pellet furnace main source of heat=insurance!?!?

[ivanhoe]

My insurance broker looked into my future Fahrenheit pellet furnace add-on with my oil furnace. Does the main source of heat change or is there a way around this? Or do i install a separate ductwork to get away from this or am i forced to install it as a space heater? What did the forum members do to get around this? I will be talking some more with my broker in a couple of days to see which way to go about this so any input from the members could be passed on to help with my case!
Thanks,

 

[gdeangel]

My experience with insurance (talking residential) and pellet stoves was that the only thing they cared about was that it was "professionally" installed. Once I provided them a letter from the installer (I had to write it up myself) indicating he was a professional with X years experience and that the installation was done in conformity with fire code, etc. the just put it in the file and didn't do anything to my rate.

Ironically, the "pro" installer did a relatively sloppy job, and the first time I ran the stove, smoke backed up into my house. Had to "perform maintenance" myself to fix the problem.

 

[sinnian]

I have a biomass boiler, so it may be different..... but as long as you do not take out the oil furnace and run it in parallel with the Fahrenheit you should be all set. What they want to know is that if the pellet furnace runs out of pellets and thus heat, is that your oil furnace will kick on keeping your pipes from freezing.

 

[ivanhoe]

My experience with insurance (talking residential) and pellet stoves was that the only thing they cared about was that it was "professionally" installed. Once I provided them a letter from the installer (I had to write it up myself) indicating he was a professional with X years experience and that the installation was done in conformity with fire code, etc. the just put it in the file and didn't do anything to my rate.

Ironically, the "pro" installer did a relatively sloppy job, and the first time I ran the stove, smoke backed up into my house. Had to "perform maintenance" myself to fix the problem.

Yeah, i was asked about it been professionally installed.

I have a biomass boiler, so it may be different..... but as long as you do not take out the oil furnace and run it in parallel with the Fahrenheit you should be all set. What they want to know is that if the pellet furnace runs out of pellets and thus heat, is that your oil furnace will kick on keeping your pipes from freezing.

The plan is to have it installed like a add-on wood furnace to a existing furnace. I will be leaving the oil furnace in place but will be running the Fahrenheit with the thermostat setting higher than the oil furnace. Maybe i have to better explain to my broker what i'm about to do.

 

[DexterDay]

Yeah. Better explain...... Maybe??

My insurance company has all my stoves on file, pictures and documents noting all CTC's.

But, I never disclosed that its my Main source of heat ( it isn't that obvious)

Mine is tied in parallel and I have manual dampers on mine furnace (not auto back draft). So if I want ProPain heat, I have to manually open 2 dampers on top of furnace. But these 2 ensure a positive stop.

I don't use ProPain at all.... Haven't in 5 years and counting. But I don't tell them that. Nor have they asked.

Professionally installed?? Around here, some of the "Pro"s are just a standard contractor? Anyone can blow a hole in your wall? But I don't trust many? As long as proper materials are used, clearance to combustibles are maintained, and nothing is done to unit to void the UL listing? It shouldn't matter whether you install? Or a "Pro" does it. IMO

 

[ivanhoe]

Yeah. Better explain...... Maybe??

My insurance company has all my stoves on file, pictures and documents noting all CTC's.

But, I never disclosed that its my Main source of heat ( it isn't that obvious)

Mine is tied in parallel and I have manual dampers on mine furnace (not auto back draft). So if I want ProPain heat, I have to manually open 2 dampers on top of furnace. But these 2 ensure a positive stop.

I don't use ProPain at all.... Haven't in 5 years and counting. But I don't tell them that. Nor have they asked.

Professionally installed?? Around here, some of the "Pro"s are just a standard contractor? Anyone can blow a hole in your wall? But I don't trust many? As long as proper materials are used, clearance to combustibles are maintained, and nothing is done to unit to void the UL listing? It shouldn't matter whether you install? Or a "Pro" does it. IMO

I might have to show them a literature of Fahrenheit furnace to better explain what i'm about to do. Why the manual versus auto backdraft dampers? I was told some insurance companies are not covering with the propain & wood(pellet) combos anymore.

 

[bdaoust]

My insurance company required me to show proof that is was professionally cleaned, which cost me $175. However, when I asked if I had to do this annually, they danced around it and just said "we strongly recommend you do it."

I'm a little worried that if I should ever have an incident due to the pellet stove, they might not allow me to file a claim.

 

[ivanhoe]

So i got a good feedback from my insurance broker, $35 per stove per year, to be professionally installed and a WETT inspection. As long the oil furnace stays intact there will be no problem.

 

[moey]

So i got a good feedback from my insurance broker, $35 per stove per year, to be professionally installed and a WETT inspection. As long the oil furnace stays intact there will be no problem.

Seems high but I have no experience with Canadian insurance around me there was no service charge ( MetLife ). They told me to get a permit if one was needed that was about it.

 

[whlago]

My insurance company required me to show proof that is was professionally cleaned, which cost me $175. However, when I asked if I had to do this annually, they danced around it and just said "we strongly recommend you do it."​

It's Bull! My"new" insurance company wanted the same thing but I pushed back per the obvious (weekly cleanings and twice a year full vent brush and LBT). Finally had to settle on a one time inspection by a chimney company for about 75 bucks. Makes no sense whatsoever but sometimes you have to bite the bullet and play the game

 

[Klaas van den Heuvel]

one thing is for sure.....if you dont disclose who installed the unit you may get a claim declined.. if there is a big payout you can bet your ass that the insurance company will want names or proof who did the original work... the insurance is only issue based on the information and good faith you give them ...till you go on claim
dont be a fool and disclose the risk so you can sleep at night in peace

 

[skibladerj]

It could just be my experience however, I have Liberty Mutual. When I bought my home last June I told them that I have a pellet stove. They asked no questions about it and it did not affect my pricing. To be honest they were more interested in the fact I had two sheds on the property!

