W.e.t.t. Certified installer a hack!

[jb6l6gc]

• Went to my local hearth shop yesterday to discuss with installer a couple what I thought were minor issues I noticed with my liner installation when on roof cleaning it last week.

Issue 1- cap doesn't fit. A 5" cap has been used on a 5.5" liner. Screwed on 3 sides gap left at the back, very sloppy to say the least

Issue 2- about 5 feet down chimney there is a seam in the liner which I always thought looked a little rough. Almost like 1 piece shoved into another. Brought this up with original contractor last time I cleaned. He said " yes there's a seam nothing to worry bout"

3- and I didn't even realize this one apparently the top termination of the liner if that's what you call it is not done correctly (pic below)

After talking with him he informed me the installer I used is known as a hack throughout the industry and he's ripped out two of his install this year, both of which had mutiple small pieces of liner shoved into each other, not proper or to code. Apparently you can have seams only if you use the right coupler

Keep in mind this is a wett certified (what a joke) installer who's done this not just some joe shmo and he's been back to clean it 1 year after install.

Apparently even if I complain to wett they won't do f*** all

Hearth shop said he'd come out have a look and tell me what's required to repair or replace this hacks installation, both if he does the work or if I do.

My question is does anyone think there's any way to go back on this fool for what he's doing. He's playing with the safety of unsuspecting people.

I plan to document and photograph everything And send to wett and bb
But I'll still be out the 500$-1000

Yesterday was not a good day for me lolNeedless to say any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[JA600L]

One look at that and I would hate to see the rest.

 

[Simonkenton]

That is some nasty looking work. Sad story you have there.
What is "wett."

 

[jb6l6gc]

That is some nasty looking work. Sad story you have there.
What is "wett."

Wett is wood energy transfer technology inc which is a private company that is the only certification in Canada but is not required only recommended mostly by the insurance industry.

 

[jb6l6gc]

Also wanted to ask possibly pros like @bholler how unsafe it would be for
Me to at least finish out this season. This is a totally unexpected expense at a very bad time wih Christmas an all. Sucks because I've already paid once to have this done correctly. Always one bad contractor that gives a bad name
To the industry

 

[bholler]

Also wanted to ask possibly pros like @bholler how unsafe it would be for
Me to at least finish out this season. This is a totally unexpected expense at a very bad time wih Christmas an all. Sucks because I've already paid once to have this done correctly. Always one bad contractor that gives a bad name
To the industry

Honestly without doing a complete inspection there is no way for me to give you any evaluation on the safety of the install.

 

[jb6l6gc]

I can respect that. I've inspected myself and the issues above are all I can see. Keep in mind this was permitted and supposedly inspected and signed off by county inspector. Just really friggen pissed right now not only an unexpected expense but I can't really afford to be using the electric heat. I want this guy to
Pay for what he's doing to people. Maybe I should call county and tear a strip off that building inspector. Honestly do t know what to do

 

[bholler]

no idea how it is in canada but here the inspectors have no liabiltiy at all. And many areas there is not much recourse at all short of the legal system to deal with bad contractors. The only safety issue you point out is the seam being done wrong and without seeing it i have no way to evaluate it.

 

[jb6l6gc]

It's not a pretty seam I'll tell you that much looks like if u squished one a bit and shoved into the other about 5 ft down from the top I should've taken a picture when I was up there. @bholler what's your opinion of top Configuration?
May just have to limp through and clean very often just to be as safe as possible.
With something as critical as this you hire a pro expecting them to do at least what's minimum code requirement. My 1 yr old nephew could've done a better job. Fricken unbelievable

 

[jb6l6gc]

Hindsight eh! If I knew then what I know now I would've done the liner install myself
At the time I was totally green on wood heat. Word to the wise, anyone from southern Ontario do not hire Howard Sheppard "Sheppard Installations" for anything.

