Many homes in Michigan, especially the UP, have supplemental heat sources or heat sources in an outbuilding such as a garage or sauna. It is VERY important to know what you have and inform your insurance agency to avoid any gaps in coverage or have coverage denied completely due to not disclosing a supplemental heat source. We will show you different types of supplemental heat sources and briefly discuss eligibility requirements of each. Flip through the Slide share below to learn more.
Free Standing Solid Fuel Wood Stove
These are chargeable by MOST companies. Some companies have the wood stove surcharge automatically included in their base premium and offer a discount if you do not have one.
Requires a Survey and Photos by ALL companies
Stove Pipe Heat Reclaimers are NOT acceptable
Manufacturer specifications should be followed when installing a wood stove
Companies do not allow homemade or barrel stoves
Wood stoves sharing a flue with a furnace are not acceptable
Outdoor Wood Boiler
Most companies do not charge for these, but some do.
Must be UL listed
Typically needs to be 50 feet from the home or to manufacturer specifications
Another form of heat is required for back up
Wood burning Central Furnace or Add-On Wood Stove
These are chargeable and treated as wood stoves with all our companies
Must be UL listed
Photos and surveys required by all companies and treated the same as a free-standing wood stove
Must be vented separately from the central furnace to be eligible.
Pellet Stove
Chargeable by all companies
Photos are required
Stove pipe must be to code
Non-combustible material required beneath the stove
Pellet stoves typically have manufacturer specifications on how close they can be to combustible walls and must comply with these specifications or they are not eligible
There must be another source of heat in the home
Solid Fuel Fireplace
NOT chargeable by companies
Do not need to be noted on application
They do make a difference on Replacement Cost of home
There must be another form of heat in the home
Photos and Surveys are NOT required
Gas Fireplace
Not chargeable
Do NOT need to be noted on the application
They DO make a difference on Replacement cost of home
Photos and Surveys are NOT required
There must be another form of heat in the home
Wood Stove Insert
Looks like a woodstove inserted into a fireplace
There must be another form of heat
Photos and survey required by some companies
Inspection required by some companies
Supplemental Heat Sources in Outbuildings
There are VERY few companies that will write policies with a wood stove in a garage attached or detached or other out buildings. It is very important to be honest with your insurance agent if you have one. If you do not notify your agent that you have a wood stove in an outbuilding and then there is a loss, the company can deny coverage and issue a cancellation or non-renewal on your policy.
At Alger General Agency we write home policies with multiple companies that have different requirements for supplemental heat. It is your job as the insured to provide us with honest and correct information about your supplemental heat source. It is our job as your agency to make sure that we provide our companies with accurate information about your home to make sure you are properly covered with the best rate for your home with supplemental heat.