Buying or selling a home with a wood-burning fireplace, wood stove, or insert—or asked by your Ontario home insurer for a formal solid-fuel compliance report? Request a WETT inspection Ottawa quote below to connect with an independent local provider.
A WETT inspection is a check of a wood-burning fireplace, stove, or insert by a WETT-certified inspector to see whether its installation, clearances and chimney meet code, and Ontario insurers and home buyers often ask for one. Ottawa Chimney Pros connects you with an independent local provider.
Last updated: October 26, 2026
Share your Ottawa-area location, the type of wood-burning appliance in the property (open brick fireplace, wood insert, freestanding wood stove, or pellet stove), and whether the inspection is for home insurance or a real-estate closing.
Referral & Privacy Disclosure: Ottawa Chimney Pros is an independent contractor referral website and does not directly employ WETT inspectors or issue certifications directly. By submitting this form, you consent to having your project details shared with an independent local chimney service provider in the Ottawa area so they may contact you regarding availability, credentials, and pricing. See our Privacy Policy.
WETT stands for Wood Energy Technology Transfer Inc., the non-profit Canadian organization that trains and certifies professionals who inspect, install, and sweep wood-burning appliances across Ontario. Because improper stove clearances, unlined brick flues, or deteriorated chimneys create serious residential fire hazards, most Ontario home insurance underwriters require a formal inspection report before insuring a house with a wood-burning unit.
When switching home insurance providers or adding a wood stove/insert to your policy in Ottawa, insurers typically request a SITE Basic Inspection report with photos verifying code-compliant clearances and venting.
General home inspectors do not issue WETT reports. Booking a dedicated chimney inspection before waiving conditions protects buyers from inheriting uncertified wood stoves or cracked flue liners.
After installing a freestanding wood stove, fireplace insert, or insulated stainless steel liner, a WETT-certified evaluation confirms the installation meets CSA B365 and Ontario Building Code standards.
WETT-certified inspectors assess solid-fuel systems against CSA B365, the Ontario Building Code, the Ontario Fire Code and the appliance manufacturer's instructions.
For a deeper homeowner explainer, read our guide: How often should you clean and inspect a wood-burning fireplace in Ottawa?.
Areas served: Barrhaven, Gloucester, Kanata, Manotick, Nepean, Orleans, Riverside South and Stittsville.
While the exact level of inspection depends on your insurance company’s form and your appliance type, an independent WETT-trained technician typically evaluates:
Checking the metal data plate on wood stoves and fireplace inserts to confirm the unit is certified for Canadian residential use and identifying its exact clearance specifications.
Measuring the distance from the stove body, firebox opening, and flue pipe to nearby drywall, wood mantels, trim, and framing against CSA B365 safety rules.
Verifying that a continuous, non-combustible hearth pad extends the required distance in front of and around the loading door to catch hot embers.
Inspecting connector pipes, throat dampers, clay flue tiles, or stainless steel liners for cracks, rust, improper joints, or heavy creosote needing chimney cleaning.
Checking the chimney stack above the roofline for spalling bricks, open mortar joints, and cracked crowns that may require chimney masonry repair or chimney repair.
Confirming the chimney meets the "3-2-10 rule" height above the roof and checking chimney flashing repair and chimney cap installation condition.
Not sure whether to ask for a Level 1 visual check, a Level 2 invasive/camera evaluation, or a standard flue sweep? Use this breakdown:
| Inspection Type | What It Includes | When Ottawa Homeowners Need It |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (Visual SITE Basic) | Visual inspection of readily accessible appliance, clearances, hearth pad, flue, and exterior stack with written insurance checklist. | Standard home insurance policy renewals and routine pre-purchase checks when requested by your broker. |
| Level 2 (Technical / Camera Evaluation) | Includes flue sweeping (chimney cleaning), internal liner/camera check, attic/crawlspace clearance checks, and stove baffle inspection. | Buying an older Ottawa home, changing appliances, or checking a flue after a suspected chimney fire. |
| Annual Flue Sweep & Visual Check | Brushing soot/creosote from the liner and vacuuming the firebox (fireplace cleaning) without a formal insurance certificate. | Yearly maintenance for homeowners whose insurance policy is already active. |
Quote requests are welcome from homeowners and home buyers in Ottawa, Kanata, Nepean, Barrhaven, Orleans, and Stittsville—including rural properties in Carp, Manotick, Greely, Dunrobin, and Cumberland with freestanding wood stoves.
If the flue has heavy soot or creosote obscuring the liner walls, an inspector cannot verify the condition of the clay tiles or stainless liner without sweeping it first. Many Ottawa homeowners book chimney cleaning and their WETT inspection in the same appointment.
A WETT inspection is not a pass/fail test—it is an objective report noting whether all components meet current Canadian safety standards. If the inspector flags a clearance issue, missing hearth pad extension, cracked liner, or damaged exterior brickwork, they document the deficiency so you can arrange chimney repair or upgrades to bring it into compliance.
No—WETT applies strictly to solid-fuel (wood and pellet) burning systems. Natural gas and propane fireplaces in Ontario are regulated by the TSSA and serviced by licensed gas technicians.
No. Ottawa Chimney Pros is an online contractor referral website that connects homeowners and home buyers with independent local chimney service providers. Always confirm the specific WETT certification level required by your insurer directly with the independent provider you hire.
WETT stands for Wood Energy Technology Transfer Inc., a Canadian non-profit that trains and certifies wood-burning professionals such as inspectors, installers and sweeps. Ask the provider for their WETT certification number.
WETT inspections are not a general legal requirement, but insurers and lenders commonly request one, and the Ontario Fire Code separately requires chimneys to be inspected at least every 12 months. Ask your insurer which report and level it needs.
Have the appliance make and model, the installation manual if you have it, any installation permit and past sweeping receipts. The certification label on the back or side of the appliance needs to be reachable.
There is no set expiry date. A report describes the system on the day it was inspected, so insurers may want a new one after a sale, an appliance change, or a chimney fire.
Submit your details online and connect with an independent local provider serving Ottawa and surrounding communities.
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