Gathering fallen timber for firewood

[Oaktree]

So....the fire department or inspection agency assumes liability if the stove or chimney then catches the house on fire? Seeing how they collected money and certified it?
.....yeah, I didn稚 think so.
That just proves itç—´ a shakedown.

Not following your logic. That's like saying that if you pass a physical and get hit by a bus the next week the doctor somehow ripped you off. The inspection is just to verify that the stove is installed correctly. That doesn't mean once the inspector leaves you can put an upholstered chair right next to it and still be safe. Or if the house burns down because of a grease fire in the kitchen. It just gives you some proof it was a safe installation when the inspector was on the premises in the event your insurance company wants to dismiss a potential claim for a faulty installation.
It's not a guarantee you won't do something stupid or unsafe.

Can you have outside wood boilers where you live?These would tie right into your existing hot water or forced air heating system. This eliminates needing a chimney built for a wood stove. This eliminates a lot of cutting and splitting as you can throw big pieces in it. It doesn稚 matter if you burn junk wood, or pallets, no creosote worries, or if there痴 bugs or dirt in the wood, wet wood, etc. (other than there痴 less BTU痴).
Wood is a lifestyle. Itç—´ carbon neutral.

Agree that heating with wood is as much lifestyle as it is an economic move. If you count your time you rarely come out ahead.

I don't get the appeal of the outdoor furnaces except that it keeps the wood, smoke and ashes out of the house. You use a LOT more wood with one vs a woodstove, not really good in the off-season when you just want to take the chill off, doesn't work if the power goes out and between the upfront cost and installation can get quite expensive. Not to mention the joy of trudging out in sub-zero weather to fill it up, or get it going again if it burns down.
I suppose it's the only way to heat with wood if the layout of your house doesn't really allow for a stove (ie-a lot of small-ish rooms/little open space, not enough clearance).

 

[MossRoad]

What in the world are we talking about here. A "permit" for a wood stove. Installed by a "licensed/certified installer". You would be laughed out of the store if you were to ask those questions around here. If you were to need help on the instal - the store may be able to recommend somebody that could help. Some of those wood stoves can get pretty heavy/bulky. Is this another one of those - east or west of the Mississippi deals, again.

I've been with State Farm since 1965. They knew I had a wood stove - then a pellet stove. There was never a premium increase because of that.

We need a permit for chimneys, additional electrical circuits, water heaters, furnaces, etc... so a wood stove is no different.

The wood stove store is the certified installer and pulled the permit. Easy peasy.

 

[WranglerX]

Most new wood stove installs in Cali require catalytic converter in chimney....

Dale

 

[ericm979]

Most new wood stove installs in Cali require catalytic converter in chimney....

The stove emissions requirements I know of in CA all require EPA certified stoves. While there are some stoves that meet that by using a catcon the majority use passive reburning technology. Supposedly the catcon stoves can get a little more heat out of the wood but the reburning stoves do really well already. There's little downside to running one. The catcons need periodic cleaning but my neighbor who burns a lot is happy with his.

CA has a myriad of air pollution districts, each with their own rules. When you understand the distribution of population, geography and prevailing winds, that isn't as silly as it sounds. The major population areas around SF and LA are both surrounded on three sides by mountains, with ocean on the other side. Since the wind comes from the ocean, the hills tends to trap pollution in those areas. In the past it had gotten pretty bad at times. When I was a kid in the '60s and '70s in the eastern part of the SF bay area the air could get really awful. Even though population is up by 50% and people drive more, it's much better now. While I don't agree with every air pollution regulation, they have been effective. (I'm writing this for folks who live far from CA, I'm sure Dale knows it).

The SF bay area's air quality board has banned wood stoves and fireplaces for new construction. Since the vast majority of houses in those counties are in suburbs or cities, and the winter temps are often in the 50s and 60s, there's not a lot of need. If I'd been writing the regs I would have allowed EPA stoves, but they didn't ask me.

 

[CobyRupert]

Not following your logic. That's like saying that if you pass a physical and get hit by a bus the next week the doctor somehow ripped you off. The inspection is just to verify that the stove is installed correctly. That doesn't mean once the inspector leaves you can put an upholstered chair right next to it and still be safe. Or if the house burns down because of a grease fire in the kitchen. It just gives you some proof it was a safe installation when the inspector was on the premises in the event your insurance company wants to dismiss a potential claim for a faulty installation.
It's not a guarantee you won't do something stupid or unsafe.
.

A Doctor who gives you a physical is responsible if you get hit by a bus? I wasn’t making that argument.
I’m talking about if there’s a fire that is a result of the installation. If they require you to pay them money to certify it, do they assume liability, like a structural engineer does when they certify something.
Or is it just a shakedown?

What’s does certified actually mean if there’s no assumption of liability?

 

[Peter 315]

They don't certify it. They inspect it just make sure its not some tin foil pipe stuck out the window and its not sitting on carpet..... I know its just a money grab...

 

[Jstpssng]

One local volunteer fire department used to go around every fall cleaning chimneys; they said that they would rather do that in October than fight chimney fires in January. I heard they had to stop because of the liability involved. Some of the posters here seem like the type who made them stop...

 

[MossRoad]

A Doctor who gives you a physical is responsible if you get hit by a bus? I wasn’t making that argument.
I’m talking about if there’s a fire that is a result of the installation. If they require you to pay them money to certify it, do they assume liability, like a structural engineer does when they certify something.
Or is it just a shakedown?

What’s does certified actually mean if there’s no assumption of liability?

Generally speaking, the inspectors cannot be held liable. It has something to do with "the good of the community" VS "the good of the property owner" as to why building codes are in place. The inspector's duty is to try to his best ability to see that the building codes were followed and enforce them if he sees violations. If he misses something, well, he tried.

The liability rests on the contractor, not the inspector. If you did the work yourself, the liability rests on you, not the inspector.

At least, that's the way I understand it.

It doesn't seem to be a shakedown. For example, if I want to add a new lighting circuit, it's $15 permit. I have to go downtown and pull a permit. The clerks have to gather all the paperwork, file it properly, etc... Then I have to make an appointment with the inspector, he or she has to come out to my house, look over the work, write his paperwork, etc... it's gonna cost them more than $15 in labor. It's not a money maker.

 

[CobyRupert]

Generally speaking, the inspectors cannot be held liable. It has something to do with "the good of the community" VS "the good of the property owner" as to why building codes are in place. The inspector's duty is to try to his best ability to see that the building codes were followed and enforce them if he sees violations. If he misses something, well, he tried.

The liability rests on the contractor, not the inspector. If you did the work yourself, the liability rests on you, not the inspector.

At least, that's the way I understand it.

Then what does “certification” mean?
Your (an other’s) definition has a very different meaning than mine.
When I give my word, or certification, it means something.
For others, maybe not.
Oh well, I’ve been in the minority before. Peace.

 

[CobyRupert]

One local volunteer fire department used to go around every fall cleaning chimneys; they said that they would rather do that in October than fight chimney fires in January. I heard they had to stop because of the liability involved. Some of the posters here seem like the type who made them stop...

Did they prohibit people from using their own chimney unless they paid?
Otherwise it seems very different.
Sorry for the interruption.

...and now...back to our regularly scheduled program...
the OP’s questions about gathering and burning wood.