Well, I just returned from my insurance agent, and as a result of my attempt to save natural gas $$$ this winter, my house insurance is rising by 15%.
I'll still have some significant savings, but now not as much as I hoped. I knew that the new insert install might cause an increase, but I was thinking that the new, approved insert with a full chimney liner would be much safer than my old drafty open masonry fireplace, so thought maybe it would all wash in the end. Nope.
Reason I was given by the insurance agent is that by installing the insert that has a blower and an implied use for heating, they know that I will burn way more than I did with just the old fireplace.
At one time, they had a rating system where if you burned under a certain number of cords per year, there was no increase. Apparently this has changed, because as my agent put it, "We know just about everybody lied about their heating intentions and the amount of wood they were actually burning."
Again, by installing the insert I've signalled that I'm getting serious about wood burning. (Darn straight I am) :coolgrin:
So, up go the rates.
On the positive side, it was a quick 5 minute process and all I was required to supply was a picture of the new install and a copy of the receipt from the certified installer to show it was done professionally. And, as a gesture of condolence, my agent reminded me that I am now operating above board and need not worry if something does happen.....yeah, right.
I had really considered not telling them, but after discussing it with my install tech I decided to come clean because he related several instances where insurance companies had not paid up on a fire claim because the homeowner did not volunteer the updated wood burning info, even though the fire was NOT caused by wood burning issues. Go figure !
Anybody else have a similar experience?
Willhound
I'll still have some significant savings, but now not as much as I hoped. I knew that the new insert install might cause an increase, but I was thinking that the new, approved insert with a full chimney liner would be much safer than my old drafty open masonry fireplace, so thought maybe it would all wash in the end. Nope.
Reason I was given by the insurance agent is that by installing the insert that has a blower and an implied use for heating, they know that I will burn way more than I did with just the old fireplace.
At one time, they had a rating system where if you burned under a certain number of cords per year, there was no increase. Apparently this has changed, because as my agent put it, "We know just about everybody lied about their heating intentions and the amount of wood they were actually burning."
Again, by installing the insert I've signalled that I'm getting serious about wood burning. (Darn straight I am) :coolgrin:
So, up go the rates.
On the positive side, it was a quick 5 minute process and all I was required to supply was a picture of the new install and a copy of the receipt from the certified installer to show it was done professionally. And, as a gesture of condolence, my agent reminded me that I am now operating above board and need not worry if something does happen.....yeah, right.
I had really considered not telling them, but after discussing it with my install tech I decided to come clean because he related several instances where insurance companies had not paid up on a fire claim because the homeowner did not volunteer the updated wood burning info, even though the fire was NOT caused by wood burning issues. Go figure !
Anybody else have a similar experience?
Willhound
