Home Insurance Claims advice on Chimney Fires.
When wood is burned, smoke that passes through the chimney can cool down and solidify. These solid smoke particles are called creosote, which is a flammable substance that can cause chimney fires. There is good news and bad news when it comes the ability to make valid claims on your homeowners’ insurance related to chimney damage. In general, damage that occurs as a result of a sudden, unexpected incident will usually be covered. Damage resulting from normal wear and tear is typically never covered.
Ultimately, however, the final decision regarding what is covered by homeowners’ insurance when your chimney needs repair is determined by your insurance policy, the company you are insured with, and the agent you
work
with on a claim.
There is no part of your homeowner's insurance policy that deals specifically with chimneys, nor will you find any specific chimney coverage. Homeowner's insurance policies describe the types of damage for which they will pay , but these damages apply to the entire house, including but not limited to the chimney. In other words, the type of chimney damage your insurer will cover is the same type of damage it will cover if it happened to any other part of your home. Advertisement though you should have coverage for damage from any of the listed or non-excluded perils in your policy, two of the most common chimney claims are lightning strikes and chimney fires.
In many cases our customer s get the cost of their chimney repairs covered under their home insurance policy. We work with registered professional property loss assessors who can assist you with free claims advice or alternatively handle all aspects of the claim on your behalf who work on a “no win no fee” basis.
Have you had a Chimney fire?
David campbell told the court that when his neighbour una ni bheirn in the summer of 2012 installed a wood burner stove against the shared dividing wall, he could not touch it because it was so hot. Campbell, of rathmines park, today said he had also noticed toxic fumes coming into his house.
He told his barrister kevin callan that he notified ms ni bheirn of the issue and after checking his wall, she had allegedly been satisfied that the heat generated had been excessive. The court heard that campbell smelled and saw smoke coming out from underneath the carpet in his landing in october that year.
Chimney fires can burn explosively and are generally noisy and dramatic enough to be detected by neighbours or people outside. Victims of them compare the sound of the fire to a low rumbling noise like a train or low-flying airplane. Flames have been known to shoot from the top of the chimney accompanied by dense smoke. The first indication of a chimney fire is usually the noise (a roaring sound) that grows louder as the fire intensifies, reaching temperatures of up to 1200 degrees c. Chimney fires can have flames and sparks that shoot a few meters from the pot or top of the chimney.
Athlone town council domestic chimney fires: €500 other domestic fires: €675 per hour per fire brigade. Carlow county council domestic chimney fires: €250other domestic fires: for other domestic fires charged on the basis of no. Of firemen x hourly wage of €19. 86 plus any materials used during the call out. Cavan county council domestic chimney fires: €200. Other domestic fires: fire-fighter’s fees plus additonal 25% clare county council domestic chimney fires: €150. 00other domestic fires: actual cost = fire fighter wages + employer prsi + 60% overheads cork county council domestic chimney fires & other domestic fires: no charges for private dwellings. Fee for rented properties of €480 per brigade per hour.
Chimney fires, lightning strikes, earthquakes, fallen trees, very high winds, and other traumas to the chimney can cause damages to the liner and, masonry, or chimney structure itself. Wood, coal, and to a lesser degree, oil, fires combust fuel incompletely. The resulting smoke exits the chimney with these unburned particulates in suspension. As the smoke rises, it cools. When it reaches a certain temperature, condensation occurs and the particulates are deposited on the interior of the flue in the form of soot or creosote. Soot, from oil appliances, and creosote, from wood and coal appliances, are the chief culprits in chimney fires.
What You Need to Know When Filing a Chimney Damage Insurance Claim
Cracking on your chimney stack can be an indication that you have had a recent chimney fire and this has the potential to leak poisonous carbon monoxide gases into your home! the majority of chimney fires go undetected as they are slow burning, however if you notice a crack on the chimney stack or any other signs of damage call us now on 087 211 2465. We can arrange for a free cctv survey of your chimney flue which will determine if your chimney has suffered damage. If there is damage we can report the claim to your insurance company and ensure all repairs are covered.
