question on homeowners insurance

[RIDGERUNNER30]

Hey guys ,I have been meaning to stop by my local insurance company and tell them about my new wood stove i installed over the spring, my question is what should i expect ? do i need to bring my owners manual and chimmey manual and pictures of my install ? or will they send a agent out to look at my setup, how much does your rates go up or do they change at all.

 

[learnin to burn]

When I installed my stove my agent told me to just do a ruff diagram of the install with distances from combustibles, hearth size, type of stove pipe. Then he just wanted a brochure. I didn't get hit with a rate hike either. Sometimes it also helps to have a sweep come out and do an inspection.

 

[Slow1]

I think every insurance company is different and the differences are VERY different. In my case I called the company and told them of my plans to install a new wood stove, the agent was more concerned about the value of the stove and whether it would increase the value of the home than anything. I pushed him on the whole fire burning appliance risk side and so on figuring he just didn't get what I was talking about but he seemed to get it in the end. He said there wasn't any special documentation or anything required and that as long as it was installed to code with proper permitting etc I didn't have to worry but he would make a note of it in my file that I had called and discussed it with him. I was quite glad of course, albeit a bit surprised that it was so easy.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

With us, the agent came out to look and take pictures. All is well.

 

[wendell]

Before I installed mine, I called them, fearing what it would do to my rates and all they said was call us when it is in and there was no change in my premium.

 

[John_M]

Called my Allstate agent about the new wood stove and offered to provide copies of Code Compliance and Inspection Report by Certified Wood Stove Installer. She said that was not necessary but Allstate would increase my annual premium $25. As simple as that.

A similar thread about a year ago, if I recall correctly, seemed to indicate requirements varied by insurance company and region of the country.

John_M

 

[Ratherbfishin]

I just installed a new Quad and Allstate didn't need anything. just a 25 dollar premium increase. No one even needs to come inspect it. I would suspect however if you were to install an old stove or a do it yourself job that may be a different story.

 

[stejus]

I'd be prepared with all your paper work. I prepared all of mine and when I called my agent, he said "OK", I'll note that on the policy. I asked if he wanted copies of all the paper work, he said no, just file them. I suppose I should file this paper work with my insurance paper work in a fireproof/waterproof safe!

 

[edthedawg]

Funny Allstate stories - I have them, too. I called after the stove was installed and inspected, and had my inspection compliance report (single sheet of paper saying what it was, and that the guy had checked it out) which i faxed them. a half hour later they called back and it turned out my rate hike was $0. zip/nada. I think I'm already paying a premium for the construction class, plus have the cars on there too?? No clue. We've even had a recent claim (bedroom ceiling plaster collapsed a couple years ago). I expected the $25/yr hike. maybe it'll come along next renewal term...

 

[Greg123]

Called my agent from State Farm he came out took some pic's filled out some paper work showing the clearances. I had a copy of the manual & certificate from the building inspector, but he did not want them, he said state farm will look up my stove on-line for the clearances and if they have any question or concerns I would here from them within 3-4 weeks , That was over 3 months ago I have heard nothing and no change in my premium at all.

 

[firefighterjake]

From previous threads and personal experience whether your rate changes and what is required or not required really depends on the insurance company. In my case, there was no rate increase and no visit from any agents or inspectors, but I did have to have the stove professionally installed and had to document clearances, hearth size and have the local fire department do an inspection after the install was complete.

 

[polaris]

My ins. co. told me that since I already had a solid fuel burning appliance(fireplace) where the stove would be installed there would be no change or need to have anyone come out. Is this what others have found as well? I know installing a stove in a place where there was no stove or chimney is probably a separate issue.

 

[BrotherBart]

My ins. co. told me that since I already had a solid fuel burning appliance(fireplace) where the stove would be installed there would be no change or need to have anyone come out. Is this what others have found as well? I know installing a stove in a place where there was no stove or chimney is probably a separate issue.

That is what Allstate told me when I installed my stoves. But that was in 1985 and I haven't felt like calling again since then. At the time I tried to get them, the building inspector and the fire marshal any and all to come and check it out and nobody was interested.

 

[SteveKG]

Our home has been insured since we finished it, 1985. It's always been wood-heated, plus fireplace. No problem.

