Are you looking to buy a home with a wood burning fireplace?
If so, did you know that you should be conducting a WETT inspection when purchasing? Keep reading so you can learn why this is an important step in your buying process and how it can save your house from potentially burning to the ground.
Today let’s dive into why you may need a Wood Energy Technology Transfer inspection on your wood burning appliance and explore everything you need to know about WETT inspections.
What is a WETT Inspection?
What is a WETT inspection you ask? For starters, it has nothing to do with water.
WETT stands for Wood Energy Technology Transfer
A WETT inspection is a detailed evaluation of your fireplace system that checks for any damages that could be a potential hazard.
There are three different types of inspections. Level one, two and three. In most real estate transactions, a level one visual inspection is done. If the inspector sees any concern in the level one inspection a level two Technical or level three Invasive inspection may be recommended.
For this blog post we are focusing on level one.
What happens at a WETT inspection?
It involves conducting a visual inspection of the interior and exterior of the fireplace chimney, measuring clearances, an evaluation of the liner and flue pipe, checking the damper, smoke chamber, firebox and many other general inspections around the appliance. It will identify any deficiencies and red flags you need to worry about.
The general verbiage around WETT inspections is WETT certified. But the important part to understand is you don’t actually get a certificate.
You need to hire a WETT certified inspector and they will provide you with a written inspection report. This is NOT a certificate, but the inspector’s certification number should be included on the report.
It’s also important to remember that the WETT inspection only warrants what they saw and recorded at the time of their inspection. Once the inspector leaves, they can’t control or know of any changes to the system after.
How Much Does a WETT Inspection cost?
A WETT inspection usually costs $200-300 plus tax in our area but reach out for a quote for a more accurate price.
Do I Need A WETT Inspection?
There’s a few components to this but ultimately, yes, you need one.
First off, the safety of your home and family comes in number one for me. Chimneys that are not correctly maintained can create a build-up of creosote, which is a flammable substance that can ignite and cause a chimney fire. Wet inspections are necessary to identify any potential problems, such as creosote buildup, blockages, leaks or faulty elements, which could cause chimney fire or carbon monoxide exposure.
Secondly most insurance companies require it. Some will give you a 30 day grace period to get it done when purchasing. So if they ask for the certificate, you can share the report with them. If you need more information on what your insurance broker will require to provide you a quote check out this blog post.
how often do you need a WETT inspection?
A yearly cleaning is often enough to give homeowners peace of mind, but every 5 years is a good gauge to make sure everything is working properly. Your insurance company may want an annual inspection so just reach out to your insurance broker for that information.
So, did you learn something? Let me know in the comments below if your WETT inspection has revealed anything you didn’t know could have been a harm to you.
Speak to a WETT certified professional to schedule your next WETT inspection and give yourself the peace of mind that you and your family are safe. If you need a recommendation for the Huron County area, just reach out by clicking here.
