What about the woodstove?
Woodstoves and inserts are more efficient than open fireplaces
and, if properly installed, can be quite adequate. However many
difficulties have been experienced, especially with poor
connections between fireplace inserts and original chimney flues.
Liability (in the context of this article) is the state of being
legally responsible to compensate someone for property damage or
injury. Almost anyone involved in a real estate transaction
could be open to potential liability. Here is an example which
illustrates the issue of liability...
A home is sold with a wood burning space heater. If a house fire
occurs because of an inadequate installation, who is to blame?
The vendor? The Realtor? What about the home inspector? What if
the home inspector was able to inspect only part of the total
system? What if the type of system required more tools for
dismantling and testing, and considerably more time than
available?
The key issue here is what the purchaser thinks he or she is
getting from the parties involved.
Protect yourself, and avoid potential liability - the easy way.
A complete inspection of any wood burning appliance involves an
evaluation of every part of the heating system, from the floor
pad to the chimney cap. All of these parts are covered in the
codes, so compliance can only be determined if every part is
inspected.
The chimney is usually the most difficult part of the system to
inspect properly. Chimneys which run up through the house are
often inaccessible at critical points, such as ceiling and attic
penetrations. In some cases, even though you can see sections of
the chimney, they cannot be reached with a tape measure to
confirm their clearance to combustible building materials. Flue
liners are subject to cracking inside masonry chimneys, or
buckling and corrosion in the case of metal chimneys. It is
difficult to inspect a chimney liner unless it has just been
cleaned.
Why not have a certified wood heating technician perform a
thorough cleaning and inspection, before the house is listed for
sale?
Most state and provincial fire codes, as well as most household
insurers, require homeowners to maintain the safety of their
chimneys and inspect them at least once a year. Consulting a
certified chimney sweep will ensure the present and future
owners' safety, and help relieve the liability issues for all
parties involved.
A certified technician or chimney sweep will prepare a detailed,
written report and have the homeowner sign it. He or she will
make sure the homeowner understands the report, especially those
areas where problems are found.
A Simple Solution:
Aside from the safety and liability issues, if a wood burning
installation is disassembled, thoroughly cleaned and inspected
prior to the house being listed, all parties will be aware of
the physical condition of the system before an offer to purchase
is presented.
There will be no surprises after the fact. Deals will not fall
through because of defects discovered, or concerns raised as a
result of a subsequent home inspection. Inspection by a
certified professional prior to listing can streamline and
simplify the process of purchase and sale.