WETT inspections in Burlington
WETT-certified inspections in Burlington for insurance and real estate: masonry fireplaces and inserts in lakeshore homes, wood stoves in Kilbride, Lowville, and Mount Nemo. Written WETT report with clearances and chimney findings.
Burlington has two wood-burning populations. The 1950s to 1980s homes of Roseland, Shoreacres, Tyandaga, and Aldershot were built with masonry fireplaces, and many have since had an insert slid in, not always with the liner it needs. North of Dundas Street, Kilbride, Lowville, and Mount Nemo homes run wood stoves as serious heat on properties where a power outage is a real event. Insurers in both halves of the city ask for a WETT inspection at a change of ownership or when a new policy is written, and a WETT report from us satisfies that request.
Fireplaces and inserts in south Burlington
A fireplace insert installed into an older masonry fireplace needs a full-height stainless liner connected to the appliance and the clearances the manufacturer requires. The common finding in south Burlington is an insert vented into the original clay flue with no liner, which most insurers will not accept. We inspect the firebox, damper, smoke chamber, flue, cap, and the hearth extension, and we check the insert’s listing against how it is installed.
Open fireplaces in these homes also show cracked firebrick, deteriorated mortar, and chimney crowns that let water into the masonry. The report photographs each item and lists it in the order it matters.
Wood stoves in rural north Burlington
Stoves in Kilbride, Lowville, and Mount Nemo are often the primary heat in the shoulder seasons and the backup when the power is out. We check the appliance and its certification label, clearances to combustibles with and without shields, the floor pad, the connector pipe and its joints, the chimney type and condition, the cap, and the attic and roof penetrations. Older airtight stoves and homemade installations in outbuildings and garages come up often here.
Burlington has a smoke-control bylaw that applies to outdoor burning and open-air fires; indoor wood-burning appliances are governed by the Building Code and the manufacturer’s listing, which is what a WETT inspection measures against. The report tells you what passes, what needs correction, and what you should budget for.
How the wett inspection works
- Visual inspection of fireplaces, stoves, and inserts for condition, installation, and clearances.
- Chimney and venting evaluation for blockages, damage, and draft.
- Creosote and combustion assessment for fire hazards.
- Component and safety inspection, then a written report with recommendations.
Full details, including what we can and cannot inspect, are on the WETT Inspections page.
WETT Inspections in Burlington: FAQs
Will my insurer accept the report?
A WETT inspection by a WETT-certified inspector is what Ontario insurers ask for. The report lists the appliance, chimney, clearances, and any deficiencies in a format underwriters are used to.
Does an insert in an old fireplace need a liner?
Yes, a listed insert needs a full-height stainless liner connected to the appliance. An insert vented into the original flue is the most common fail we see in south Burlington.
How long does a WETT inspection take?
About an hour for one appliance, including the chimney and roof where safely accessible. Added to a home inspection it is usually seamless.
Call 289-797-0130 or text us to book a wett inspection in Burlington, or book online.
Have a question about inspection services?
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Serving Southern Ontario, Canada