Insurance? Building Permits?

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Mercury220

Member
Hearth Supporter
May 27, 2010
72
Wilmington, DE
So I finally have my stove and all the piping I need. A friend of mine who is a contractor is helping me do the install. Pretty straight forward. I am using all the proper spacing for the stove and hearth as well as the proper pipe above the ceiling. My question is do I need a building permit to drill a hole in my roof? Also do I need to tell my insurance company?
 
Building permits are going to be up to your local code requirements. I suggest that you start with your city. Different cities will require permits for different things. I live in the country, so no permit necessary. I know of some cities that require permits for nearly everything. I doubt that we will be able to answer that question for you.

Insurance is also specific to the insurance company. However, I know that I had to inform my insurance company of the install. Otherwise, if there was a fire that they could attribute to the stove, I'm sure they wouldn't have covered it if they didn't know about the stove before hand. I suggest that you call your agent to be sure.
 
Check for local permits..

Always notify the insurance company. My Pellet stoves needed nothing. They didnt even want to see them. When I installed my Woodstove in Sept, they wanted to come check clearances, took a few pics, and then told me they have a standard rate of $40 a year for Woodstoves. So around $3.33 a month extra. No biggie...All clearances were exceeded by inches. So I had no worries.
 
I pulled a permit for the stove and one for the hearth.. Woodstoves do not affect my insurance however I did send them a copy of my woodstove install inspection..

Ray
 
I bought my Quad 4300 wood stove a few years back. I asked the wife to call and inform the insurance company at the time and they said they have no problems with solid fuel stoves, no rate increase and no inspection on their part.

PS: I topped off the ol oil tank 2 years ago about the time the stove was installed. I am now going into my 3rd burning season with the stove... and still have a hare over a half a tank left from that same fill-up!
 
As an insurance agent, I recommend that you talk to your agent. Different insurance companies have different requirements. They may want to inspect the final installation and honestly, this is a good thing.
 
kcuhcsniknej said:
As an insurance agent, I recommend that you talk to your agent. Different insurance companies have different requirements. They may want to inspect the final installation and honestly, this is a good thing.

They can look all they want (not that they wanted to) however I feel they should not override an in inspection that has legally passed..

Ray
 
kcuhcsniknej said:
As an insurance agent, I recommend that you talk to your agent. Different insurance companies have different requirements. They may want to inspect the final installation and honestly, this is a good thing.
I agree. However, I have personally (my own home) experienced an insurance inspection and was absolutely astounded at how little knowledge the insurance inspector had. I have worked as a fire official and inspector for many years and pride myself in knowledge of my trade.......and if I don't know, I look it up! In both cases, the insurance inspector knew almost nothing about what he was inspecting......it was painfully obvious. I did not say anything, but I was really disappointed. :-S
 
After my professional install, my insurance agent didn't want to see the install and my homeowners insurance rate didn't change. I am not sure if it would have been different for a self-install.
 
tfdchief said:
kcuhcsniknej said:
As an insurance agent, I recommend that you talk to your agent. Different insurance companies have different requirements. They may want to inspect the final installation and honestly, this is a good thing.
I agree. However, I have personally (my own home) experienced an insurance inspection and was absolutely astounded at how little knowledge the insurance inspector had. I have worked as a fire official and inspector for many years and pride myself in knowledge of my trade.......and if I don't know, I look it up! In both cases, the insurance inspector knew almost nothing about what he was inspecting......it was painfully obvious. I did not say anything, but I was really disappointed. :-S

I would have to say that underwriters are even worse. I had one tell me that my tile roof needed to be 'replaced' after 25 years because that was the end of its useful life.

steve
 
my original business partner used to call the Underwriters, "The Business Prevention Dept!"
 
Under writer ( snippy fresh out of school female) denied my business coverage based on the name. xxxxxxx Blades, took exception to the blades part. Did not matter that I had been with the company for 12 years, no claims. My agent couldn't believe it. Another one decided I had to pay business insurance rates on my personal truck listed in my name, as well as my other truck in the business name.
 
blades said:
Under writer ( snippy fresh out of school female) denied my business coverage based on the name. xxxxxxx Blades, took exception to the blades part. Did not matter that I had been with the company for 12 years, no claims. My agent couldn't believe it. Another one decided I had to pay business insurance rates on my personal truck listed in my name, as well as my other truck in the business name.

I'm confused can you explain this better?

Ray
 
Mercury220 said:
So I finally have my stove and all the piping I need. A friend of mine who is a contractor is helping me do the install. Pretty straight forward. I am using all the proper spacing for the stove and hearth as well as the proper pipe above the ceiling. My question is do I need a building permit to drill a hole in my roof? Also do I need to tell my insurance company?

As for the permit, it depends upon your city or township. Our township does not require this.

As for the insurance, you definitely want to notify them and it is in your best interest to take pictures during the install and the completed installation.
 
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