DIY Install vs Insurance?

searay220 said:

Ok I confess I purchased a Regency i3100 wood insert and installed myself with a new stainless steel insulated flu,new offset and new granite surround. It came out great and the fuel saving last winter were priceless. Well now it's after the fact but I haven't thought about it until now is the home owners insurance. What's the insurance company going to ask me? Should I tell them I installed it myself? Will they require proof of a permit or fire Dept inspection etc. Has anybody done the install themselves and have been in the same situation I am in. Please:Need some advise. If it matters I live in Massachusetts.

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Insurance policies vary, but as long as it is installed to code they don't give two rat traps who installed it.

same problem you had, I installed new stove and Ins. Co. wanted an inspection, so I call my local building inspector, he informed me to apply for a building permit and he came out to check the install and gave an inspection

Insurance company wanted it installed by a professional which in turn required it to be inspected by code enforcement. Code enforcement inspected to the installation manual. I then had to fax in the certificate of compliance from codes to insurance company. I have yet to see my insurance go up but I renew in Jan.

I put in a new Class A chimney and hearth this year myself and live out in the Berkshires in Western MA in a little town with about 3000 people spread out over 52 square miles, so we are pretty rural. Nonetheless, to get the woodstove onto the insurance policy I had to both fill out the insurer's woodstove questionnaire and submit a certificate of compliance. This required pulling a permit and have the building inspector come out and check my completed installation. After having a look around he was happy to issue the C of C which made everything good with my insurance company. Essentially, expect no problem if you are doing the work safely to code, whether you do it or hire out. On the other hand, forget about putting the stove in yourself and thinking your insurer will go along after the fact. You'll just create unnecessary headaches.

I know requirements vary from state to state. But, if they give you a hard time about it, you can tell them you will take your business elsewhere. If you installed it to code though, I don't see how it can be that big a deal.

I installed myself (with help) this year, pulled a permit beforehand. I called for the inspector but he hasn't shown up yet. Stove is working great though, I didn't wait for the inspector to give it the OK since I did it myself. Insurance company asked if we were getting an inspection, which tells me its a nice to have, not a must have.

I installed RSF Onyx fireplaces in my last two homes. On my current home, I was the general contractor and as it was installed while the house was being built, only the building inspector was involved.

With my former home, I bought it as a spec built house and finished it off myself. The insurance company had only two requirements. 1, That all components be UL approved and 2, that the fire marshall inspect it after I installed it.

If you already had a insert,fireplace, stove in the first place then it is a moot point.

And you didn`t tell us,, did you??

Any thing new and epa certified is an automatic improvement.

If it is done to code, re and re, the manufacturers instructions=no worries.

At least that is the way the ball rolls around here.

I had the same concern and I called my agent.... they asked who was installing it and I told them I was. They just told me to install in according to the manufactures instructions and I'm covered.... Done. My house is nice and warm....

I live in the north shore...swampscott and the i applied for a permit and the inspector wanted to see the installation without the surround to sign off on. I did a full liner with a cap and he was happy...so was I. The insurance company had me fill out the forms and I indicated i was the installer and have passed the building inspectors standards with no issues at all. My insurance price did not change. Good luck!

dlpz said:

Insurance company wanted it installed by a professional which in turn required it to be inspected by code enforcement. Code enforcement inspected to the installation manual. I then had to fax in the certificate of compliance from codes to insurance company. I have yet to see my insurance go up but I renew in Jan.

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My insurance company is Erie and my agent said that they would need to have all the paper work for the stove, pipe and liner, for their records, stove had to be EPA, and installed by a professional. I said what about if I supply all the info and give you a copy of the passed building permit, stove inspection, and they where fine with that. Chimney sweeps are not regulated or licensed here in Va. So what is a professional? What is the requirements to be a professional? I did the install myself, had it inspected and sent copies of everything to the agent, no increase.

I am in Mass too. All I did was to get a permit ($25) from the building inspector, Install the stove and chimney myself, have the inspector come out and sign off, send a copy of the signed off permit to the INS co, everyone's happy.

Reporting only from my experience....
The difference you may have noticed in responses, is that an insert is a mod to existing FP. In the case of my insurance, there was nothing to do or change. Same as reported by Sakislayer. If you have a traditional masonry FP, I would not describe it as a "woodstove", when it is a FP insert.

The only fire concern with a retrofit insert should be possible clearance to combustibles like a wood mantel and hearth extension.

The height of the hearth extension would depend on the manufacturer's specification for R value and your willingness or ability to cut out the floor to sink the hearth.

I get the feeling that he's talking about a raised brick type fireplace hearth. For an insert install, placing 4 tiles in front of the existing hearth will get you to the 16 (or 18) inch minimum. (Assuming that you actually do have the type of hearth I described.)
There are some threads showing some very nice ones. And maybe a few that are "winter only". Not expensive either.