Space Heaters, Fireplaces and Home Insurance

Cold months mean more space heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves, and more chances for a fire to start at home. A standard homeowners policy usually covers sudden fire and smoke damage, including a fire that starts from heating equipment, but chimney wear and neglect are treated differently. Here is what to check before you light the first fire of the season.

Does home insurance cover a fire from a space heater or fireplace?

Fire and smoke are covered perils on standard homeowners policies, so accidental damage from a space heater, fireplace, wood stove or chimney fire is usually covered. That can include:

• The house itself, such as walls, floors, the roof and the chimney structure damaged by the fire.
• Your belongings, such as furniture, clothing and electronics burned or damaged by smoke and soot.
• Extra living costs, such as a hotel and meals, if the home cannot be lived in during repairs.
• Liability, if a fire that started at your home damages a neighbor's property, depending on the circumstances.

Your deductible applies first, and limits and details depend on your policy.

Chimney fires and wood stoves

A chimney fire, for example from built-up creosote in the flue, may be covered when it was sudden and unexpected and you did not cause it on purpose. Damage that spreads into the attic, walls or roof is usually handled as fire damage. The routine side of owning a chimney is a different matter: sweeping, cleaning, repointing crumbling brick or replacing a worn liner is usually considered maintenance and is not paid by the policy.

Wood-burning stoves and fireplaces can also affect your premium. Some insurers ask about a wood stove or insert before it is installed, and some may require a professional installation or inspection. If you add one, tell your insurer so the policy reflects it.

What usually is not covered

• Wear and tear and poor maintenance, such as a deteriorated chimney, cracked firebox or a heater kept in poor condition.
• Gradual smoke or soot from a fireplace that has drawn badly for a long time. Policies focus on sudden and accidental damage.
• Damage caused on purpose by someone in the household.
• The heater or appliance itself when it simply breaks down without causing other damage.

Heating safety tips that also protect your claim

Fire safety groups such as the National Fire Protection Association suggest a few simple habits. They lower the risk of a fire, and they also show your insurer you took reasonable care of your home.

• Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from space heaters, fireplaces, wood stoves and furnaces.
• Turn portable space heaters off when you leave the room or go to sleep, and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
• Have chimneys and heating systems cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional, and keep the receipts.
• Use a sturdy screen in front of the fireplace.
• Let ashes cool, then put them in a metal container kept away from the house.
• Test smoke alarms monthly and install carbon monoxide alarms if you burn wood, gas or other fuel.

If a fire happens

1. Get everyone out and call 911. Do not go back inside until firefighters say it is safe.
2. Prevent further damage where you safely can, such as boarding up openings. Policies usually expect reasonable steps.
3. Document everything with photos and video before cleanup starts.
4. Keep receipts for emergency repairs, a hotel and meals.
5. Contact your insurer promptly and ask for the fire department report if they need it.

Quick policy checklist before winter

• Your deductible and your dwelling and personal property limits.
• Whether belongings are covered at replacement cost or actual cash value.
• Your limit for additional living expenses.
• Whether your insurer knows about any wood stove or fireplace insert.
• Your personal liability limit.

Learn more about how homeowners insurance coverages fit together, frozen pipes and home insurance, ice dams and snow on your roof, and what affects the price of home insurance, or compare home insurance by ZIP.

FAQ

Q: Does home insurance cover a fireplace fire?
A: A fire that escapes the fireplace or starts in the chimney and damages your home is usually covered as fire damage, as long as it was sudden and accidental. Chimney cleaning and repairs from age or neglect usually are not.

Q: Is a space heater fire covered?
A: Usually yes, under the fire and smoke coverage of a standard homeowners policy. Your deductible applies, and damage tied to misuse or poor maintenance may be questioned.

Q: Does a fireplace or wood stove raise my home insurance?
A: It may. Wood-burning heat adds fire risk, so some insurers charge more or ask about the installation. Tell your insurer before you add one.

Q: Is smoke damage covered without a fire spreading?
A: Sudden and accidental smoke damage, such as a puffback from a furnace, is usually covered. Smoke or soot that built up slowly over a long time usually is not.