Coalpail.com Forum

I'll throw another vote in with sharkman. I too have Erie and they have no problem at all with me burning coal in my stoker. My parents also have an antique kitchen range going since I was a kid and this year will have a new Reading stoker going and they didn't even blink. Very down to earth as insurance companies go.

Here's the kicker - I have Erie ins. as well. I think what I may have is a hard headed, misinformed agent. I tried to bypass the agent and go directly to Erie, but made the mistake of including my policy # when I asked my question. Erie forwarded my question right back to the agent!

I may try to contact Erie again but its getting late and I lost the opportunity at a good deal on a stoker stove - might have to wait till next year.

I would be looking for another Erie agent if I were you, ask around or look in the phone book. They all get a commison why give it to one that seems to be misinformed or just too lazy to investigate.

Like someone said separate the stove from the garage and put it in the "boiler room" or something. I see a ton of furnaces installed in breezeways that connect to both the garage and the house, and these are on new construction floor plans so it can be done as long as the garage has a doorway that separates it and the furnace is above the garage. A wood stove is dangerous in a garage, I know you guys might blast me but every year a local garage or two burns, I speculate that paint fumes accumulate on the floor and when a hot wood ember hits the floor after the owner pokes the fire the garage ignites. Or the chimney gets to be 1200 degrees and burns it down that way. A propane or oil furnace will never have cinders on the floor or exposed flame or a glowing stack pipe, a coal appliance shouldn't have them either but some ins. companies obviously see coal the same as wood.

e.alleg wrote:ins. companies obviously see coal the same as wood.

They see all solid fuels as an open flame and want a firewall between it and the car/mower/snowblower/can of gasoline.

I'd look for another agent, or call and try to go directly to a rep that deals with agents. It is crazy your having this type of trouble.

My Insurance company didn't have a problem with it. I'm through Peerless.

There are several good insurance companies in nepa. Start asking for quotes. There is no reason you have to stay with your auto insurer. You may find better coverage for less money. Don't be in a hurry to give up on the stoker stove. If an insurance underwriter wants to look at the property, make sure it is reasonably clean with no junk piled in the area. (You can put it back later)

I've been real busy lately and have put having a stove in the garage on hold for now, but I haven't given up yet. I'll check out other ins. co.'s and check with the building inspector to see what the code requirements are and go from there.

Thanks for all the replies and info.

DVC500 at last wrote:

stokerstove wrote:I didn't even get to the building code part since I was shot down right away by the ins. Co. I think I'll check this out anyway.

The utility room/boiler room ideas are good as is re-phrasing the term "Coal Stove" or "Stoker".

Just wish there was a reasonable person with a little common sense you could talk to at these companies.

Thanks for the replies.

Yeah, ask your building inspector first: Make your suggestions and show him a scaled drawing, as to where you WANT to install it, and ask him what it would take to "Make it so". He should be more than happy to review your floor plan, and make suggestions that the insurance company should agree with.
Also, an architect could draw this up to code for you too.
And, you can always get a different insurance company
Still many options you could pursue...

The insurance compnay rules are often more strict than local building codes and in fact, just because something meets code does not mean the insurance company has to insure it. Hey, this is capitalism, if you don't like it, self insure by posting a fidelity bond to satify the mortgage company or find another company that will allow you to do what you want.

The following quote taken from NFPA 211

12.2.4 Solid fuel–burning appliances shall not be installed in
any garage

While I believe it would be fine, the above referenced material gives any insurance company the documentation to deny coverage should they need it. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Big Mike

However, nothing in NFPA precludes you from partitioning the garage into a solid fuel boiler or furnace room. That room properly designed and build to specifications is no longer a garage. The overall structure is now a heating equipment room and a reduced size garage.

Yanche wrote:However, nothing in NFPA precludes you from partitioning the garage into a solid fuel boiler or furnace room. That room properly designed and build to specifications is no longer a garage. The overall structure is now a heating equipment room and a reduced size garage.

My point exactly. Its no longer a 'garage' if you put up a proper partition, IE... a "Utility Room".

Here's a page I came across on the net and it answers a lot of questions about

installing a solid fuel appliance. It covers clearances,chimneys,and where a

solid fuel unit can be installed.

Even a detached garage is not allowed,must be as Yanche said a separate

room.

BigBarney

Unless you want Socialized Insurance, forcing an insurer to write business they don't want, such as solid fuel appliances in the garage, makes no sense. Insurers can apply any rules they choose as far as new business is concerned, with a few exceptions, depending on the state. Renewals and mid policy terminations are a different story.