Service illustration · not a completed customer projectTHE WORK, EXPLAINED
Start with the condition.
Understand the scope.
Identify the proposed stove and location, then ask how venting, clearances and floor protection will be assessed for that installation. Request the documented scope and responsibilities for preparation, applicable approvals and completion checks.
What may be involved
- wood stove
- venting components
- hearth protection
Ask the provider to distinguish existing parts to inspect, proposed replacements, and tools, materials or reports included in the service. Confirm the work and exclusions after assessment; this list does not mean that every item will be supplied or replaced.
LOCAL RESEARCH / Los Altos
Local exposure
Santa Clara County sits inside the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, whose Regulation 6 Rule 3 governs wood burning. The District’s own FAQ describes winter months starting 1 November through the end of February, and says Winter Spare the Air Alerts are issued when pollution reaches unhealthy levels — roughly 20 days each winter, when burning is not allowed. It also states that excessive smoke is not allowed beyond a 20-minute start-up period, and describes a Sole Source of Heat exemption for households whose only heat is a registered EPA-certified device. Check the alert status before you light a fire. This District FAQ was last updated in October 2017; confirm the current rule and alert status with the District.
Source ↗Planning your work
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District publishes what may be installed when hearth work is done. It states that no wood-burning devices of any kind may be installed in new homes or buildings being constructed in the Bay Area, and describes a chimney or fireplace remodelling project costing over $15,000 that requires a building permit as limited to a gas-fuelled, electric or EPA-certified device. The District also says wood burning is banned throughout the year when a Spare the Air Alert is called. Discuss the proposed appliance and the permit path with both the City of Los Altos and the District before ordering anything. This is an air-district reference; it does not decide what your property needs.
Source ↗Area-wide context does not establish the condition of your property or equipment.
Before the visit
If smoke is entering the room, stop using the fireplace and arrange an assessment.