 

[saladdin]

It could just be my experience however, I have Liberty Mutual. When I bought my home last June I told them that I have a pellet stove. They asked no questions about it and it did not affect my pricing. To be honest they were more interested in the fact I had two sheds on the property!

Word.

Liberty just said "We'll note it in our system." No pictures, letters or inspections needed.

 

[Klaas van den Heuvel]

It could just be my experience however, I have Liberty Mutual. When I bought my home last June I told them that I have a pellet stove. They asked no questions about it and it did not affect my pricing. To be honest they were more interested in the fact I had two sheds on the property!

e sad

 

[Klaas van den Heuvel]

e sad

The sad part is that some insurance agents dont know the rules of the companies they sell for ... and that is not a problem for the insurance company... till you go on Claim.. than it will be a problem if the agent has missed the risk that should have been noted to the insurance company ... rather than noted in the agency,s file only
insurnce comp will only pay for the coverage you have and no more...just kep that in mind

 

[BrotherBart]

The big thing with insurance companies, Canada or U.S., is not insuring a place where wood heat is the sole source. It is a freezing pipes/water damage thing. If the oil is still primary, no problem. As the OP found out.

The WETT inspection is a government requirement in Canada.

 

[hinkle]

It could just be my experience however, I have Liberty Mutual. When I bought my home last June I told them that I have a pellet stove. They asked no questions about it and it did not affect my pricing. To be honest they were more interested in the fact I had two sheds on the property!

RED FLAG, RED FLAG!! I had LM for my homeowners because thats who the realtor suggested, and it was cheaper than mine and my gf/wife's insurance providers. After we got married I went through HELL!! Complete and total udder bull. Even the last customer service person I talked to couldn't put in words the crap I put up with.

I'll try to make it easy to follow...

Called LM for an estimate for adding auto/motorcycle insurance to our homeowners,
Meet for an over view after giving an EXACT explanation of what options we wanted, full tort, 100/300 per accident, etc...
after our meeting I noticed the adjuster/dumb**** didn't put down what I wanted.
I called immediately before doing the required online signature.
No response for 2 weeks, got insurance cards for MC(motorcycle) in the mail, called and after garbage explanation, had it canceled.
week or 2 weeks later, auto insurance cards came, again called and asked WTF?!, cancelled again.
Got letter from PENNDOT saying I didn't have proof of insurance, had to prove 16 year old insurance plan, that it had been cancelled on April 1st,
Filed a legal claim because LM wanted to charge me $275 for a policy I never even owned, and once they proved legally never existed, then the a**hats said I agreed to it over the phone!?!! No.
Then LM said I owed them for insurance from April 1st to April 15th or something to that nature...

After over a dozen calls, filing claims with the PA Insurance bureau to handle this kind of BS multiple times, and even more calls...

After a year, LM decided to try and start my car insurance again, called cancelled, then my MC, called, cancelled, I just get too mad retyping this crap it gets muttered, but trust me, I never agreed to any of these policies, they just started billing me and my wife for them. I have an outstanding balance of $2 mother loving dollars right now, for a policy that never was agreed too.

After I had cancelled my homeowners with them in Nov 2011, and never reinburst me for what I had already paid for(almost 2 years later), decided to send a bill to my mortgage lender for homeowners, who paid it, who then didn't pay my current provider, then once I got over a year and a half back in homeowners, tried to start their old BS of car insurance, I had to call and speak French to some poor girl who couldn't understand my English for an hour, who said she finally fixed my problem, to find a new email saying I owe $2 dolla American. They have since sent letters saying they will send these false claims to a collection agency.

Save yourself the time and the anger, switch policy holders now.

 

[skibladerj]

I am sorry your experience has been terrible with LM. I have had them for over 3yrs for my homeowners and my auto. Never had a problem and my policy's reflect all my wishes. I am sure your experience is not isolated however, I have not had a problem with them. My sole intent was to let the OP know not all insurance / policy companies have unfriendly pellet stove processes.

 

[saladdin]

I am sorry your experience has been terrible with LM. I have had them for over 3yrs for my homeowners and my auto. Never had a problem and my policy's reflect all my wishes. I am sure your experience is not isolated however, I have not had a problem with them. My sole intent was to let the OP know not all insurance / policy companies have unfriendly pellet stove processes.

Ditto. No issues and just commenting on their treatment of pellet stoves (for me).

 

[smwilliamson]

I recently had a rep from Amica home...I think that's who it was, call in and ask some questions about this. They were getting a lot of push back from their clients that were angry that their insurance was going to be dropped if they couldn't provide a receipt from a professional that it was maintained...so I asked them who they considered be a professional? They couldn't answer it. I suggested that they refer to CSIA or NFI as a place to start but that many homeowners are in fact capable of doing this work on their own and in many instances probably more qualified and do a better job....

I suppose if you actually own your home outright there is more accommodations for this than if the bank still owns the note. What about car leases? Do you have to show proof of the oil being changed by a professional?

 

[BrotherBart]

Bet they don't say a "professional" what.....

Sure he is a professional. CPA.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

One sometimes needs large claws when dealing with insurance companies, sort of like dealing with the sweet young thing over the phone that can't answer a single question when you were provided their number to call with questions.