However, a few yr. back, we had a huge forest fire about forty miles from here, took out many homes, human-caused by a Forest Svc. employee, I think it was. Eventually our agent showed up without notice, inspected the house, luckily I had fire extinguishers all over, near both stoves and otherwise. I pointed out our insulated stovepipe [MetalBestos], steel heat shields behind the stoves, and so on.

He wasn't impressed with anything. Said that the co. [Farmers] was reconsidering mountain home coverage, no doubt due to the hit they took on the big fire. Few weeks later, we got notice of a rate increase and it went up a couple hundred bucks. However, they did not cancel us.

Few months ago, I was shopping for a different auto insurance deal, and several co's I looked at offered a better deal for homeowners, if we added that, too. Usual deal. When they found out we were wood-head and mountain property, only one was willing to talk. And we were rejected by that one because, the agent claimed, they would only insure homes with "central heat." I tried to pin him down on just exactly what systems would be included in central heat, and he couldn't or wouldn't tell me. I asked if it had to do with wood heat, and he refused to tell me that, too. I mean, I asked whether any wood systems would make the "central heating" description. No real answer.

Again, this may have to do with the big fire a few yr. ago and the hit the co's took back then.

 

[Detector$]

Just built a new house with a wood stove in NC insured by Farm Bureau. They did come look (for a lot of things unrelated to the stove). Their big thing was that the stove was professionally installed. We officially paid our builder to install the stove/hearth etc (to our specs and stove specs). No problem. Working with Farm Bureau is a real pleasure. For those of you who can get them in your areas, I'd suggest you look at them. Smart reps, great customer service, excellent prices etc... No I don't work for them.

 

[Greg123]

Just built a new house with a wood stove in NC insured by Farm Bureau. They did come look (for a lot of things unrelated to the stove). Their big thing was that the stove was professionally installed. We officially paid our builder to install the stove/hearth etc (to our specs and stove specs). No problem. Working with Farm Bureau is a real pleasure. For those of you who can get them in your areas, I'd suggest you look at them. Smart reps, great customer service, excellent prices etc... No I don't work for them.

About 2 years ago, we where hit by a car from NC area, they had Farm Bureau insurance, this insurance company was the best, handled our clam fast, and repaired our vehicle very quickly. If they offered insurance in my area I would switch to them.

 

[Badfish740]

Every company is different. My homeowner's insurance company simply said that as long as I got the proper permits and the inspector signed off on them that it was good enough for them. Of course they also know that I live less than five miles from my local firehouse and that I'm less than 100' from a fire hydrant (it's in front of my neighbor's house)

 

[timfromohio]

Neither of our last two insurance companies required anything special - no addition cost either. We have one insert which was professionally installed (keep paperwork, of course) and a free-standing stove that I installed myself. I took pictures of the hearth throughout construction to demonstrate that it was constructed to NFPA code. Installed stove according to manufacturer's instructions using class A chimney pipe and doublewalled stove pipe for safety.

My advice is to document everything and do everything to code and manufacturer's instructions.

 

[flash49]

I have Farm Bureau and a couple of photos and the fact it was professionally installed was all my agent needed. No rate increase either.

 

[bren582]

My insurance company is Allstate and said nothing was needed since I installed an insert in an existing masonry fireplace which was already listed in the policy. No rate increase, They suggested I file all paper work..

 

[Flatbedford]

When we bought the house Ins Co asked if we had a woodstove. We said yes. That was all.

 

[moosetrek]

We had to send a couple pics and specs, but no inspection - I think by the time I finished building the hearth and installing the chimney I knew the clearances better than the insurance agent. I explained everything and included pics of the various stages of construction, materials spec (Durock), etc - no problems at all.

 

[czorbach]

I called my insurance company to inform them of my newly installed insert.
They sent me a form fill out - make, model, installer, etc.
That was it - I think it helped that my agent is a wood burner.

 

[DBoon]

In my case, I installed my wood stove in the fireplace opening - it's probably safer than having a fireplace. Before I ordered the stove, I called my insurance agent (for NY Central Mutual) and he said "if it is inside the fireplace opening, no change in premium."

 

[n3pro]

My insurance company was easy, I sent pictures and scanned in the receipt of the install which had the clearances marked and done. Didn't increase the premium. They did request a copy of a receipt for professional chimney cleaning. The insurance agent said they are unclear on how often the inspection must be done and basically said the only time they would look at it would be if a claim is filed so (off the record) if you never have a fire you never have to do it.