 

[FionaD]

I feel for you. I too had a stove install from hell three years ago... Also from an installer who was certified by our equivalent of WETT here in the UK. It was very frustrating to feel that so little could be done about it, other than pay someone else to fix the mess.

I don't know how things work over your way, but here lots of other victims of my installer wrote scathing online reviews and also pictures and detailed accounts on Facebook, both their own Facebook pages and as comments in the installers page. I know in at least a few cases this did cause the installer to make good the bad installations.

Good luck.

 

[jb6l6gc]

Just boggles my mind. Not like we're talking about a bad grass cut someone missing a spot. This is fire in my house and now has me in a tough spot. I know what I have isn't code but is aprroved by a so called professional and the county and it's getting cold here.

 

[FionaD]

Can't you get the inspector out one more time... Or another inspector? Sorry if that a silly question.. Don't know how things work your way. could the faulty install affect your insurance, even though it was passed by an inspector? I'm wondering if that might offer a solution... If you could involve the insurance co

 

[begreen]

Is the upper fragment of the liner fitted into the bottom longer piece or did he do it the other way around?

 

[jb6l6gc]

Is the upper fragment of the liner fitted into the bottom longer piece or did he do it the other way around?

pretty sure other way by bulge in lip

 

[jb6l6gc]

Like I said ain't pretty had more creosote there as well. Install
Was almost 2yrs ago so don't know what recourse I have

 

[jb6l6gc]

Can't you get the inspector out one more time... Or another inspector? Sorry if that a silly question.. Don't know how things work your way. could the faulty install affect your insurance, even though it was passed by an inspector? I'm wondering if that might offer a solution... If you could involve the insurance co

Even if they would deductible is cost of parts lol

 

[begreen]

pretty sure other way by bulge in lip

The reason I ask is for the potential for creosote to run down the outside of the liner if it is done that way. That would be quite bad inside of the chimney. Fly that by a reputable installer in your area. The fix is to pull the liner up to where a proper coupler can be used to splice the liner. Then reconnect to the insert.

http://chimneylinerpro.com/products/Stainless-Steel-Chimney-Liner-EZ-Coupler.html

 

[jb6l6gc]

I know fix unfortunately not that easy mine is from basement. Will have to pull thimble and cover over concrete in basement, remove top plate, pull liner, fix liner, redo top and cap with proper parts and thimble. Plus who know if that's all. Not as simple as if a liner ran directly to insert. Gonna have the local guy I talked to come and asses ASAP after holidays.

 

[Squisher]

That sucks. I just did my own liner and stove install this last fall and part of the reason I did it myself was the only guy that I could get out for a quote did not instill a lot of confidence. I'm a picky individual and it became clear I was going to have to look after things myself. Sorry for your trouble but horror stories like this are the reason why I seem to end up doing almost every type of project myself.

 

[jb6l6gc]

That sucks. I just did my own liner and stove install this last fall and part of the reason I did it myself was the only guy that I could get out for a quote did not instill a lot of confidence. I'm a picky individual and it became clear I was going to have to look after things myself. Sorry for your trouble but horror stories like this are the reason why I seem to end up doing almost every type of project myself.

Ask my wife lol you sound like me. I
Have almost no confidence in
Most contractors anymore lol. However local hearth shop guy seems good may have home correct things if price is reasonable

 

[jb6l6gc]

Well I have emailed the building inspector that was on the job, and their insurance and loss specialist whom I've spoke with before. Luckily I still have both their emails in my address book. We shall see if I can make the wheel squeak enough to get some grease!

 

[zig]

I'd keep on the inspector and ins. company's a$# until you get satisfaction. Canada seems big on cramming rules and regs down peoples throat, make them live up to them. It's your family and home potentially at risk not theirs.

 

[skinanbones]

depending on where you are in Southern Ontario and if you want a second opinion I might be able to help out.

 

[jb6l6gc]

Ya hope to hear back from county. We shall see I'll keep ya posted.