WETT Level 3 (Invasive) Inspection can only be completed by a Certified Technician or Chimney Sweep who is also a SITE Comprehensive Inspector.
What type of WETT Certified Professional do I need?
WETT certifies members in the following categories
SITE Basic Inspector — This is the lowest level of certification. They can only perform a Level 1 (Visual) inspection. NOTE: A level 1 (Visual) inspection does not confirm functionality. If a pellet stove was run to failure, then cleaned up to look nice, a SITE Basic Inspectors report will not identify this. A Level 1 (Visual) Inspection does not use any tools and does not remove any parts or components. If the appliance requires $1,000 in repairs you will not know.
Technician — It took Richard 8 years of hard work to become a WETT Certified Advanced Technician. Technicians can install and perform maintenance on wood-burning appliances and chimneys. They can also perform a Level 1 (Visual) or Level 2 (Technical) inspection.
Chimney Sweep — Chimney Sweeps can clean and maintain your entire wood-burning system. They can also perform a Level 1 (Visual) or Level 2 (Technical) inspection.
SITE Comprehensive Inspector — A Comprehensive Inspector can perform Level 1 (Visual), Level 2 (Technical) or Level 3 (Invasive) inspections. These individuals are also both a Technician and Chimney Sweep.