Buying or Selling A Home?

What You Should Do If It Has A Hearth Product?

In Oregon, the Heat Smart Law may apply when buying or selling a home. An uncertified woodstove must be removed when the home is sold. For more information on this, go to this page on Oregon laws, click HERE. 

The law states that "uncertified" free-standing wood stove or fireplace insert must be removed. Essentially, any stove made after 1991 is certified by the EPA, so those do not have to be removed.  Any stove with an EPA sticker on the back is certified.

Some confusion arises when factory built metal fireplaces might look like a wood stove, they may have glass doors for instance, but those are not wood stoves by definition.  

If you have a an EPA certified woodstove or a pellet stove it can add value to your selling price. If it has been properly cared for, your selling price should reflect that additional value, but even the smallest of faults in a hearth product can impede a quick sale. Scroll down the list of hearth products to the one(s) you have in your house to learn how to prepare a stove or fireplace for sale.

         

Wood Burning Fireplace

1. Have the chimney cleaned and inspected by a chimney specialist. Have the inspection report handy.

2. Make sure there is a working damper or a glass door on the fireplace.

3. Address the problems or provide a list to the buyer.

         

Wood Burning Fireplace With A Gas Log

1. Have the chimney and the gas connections inspected by a certified chimney specialist.

2. Make sure the damper is permanently opened.

3. Put a glass door on the fireplace.

4. Make sure there is a manual with instructions for use.

         

Wood-Burning Fireplace With Wood Insert

1. Have the chimney cleaned and inspected by a certified professional.

2. Make sure the insert is installed properly with an approved flue.

3. Address problems or list them for the buyer.

4. Make sure there is a manual.

5. If the insert is uncertified, remove and recycle it.

6. Make sure the non-combustible hearth reaches at least 16” in front of the insert door.

Wood Fireplace With Gas Insert

1. Indicators of a problem are dirty glass, sooty logs, difficulty in starting, and a flame that drops out. Have the insert serviced and repaired.

2. Even if the insert has been working perfectly, have it serviced if you have not had it serviced within a year.

3. Make sure an owner’s manual is available.

4. Make sure there a metal sheet with operating instructions located in the bottom of the insert

         

Wood Fireplace With Pellet Insert

1. Have the insert serviced by a hearth professional.

2. Repair any problems.

3. Make sure there is an owner’s manual.

         

Gas Fireplace 

1. Dirty glass, sooty logs, difficulty in starting and dropping out flames signify a need for service. Call in a certified hearth professional. Even if the fireplace seems to be working well, have it serviced if it has not been serviced within a year.

2. Make sure there is an owner’s manual.

3. Make sure there’s a metal identification and instructional sheet on the bottom of the fireplace.

         

Freestanding Wood Stove

1. Have the chimney cleaned and inspected by a certified professional.

2. Make sure an owner’s manual is available.

3. Check the rating plate on the back of the stove for EPA certification. If the stove is uncertified, make sure it is legal, in your county, to sell the home with an uncertified stove installed. If not, remove it.

         

Freestanding Gas Stove

1. Have the stove serviced by a professional hearth specialist.

2. Make sure you have an owner’s manual is available. 

         

Freestanding Pellet Stove

1. Have the stove serviced by a certified hearth professional.

2. Make sure there is an owner’s manual available. .

         

Freestanding Oil Stove

1. Have a certified hearth professional service the stove.

2. Make sure there’s an owner’s manual available.

Un-vented Gas Fireplace or Logs

1. Decide if you want to leave them in the house or remove them.

2. If you want to keep it in the house, make sure there is a manual with instructions for use.

3. Ventless products are not meant to heat houses or to be used for more than three hours at a time. Make sure potential customers are aware of that.

4. If you have not been happy with your ventless product, remove it.

Once you’ve ascertained that your hearth product is installed properly, cleaned, and serviced, you can feel comfortable with the knowledge that your home is worth more to your buyer because you took the time and energy to install and maintain a fireplace, insert, logs, or stove.