So you’ve finally decided to move ahead and install that wood stove you’ve always wanted. All those cold days spent daydreaming of a hot, crackling fire and the natural warmth drifting throughout your house are a thing of the past. You’ve found a beautiful wood stove that fits the style of your home and even settled on the perfect location for it. All that’s left is for you to call us at SureGlow Stove & Chimney to get it installed. …right?
Not so fast. There are a few boxes that need to be checked off before you can fulfill your wood stove dreams. Our crew has seen it all and can help you along the way.
Read Your Homeowner’s Insurance Policy
Homeowner’s insurance pays for losses and damage to your property and personal belongings if something unexpected happens. If someone breaks into your home to burglarize it, you have a kitchen fire that destroys your upper cabinets, or lightning strikes your chimney causing the brick and mortar to crack, you would rely on your homeowner’s insurance policy to pay for repairs.
That said, if you have homeowner’s insurance, you can’t assume that everything in your home is covered by it. There are four types of homeowner’s insurance: dwelling protection, other structures protection, personal property protection, and liability protection. Wood stoves can fall into one of the first three categories. It’s important to:
- Note how wood stoves are classified according to your insurance company.
- Make sure you have that specific coverage in your policy.
Most insurance companies offer some sort of protection for wood stoves, although it may boost the cost of your monthly premium a bit.
Check With Your Town’s Municipal Building
Every state has guidelines about installing wood stoves. From there, counties and towns may further tweak things to better suit local needs. When you make a foundational change to your home, your town is going to want to be looped in. There’s no way around it. There are building code standards that have to be taken into consideration and permits may be required. If your town requires a permit before you can install a wood stove, you might be looking at some additional costs.
In addition, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has regulations in place that govern pollution emissions from wood stoves. For residents throughout the Ozarks, your town municipal building should be able to inform you if there are any additional restrictions from the Arkansas Energy and Environment’s Office of Air Quality or the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Be Prepared for Inspections After Wood Stove Installation
Okay. You’ve got everything squared away now. Wood stove purchased? Check. Does the chosen location in your home meet clearance criteria? Check. Does your homeowner’s insurance policy cover it? Check. Permit secured? Check.
After all of the legal legwork is done and you’ve scheduled an appointment with SureGlow Stove & Chimney, one of our CSIA-certified technicians will come to your home and get your wood stove installed. Once our technician has confirmed the chimney is secure and everything is in working order, you’re good to go. …right? Again, not so fast.
In most cases, additional inspections may be needed before you can use your wood stove for the first time. Depending on your policy, the homeowner’s insurance company may want to send one of their technicians to inspect your wood stove for safety purposes. After that is done, your town will likely send one of its inspectors to check out the wood stove to make sure its installation is compliant with the permit the town issued to you. If both inspections go well, now you’re free to use your brand-new wood stove.
See? It wasn’t too bad. And trust us – it’s all well worth it. Just be sure to call SureGlow Stove & Chimney to schedule annual inspections and sweepings to keep your wood stove in peak condition over the years to come.
Hire SureGlow Stove & Chimney for All of Your Wood Stove Needs
SureGlow Stove & Chimney is proud to serve residents in Green County, Christian County, Stone County, Dallas County, Benton County, Marion County, and more. We’re a local company with roots in Springfield, Branson, Joplin, Bentonville, Rogers, Bella Vista, Fayetteville, Harrison, Ozark, Neosho, and other towns nearby. If you don’t see your town listed, give us a call and a member of our customer service team will be happy to assist you.
If you’d like to schedule an appointment for a wood stove installation, call us at 417-201-6585 or head to our website to request a booking online.