After 3 years with our HWAM stove we continue to be absolutely delighted! It is a centerpiece of our living room, with not just its warmth, but the large window into the flames. One surprise for us has been how much fireplaces have changed. The modern fireplace is truly a marvel of engineering, and HWAM is at the very forefront. You notice it by the fact that you only need to add wood every 2 hours (3 logs heat the room for 2 hours!), by the way in which the flames seem to move in slow motion, and by the very small amount of ash that remains after a whole day’s heating. In fact, often we still have enough embers in the morning to start the new fire. Finally, we have come to treasure the work that you have done in installing the fireplace. With your expert work it is so easy to start the fires. Your advice to also add a new liner to the chimney was spot on. We are delighted and thank you. All the very best of success in 2016.
Professional Certifications
NFI Certification
NFI Certification means that an individual has passed a rigorous examination based on a training manual that has been reviewed by industry experts. The training manual for each hearth specialty is a comprehensive reference source for the fundamentals of that subject area, and includes essential topics such as combustion theory, fuel comparisons, safety code regulations, appliance design and sizing. Certification may be earned by hearth industry professionals in three
hearth specialties:
- NFI Gas Specialist
- NFI Woodburning Specialist
- NFI Pellet Specialist
Certification is renewed every three years. Maintaining certification requires substantial ongoing education
“CHOOSING AND INSTALLING A HEARTH SYSTEM WITHOUT ADEQUATE EXPERTISE IS LIKE PLAYING WITH FIRE.”
FROM THE NATIONAL FIREPLACE INSTITUTE WEBSITE:
A fireplace or stove can add beauty, warmth and value to your home and set the mood for memorable gatherings of family and friends. But choosing and installing a hearth system without adequate expertise is like playing with fire. That is why our industry is making quality training and credentials its mission.
Planning and installing fireplaces, stoves and their venting systems requires experience, technical knowledge and skill. Numerous decisions — from proper floor protection to appliance sizing and placement to venting system compatibility and height — should all be made with the expertise of a professionally certified specialist.
One of the ways to identify a competent specialist is to check their credentials. The National Fireplace Institute®, an independent, non-profit certification agency, has created the standard for certification in the hearth industry. Only those who pass a rigorous examination covering fundamentals of proper installation receive NFI Specialist Certification.
NFI HISTORY
For 25 years, the independent non-profit Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Education Foundation (HPBEF) has offered certifications for professionals in the hearth industry.
In 2001, the HPBEF formed the National Fireplace Institute® as the national certification agency for the industry. A comprehensive review process was conducted with the help of industry installers, technical experts, and hearth business owners to determine what industry professionals need to know.
As a result of the formal review process, based on national standards for certification agencies, the HPBEF revised and improved both manuals and exams for gas, woodburning, and pellet certifications. The comprehensive certifications are designed to gain recognition by building officials, code officials, and the general public.
Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)
The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) certifies chimney sweeps in the United States. The CSIA runs the National Chimney Sweep Training School, an intensive six day course, which is where Wooden Sun send its sweeps to be certified. We do not send individuals until they have worked at Wooden Sun for at least a year, proving they have what it takes to be a professional sweep – fit, fearless of heights, conscious of safety, with a high level of attention to detail, strong work ethic, and good customer service skills. Once an employee demonstrates those qualities, plus a commitment to excellence in all that they do, we enroll them in the six-day course. Even after they complete the course, we still don’t allow them to sweep on their own until they have demonstrated their proficiency to our master sweep. Sweeps are periodically re-tested to make sure they have the most current knowledge available, and they are required to do ongoing education training to maintain their certification.
Important questions about your chimney.
Heatshield Pro
Terra Cotta flue tiles often become cracked over time, as a result of chimney fires, earthquakes/lightning strikes, or simply natural wear and tear. These cracks can be dangerous, as they allow heat and fumes to escape into the brick of your chimney, and from there into your house (per CSIA and NFPA standards).
The HeatShield cerfactory cement system is a resurfacing system for your flue liner, which repairs cracks, spalling, or missing mortar joints, without the need for a stainless steel liner.