This is a question people regularly ask because they’ve heard that not all types of chimney damage will be handled by their insurance provider. Magic mountain chimney sweeps of frederick, md, performs a lot of chimney repair work for insurance claims as well as work the homeowner pays for. Your policy or insurance company rep is your best source of information on coverage, but in the meantime, here’s an outline that will be helpful in deciding what kinds of chimney issues are usually covered by homeowner’s insurance policies.
Your homeowners’ insurance policy may cover some or all the damage a chimney fire causes to your property, subject to policy limitations and exclusions. So, give your insurance agent or a public adjuster a call to file an insurance claim. Keep your chimney inspection documentation handy just in case there are any discrepancies after their claims adjustor examines your chimney.
Felgemacher masonry & chimney of charlotte has you covered. We have helped many customers with their insurance claims for chimney damage. However, regardless of whether your chimney damage is covered by insurance, it must be repaired to prevent further damage and costlier repairs. Owner certified by the chimney safety institute of america (csia), felgemacher masonry & chimney of charlotte will help you with insurance claims for chimney damage and repair in kings mountain, nc, newton, nc, huntersville, nc, mecklenburg county, and communities in the metrolina region.
Unexpected Chimney Damage Usually Is Covered
Whether or not your chimney is covered largely depends on how it became damaged or broken. If your chimney was damaged by a.
After a chimney fire or a suspected chimney fire, you should have a thorough inspection of the chimney done by a professional chimney sweep. The inspection should include all accessible areas of the chimney structure both inside the home and “out”. The interior of the flue should be inspected with a video camera to document any defects. (*damage that is the direct result of a chimney fire is often covered under homeowners insurance policies. “antrim’s” is recognized by most major insurance companies as one of southeastern pennsylvania’s most professional and trustworthy chimney contractors. Subsequently, we work with insurance adjusters on a regular basis regarding chimney fire claims.
Fire & Chimney Fire
With over 20 years of experience in our industry, athlone chimney repairs provide the complete service in chimney repairs. Based in athlone we serve the midland region and are members of the national guild of master craftsmen. We solve all types of chimney problems including storm damage, fire damage and smoke problems.
Aside from inferior construction, the main cause of leaking and problem chimneys are caused by chimney fires, usually as a result of not having the chimney cleaned. When a chimney catches fire the temp can exceed 1000 degrees centigrade rapidly, subjecting the flue liners to thermal shock, resulting in cracked flue liners. This can then allow harmful gasses escape into the house through the cracks and bedded joints in the blockwork.
On the other hand, there are “expected” damages, usually caused by neglecting to have regular chimney cleaning, repairs and inspections performed. Guardian chimney sweep technicians encounter damage-due-to-neglect on a regular basis when servicing our houston-area customers’ chimneys. When left alone, chimneys will eventually fall into disrepair. Much of the trouble often involves compromise to the masonry structure or water damage. Problems that can arise when a chimney isn’t properly cared for include: deteriorated bricks and mortar damaged chimney crown, cap, or flashing rusted or broken fireplace damper interior masonry deterioration a chimney that leans or collapses homeowner’s insurance providers usually won’t pay for these and other types of chimney damage that results from the homeowner not doing his or her due diligence in keeping the chimney maintained.
Since 1981, firesafe has been the preferred contractor for state farm, erie, nationwide, travelers, allstate, usaa, loudoun mutual, virginia farm bureau, and the rockingham group for chimney damage claims. If your chimney has experienced a chimney fire, lightning strike, water damage, or other physical damage, our in-depth inspection identifies and documents the cause of the damage and the most appropriate repair(s) based on the type and extent of the damage. Not all chimney repair methods are safe or building code compliant; therefore, it is critical that the recommended repair system(s) properly address the damage. Once our examination is complete, a meticulously prepared report and estimate is forwarded to you, and at your request, directly to your insurance adjuster, expediting the claims process, and getting your chimney safely ready for your use.
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