Home Owner's Insurance

[bobm]

A couple months ago we received a letter from our Home Owner's Insurance with The Hartford that they will be sending a home inspector to see if our home is kept up. This person showed up and I personally showed him around. Last Friday, we received 2 letters from them inquiring if we lived in this home and to confirm that we had a pellet stove / wood burning fire place. So this morning I spoke to TWO different adjusters .... YES ,we live in this house, but it took at least 5 minutes to convince that adjuster that we did indeed live here. Next, I talked to another adjuster regarding our " pellet stove / wood burning fire place " ... NO, we do NOT have a pellet stove,Yes , we do have a wood burning fire place. So, this adjuster asks if we have the chimney professionally cleaned every year ? WHAT ????? I explained to him that we purchased a bank owned home and we are slowly remodeling this home and that we have NOT used the fire place yet and that wood smoke makes my eyes water and burn , and besides we have central heat furnace so I will NOT be burning wood or anything else in it. He goes on and on asking questions, and after about 15 minutes, I convinced him that I will not be burning wood. So NO increase in premiums. WHEW !!! So, I asked WHY all of these questions ? He said that due to increased chimney fires , they have been having too many claims. Then he said that due to air pollution EPA standards, they are proactively requireing that chimneys have to be professionaly cleaned every year and if one should have a fire, you will have to have proof that you had your chimneys professionally cleaned every year or your claim will be dinied. Edited to add : Comming soon too... the adjuster said that Gas inserts /fire places will require annual professional chimney cleaning of soot too. More expense for the home owner .

 

[Nyboy]

While I changed my fireplace to propane, wood was what past owner burned. I had my chimney cleaned wasn't that expensive I think $75

 

[catjac1975]

A couple months ago we received a letter from our Home Owner's Insurance with The Hartford that they will be sending a home inspector to see if our home is kept up. This person showed up and I personally showed him around. Last Friday, we received 2 letters from them inquiring if we lived in this home and to confirm that we had a pellet stove / wood burning fire place. So this morning I spoke to TWO different adjusters .... YES ,we live in this house, but it took at least 5 minutes to convince that adjuster that we did indeed live here. Next, I talked to another adjuster regarding our " pellet stove / wood burning fire place " ... NO, we do NOT have a pellet stove,Yes , we do have a wood burning fire place. So, this adjuster asks if we have the chimney professionally cleaned every year ? WHAT ????? I explained to him that we purchased a bank owned home and we are slowly remodeling this home and that we have NOT used the fire place yet and that wood smoke makes my eyes water and burn , and besides we have central heat furnace so I will NOT be burning wood or anything else in it. He goes on and on asking questions, and after about 15 minutes, I convinced him that I will not be burning wood. So NO increase in premiums. WHEW !!! So, I asked WHY all of these questions ? He said that due to increased chimney fires , they have been having too many claims. Then he said that due to air pollution EPA standards, they are proactively requireing that chimneys have to be professionaly cleaned every year and if one should have a fire, you will have to have proof that you had your chimneys professionally cleaned every year or your claim will be dinied. Edited to add : Comming soon too... the adjuster said that Gas inserts /fire places will require annual professional chimney cleaning of soot too. More expense for the home owner .

I think stoves all have to have a catalytic converter. Our smoke come out clear because of it.

 

[seedcorn]

Is that a new law? Mine don’t. Usually dark smoke meant green wood.

 

[baymule]

Insurance companies....we love to hate 'em.......until we need 'em.....

I had a trampoline once, no kids at home, fenced yard, and I had to get rid of it. Made me so mad!

Bob, if you have your chimney is professionally cleaned and your house catches on fire, doesn't the receipt, PROOF, burn up too?

 

[seedcorn]

In Indiana you had to give proof-they kept records of it.

If it wasn’t for people sueing, but they do. So I have to have protection.

 

[thistlebloom]

A lot of stoves 20 years ago were built with cats. Then according to several sites I read back when we bought our stove (old but unused and built with a catalytic converter) they fell out of favor for some reason I don't remember.

It probably also depends on the state you live in. I know it's not a requirement here. Our wood burns clear, which it will if it's dry and clean. We don't engage the catalytic converter because it's a pain in the butt and we didn't see any difference in the smoke when we didn't use it.

 

[Rhodie Ranch]

In calif, you can't build a home with a fireplace anymore. And if you already have one, there are only a few days a year when you can burn firewood in them due to air pollution laws.

We have a regular fireplace, but never intend to use it due to little to no heat actually gets into the room. There is an electric fireplace right now in there. And we can't convert to propane or anything, since everything is electric.