Finding a Wood Heating contractor

Finding a contractor to install a wood stove or wood furnace is usually not particularly difficult.  Most retail dealers who sell wood stoves and furnaces either do the installation themselves or can identify a local contractor who will do it.  One exception to this may be in finding someone to build or install a masonry stove.  As the name suggests building or installing a masonry stove requires the skills of an experienced mason.  While building these types of stoves is very common in the Europe, finding someone in the U.S. who has real experience doing this is a bit more difficult.  One option is to contact the Masonry Heater Association on the Web at http://mha-net.org.  They can usually steer you to a qualified contractor in your area. 

When selecting a contractor  to install or build a stove there are some key things to look for:

1.  General Experience - How many years experience does the company have in installing wood stoves and wood furnaces.  Make sure they have experience with stoves, not just fireplaces, since they have very different requirements. 
2. Local Experience - Has the contractor installed wood stoves homes in your local area.   The closer the better. Check to see that the contractor is familiar with local building codes. See if the contractor has pictures of the installed stove or furnace, or better yet find out if you can contact the owner where they did the work.
3. Permits - Because of fire and pollution considerations most zoned residential areas and counties require permits before a wood furnace or stove can be installed.  Your contractor should be familiar with this process and should be able to guide you through getting the proper permits.
4. Licensing - Is the contractor licensed in your county and are they familiar with state and local building regulations that impact wood heating systems.  Installing heating systems can require plumbing, heating and masonry licenses depending upon what you are having done.  The contractor should be able to prove they have the certification to do this kind of work.  In building a large fireplace such as a masonry stove multiple laborers will usually be needed. 
5. Certifications - Does the contractor have any specific manufacturer or industry certifications.
6. References - References are invaluable, particularly if they reflect local work that is similar to what you plan to do.  Don't rely just on written references because too often these might be from family or friends.  Get references you can call and then don't be shy about calling. That is often the best way to get the real scoop on a contractor.
7. Warranties - The best contractors warranty their work.  When comparing bidders look to see who provides the strongest warranty. Check the fine print!