Homeowner's insurance

[Whitenuckler]

Well the cancellation notice arrived yesterday for a brand new policy. Reason….

Liability for multiple wood burning appliances in living space. This was the only carrier that my preferred independent agent could find for us. And we were paying a lot for coverage.

I’m pissed…… Pretty soon anyone within 10 miles of the coast will be forced use the government insurers of last resort and that has the be a super high risk pool. The rates reflect that.

Data point.

My taxes and insurance have gone up $850 per month from 15 years ago.

Keep fighting the good fight.

That's not good. They should have given you some options and let you submit new WETT inspections. Are you in a difference insurance zone there near the coast? I sure get the feeling underwriters are wanting to put an end to wood burning. The inflation over the last few years is unreal. I think it stated to get really bad after 2008.

 

[EbS-P]

That's not good. They should have given you some options and let you submit new WETT inspections. Are you in a difference insurance zone there near the coast? I sure get the feeling underwriters are wanting to put an end to wood burning. The inflation over the last few years is unreal. I think it stated to get really bad after 2008.

US doesn’t have anything like WETT. It would not matter much in my case as the underwriter doesn’t even care that the installs meet code.

Yes we are seen as high risk.

 

[bogieb]

That sucks! I just submitted a WETT Inspection report and 48 hours later I received a phone call from my insurance company stating that they have reinstated my wood burning stove to my policy, cost was an additional $10. I haven’t seen any paperwork yet due to Canada Post being on strike.

I wonder if a Canadian insurance company would sell insurance to an American homeowner…probably some rule against that.

What about insurance companies that are located and deal with homeowners in the northern states?

I always get my paperwork thru the carrier's website. I have't gotten a paper copy since 2013 and I've changed insurance a couple of times.

 

[blades]

just go on line and find a carrier that is lic. to do biz in your state. screw the agents as 25% or more of a policy is commission fees. that doesn't mean that you will find anything. mostly because of the coastal location. Ins co have taken a real bath between storms and fires over last few years and so are sticking it to the consumer ,not just specific areas, universal ( whats new ?) I've had my issues with my biz name over the years and under writers - pure pasture patties. ( biz is almost 90 years old). All kinds of poppy cock excuses. no employees either. One year my ins went up 100 % right after an article ran in the local rag that my shop was in a elevated crime area. insurance= legalized extortion.

 

[sixer]

... insurance= legalized extortion.

And in many cases, mandated legal extortion!

 

[bogieb]

Interestingly, my HO insurance is going down by several hundred dollars for renewal in November. This is after they jacked the house insurance up last year for no known reason (no claims or anything). I have my auto insurance bundled wit it, and it has gone down by $100 also - again, no known reason.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Interestingly, my HO insurance is going down by several hundred dollars for renewal in November. This is after they jacked the house insurance up last year for no known reason (no claims or anything). I have my auto insurance bundled wit it, and it has gone down by $100 also - again, no known reason.

I am with CAA here. CAA are also the underwriter. They made sure I de-commissioned the wood fireplace, and I asked about getting a wood burning system right from the beginning. They said Yes, but it would need to be WETT certified. I got my pellet stove last Feb and my bill went up 10% at the time. Still about $1400 CAD with lots of extra riders. I am happy with that. My biggest bill is taxes.

 

[Murray01]

My biggest bill is taxes

It’s a Canadian thing

 

[Whitenuckler]

It’s a Canadian thing

Well it seems we know know how to play baseball too. How they learned to play in the snow and ice I have no idea.
When I said taxes I was really talking about the tax bill for the house. With my income I have no worries about income tax.

 

[sixer]

Interestingly, my HO insurance is going down by several hundred dollars for renewal in November. This is after they jacked the house insurance up last year for no known reason (no claims or anything). I have my auto insurance bundled wit it, and it has gone down by $100 also - again, no known reason.

Just verify that your coverages didn't change and accept the gift!

 

[Stelcom66]

I guess insurance companies think a wood stove isn't as safe as an open fire in a fireplace. I don't have a chimney liner (yet) for my wood stove, but don't want to invest in one if the insurance company won't allow the stove even it passes the town inspection.

I do wonder why lately it seems the trend is for insurance companies not to insure wood stoves?

 

[Whitenuckler]

I guess insurance companies think a wood stove isn't as safe as an open fire in a fireplace. I don't have a chimney liner (yet) for my wood stove, but don't want to invest in one if the insurance company won't allow the stove even it passes the town inspection.

I do wonder why lately it seems the trend is for insurance companies not to insure wood stoves?

Maybe they don't want people to heat their homes with wood due to fire risk. An open masonry fireplace would not be used to heat a home. Even here I couldn't run that type of fireplace without a WETT inspection so it' shutdown.

 

[EbS-P]

I do wonder why lately it seems the trend is for insurance companies not to insure wood stoves?

They are becoming more risk adverse about the risks that are controllable. An open fireplace that does not meet code like mine (does not have 2” clearance to combustibles) certainly IS risky than a one with a stove/insert with a fully insulated liner. How many hours of burning wet firewood does it take to create enough creosote to start a chimney fire when someone decides to burn all the Christmas wrapping paper in the fireplace?