Nationwide Insurance

toddnic said:

I spoke with my insurance agent at Nationwide today. I asked him if I needed my woodstove inspected by Nationwide or if I needed an additional rider for the woodstove. He said that as long as my stove was installed by a professional (construction company or stove company) with the correct tolerances, that there was no additional inspection or rider necessary. I live in North Carolina....I wonder if the same criteria applies in all other states with Nationwide?

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I've never understood the "Installed by a professional" thing. What even makes them a "professional"? The fact that they have a company?

All state pretty much said the same exact thing. I never put one in before I did mine but I own my own carpentry business so all was okay by them. Go figure....

claydogg84 said:

I've never understood the "Installed by a professional" thing. What even makes them a "professional"? The fact that they have a company?

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"Installed by a professional" assumes that they HAVE insurance. Fish eating fish...

NHcpa said:

"Installed by a professional" assumes that they HAVE insurance. Fish eating fish...

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Yeah, it's bullshit. Anyways, Allstate didn't ask me for anything when I called and told them I put a wood stove in place of an existing fireplace.

Ours asked this yr if we had a wood stove. The wife informed them NO but we were thinking of installing one. They said they would drop us. All I said was bye bye. Someone will take us. We pay our bill lmao

I just switched from Allstate to Amica. Underwriter asked me who installed it I said I did. Explained to her that I have a full SS liner and a rain cap in my flue. She told me to make sure to dispose ashes in a metal container. She also said that there will be someone doing outside inspection and that was it. I asked what is the difference with or without the insert. Came to a $20 a year.

Some insurers are easier to deal with than others.
I installed my VC RA and chimney and then called USAA Insurance Co.

Me: I just installed a wood stove and chimney and wanted to tell you.
InCo: Cool. You gonna cook bisquits in it?
Me: No, it's in the living room and heats the house. Might put a dutch oven on it sometime.
InCo: Oh, good, I love pot roast. Now, if your house burned down - how much would it cost to replace the stove and chimney with labor?
Me: $5000 is a good estimate.
{calculator sounds}
InCo: Well, your premium will increase $8 per year. You ok with that?
Me: Umm, yeah, I can handle that.
InCo: Great. Have fun cooking on your stove. Bye bye.

State farm here, they didn't care at all when I put a insert in. No inspection and they didn't care that I did it. Guess they figure since it was already going in a wood burning fireplace it didn't affect anything. May have been different if it was free standing and the house didn't previously have a wood burning appliance/fireplace.

I did our install myself. Put it in all up to code, had the building inspector come over and give it his blessing and a certificate saying so. Called the insurance company to update our policy and the rep said it didn't matter at all on the rates or coverage but thanks for the call.

NHcpa said:

"Installed by a professional" assumes that they HAVE insurance. Fish eating fish...

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Bingo! It's all about liability and blame if something happens . . . someone or some company to lean on to lessen the financial loss if need be . . . of the insurance company.

Amica here. I called when I was thinking about removing the existing VC vigilant and putting an insert in. The rep only cared that the new equipment was installed per manufacturer recommendations, and since I already had woodstove checked on my policy, there was no change in cost.

Funny story- almost no national insurance carriers will cover a log home. The options are very limited. Just as a last ditch effort, I called Amica (online they didn't even have a log construction option) and they would absolutely cover it, and at HALF my best estimate from anywhere else, plus saved a bunch on auto. Blown away. Absolutely the best insurance company I've had.

edyit said:

Put it in all up to code, had the building inspector come over and give it his blessing and a certificate saying so.

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Doing it to code and having your local building inspector bless it should probably give you the documentation necessary in case of loss.

That having been said, just because it was installed correctly doesn't mean that you can't have an issue. Burn dry wood, follow manufacturer's instructions on operation and have your setup inspected/cleaned regularly.

If there's someone in the house who doesn't know how to burn, either teach them or ask them to stay away from the stove. I've done both with my wife. Lovingly, I told her that if she was home without me and was cold, she should just turn up the thermostat. I'd rather burn a gallon of oil than have her run the stove improperly...

Or she could call me and I'll turn up the thermostat remotely.

dougand3 said:

Some insurers are easier to deal with than others.
I installed my VC RA and chimney and then called USAA Insurance Co.

Me: I just installed a wood stove and chimney and wanted to tell you.
InCo: Cool. You gonna cook bisquits in it?
Me: No, it's in the living room and heats the house. Might put a dutch oven on it sometime.
InCo: Oh, good, I love pot roast. Now, if your house burned down - how much would it cost to replace the stove and chimney with labor?
Me: $5000 is a good estimate.
{calculator sounds}
InCo: Well, your premium will increase $8 per year. You ok with that?
Me: Umm, yeah, I can handle that.
InCo: Great. Have fun cooking on your stove. Bye bye.

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Dougan3,

I also use USAA. No extra charge when I had a Lopi Endeavor installed. The agent told me that more houses burn down due to bad CHRISTMAS TREE lights than from wood stoves. Love it. And since it is now Christmas time EVERYONE be careful with you tree lights Also keep an eye on the wood stove.

I have Grinnell Mutual. They just wanted the chimney installed by a "professional" as well. I was planning on it anyway so.... ok. Lol.