Should Insurance Co. & Local government know I'm coal soon?

Hello all you coal burners, here's my current situation.

I finally decided to get a Hyfire II with a hot air jacket and (maybe the DHW coil) using the cold air return as the entry point of the heat from this furnace. I have a couple of questions now about the red tape involved since you can't seem to do anything without some regulations affecting you these days.

1.) Do you need to let your insurance company know that your using coal as a major source of heat? I only will use the oil when I'm away for a long enough time that the coal fire would go out.

2.) Do you need to apply for any kind of permit to install a coal burning furnace with the local township?

3.) Any other advice you care to offer please do because there are so many people on here that I respect because of your common sense, wisdom, technical knowledge, I could go on & on. This is truly a great forum.

4.) Thank you Mayor for creating it.

the insurance company is a ??????????????? as for any thing else you can do what you want on your own property as long was it doesn't effect anyone else . my 2 cents

My insurance company asked if the house had any wood/coal stoves when we bought it, i didnt tell them i switched the hand fired out to a stoker yet.

My insurance company doesn't care as long I've met all the county's building codes. Lisa

lowfog01 wrote:My insurance company doesn't care as long I've met all the county's building codes. Lisa

Do you know the name of the department that I would call to get the county's building codes? That wouldn't be zoning would it?

As far as insurance company goes, are you sure you're heating primarily with solid fuel......I thought you were SUPPLEMENTING your existing approved heating source............

the coal stove is you backup heat to the oil ............

Yes, make sure you make that very clear--supplimental heating source.

Solid fuel heating is ALWAYS "supplemental" heating source. You need to install your appliance so that it is safe and in most cases that means following code and the appliance manufacturer's requirements; Whether you want to involve the code man and pay your locality some cash is up to you.

Joeski wrote:Do you know the name of the department that I would call to get the county's building codes? That wouldn't be zoning would it?

In my county it was the building code people. This county doesn't even address coal stoves so they just had me meet the requirements for a wood stove. Most of the county governments have all the building codes on line, check it out. The guys are right - you are installing a supplemental heating appliance, not replacing your current system. You may find out as I did that your stove will heat your whole house but it's still a supplemental heating appliance. Take care, Lisa

I've been dropped by 2 insurance companies that I had my homeowner's policy with in the last 6 years, not because of coal but because I have an in ground oil tank. The most recent time I told my insurance agent that I heat with coal, I don't use the oil-fired equipment and the tank is almost empty. He response was "How soon can you get the tank out of the ground?". I know they want to know if you're heating with wood, since creosote-fueled chimney fires are a risk, but I think they just get confused when they hear the word "coal".

MA goes by all the dangers of burning wood, and applies that moronically to coal. Shocker there, huh.

The less they know, the happier I am, & the smoother things work.

Down by the water...
State Insurance Plan...
Fair Plan...
Because no other insurance co will cover the high risk...
House has been standing since before 1950...
Plenty of storms and it still standing...
I get inspected a minimum of every 3 years...
Pictures of the inside of the house...
Primary heat source is gas furnace...
Secondary is always the coal stove...

When I bought my house it had an existing wood/coal boiler installed, and the insurance company was fine with it. My insurance adjuster has a Keystoker boiler, and thinks coal is the way to go.

According to my wife who is a licensed agent for a major carrier here in CT, the words "supplemental heating appliance" come into play. Boilers and furnaces are considered primary sources so they could care less. Stoves however will require notification as they are considered supplemental. They may want to look at the install, have the Fire Marshall look at it or possibly just make a note on the policy. If you screw up and burn the house down, they'll pay. Your life insurance carrier may have an issue if you die of CO poisoning so make sure you've had the policy beyond the six month to two year exclusionary for suicide.
The words "solid fuel appliance" will have the Fire Marshall itching to see it, he wants to make sure that he doesn't have to send apparatus to put your house out when it catches on fire or the coroner to remove pink bodies if you kill yourself with CO.
Last but least, the building dept will want"cash or check" for a permit.