People often ask for a ‘WETT certificate and sweep’ as if it were one combo meal. It can be one appointment when the person has the right qualifications and you book both scopes, but the jobs answer different questions. Cleaning asks what must come out. Inspection asks what condition the system is in and what the inspector could actually see.
Which service answers your question?
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| Your reason for calling | Service to discuss | What to confirm before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Routine seasonal safety review | Chimney, flue, and flue-pipe inspection | Who will inspect, what is accessible, and whether cleaning can be added if needed |
| Combustible deposits or heavy use | Chimney sweeping plus inspection | Which appliance and full venting path are included |
| Insurance or real-estate request | WETT inspection report | The insurer’s accepted inspection level, professional designation, and report timing |
| Damage, smoke spillage, or a past chimney fire | Stop use and request professional assessment | Whether a Technical or Invasive WETT inspection is appropriate before reuse |
A sweep is not automatically a full compliance review, and an inspection does not automatically include cleaning. Ask whether the visit covers the appliance, connector, flue, chimney, cap, accessible clearances, and a written report. Boring questions are excellent fire-safety equipment.
What does WETT actually mean?
WETT’s consumer FAQ is blunt: WETT certifies individuals, not appliances, installations, or companies. A WETT-certified professional inspects the solid-fuel system and issues a written report describing what meets or does not meet applicable requirements. The report records conditions at that visit; it is not a lifetime blessing for the fireplace.
- Visual inspection: a non-invasive review of visible, readily accessible components and clearances.
- Technical inspection: includes the visual scope and may open accessible panels, inspect attic areas, or reach the chimney where needed.
- Invasive inspection: investigates concealed components and can require opening finishes or disassembling parts of the system under an agreed scope.
WETT’s current inspection-level guide explains the Level 1, 2, and 3 scopes and says an inspection can recommend repairs, sweeping, replacement, or a deeper inspection. Do not order the biggest level for sport. Tell the inspector whether this is routine use, an insurer request, a system change, long disuse, visible damage, or a past chimney fire, then agree on the appropriate scope.
What does Ontario require?
Ontario’s Fire Code requires every chimney, flue, and flue pipe to be inspected for dangerous conditions at intervals no longer than 12 months, when an appliance is added, and after a chimney fire. It separately requires cleaning as often as necessary to prevent combustible-deposit buildup. In plain language: inspect annually; clean when the condition calls for it. The Code does not turn every annual inspection into an automatic annual sweep.
Ontario’s carbon monoxide guidance also recommends professional inspection and cleaning of fuel-burning appliances, chimneys, and vents before cold weather. Keep working smoke and CO alarms in the required locations; an immaculate hearth is not an alarm system, however confidently it poses for photographs.
What should you book this fall?
- Ask your insurer in writing whether it wants a WETT report, which level it accepts, how recent the report must be, and whether the professional needs a specific WETT designation.
- Verify the individual in WETT’s directory. A company saying it has WETT people on staff does not make every employee WETT-certified.
- Tell the provider the appliance type, last use, last inspection and cleaning dates, any modifications, and any smoke, odour, or deposit concerns.
- Confirm whether sweeping and the written inspection report are both included. If not, book the missing scope instead of discovering it when your insurer asks on Friday afternoon.
