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The Country TodayWed., Dec. 2, 1987Insurers, homeowners differ on woodbumers“I've ‘rten nil the bad ones. ILa Crosse*J A dispute is heating up between homeowners who have wood heating systems and insurance companies that are becoming increasingly stringent about safety concerns.Raymond Hartleben said he argued with General Casualty Co. of Sun Prarie over a woodbuming d stove in his Galesvilley (Trempealeau County) home. Thee stove, which cost more thanir $1,000, was “one of the most ex-r- pensive ones in the country.’*t,- Mr. Hartleben said he also had:t an oil-burning stove, and both unitsi- shared the same chimney. He saidthe arrangement met the heating code requirement when he decided»rj Conservation? farmers namedSpartae Ron and Shirley Peterson, Route1, Sparta, have been named Monroe County’s Conservation Farmer of The Year Award winners ;r for 1987.I.The Petersons operate a 94-acre f beef operation five miles north ofSparta. The couple also works off the farm.Mr. Peterson first signed an agreement with the local soil and i water conservation district in 1976.a In 1982 he entered into a long-termi agreement with the local ASCS of-fice for cost share funding that helped install water diversions, a ^ grade stabilization structure andseven grassed waterways.Most of the waterways use tile to ld carry spring water to nearbyn streams. Conservation tillage prac-tices are also used on the cropland.►The Petersons will be recognized at the county LCC’s annual con-/e servation awards banquet which is/e to be held Jan 13 at the Ranchto add the supplemental heating device in 1979.But within the last year, an inspector for the insurance company examined his property.“They claimed I was supposed to have two chimneys,’’ Mr. Hartleben said. “I've burned wood all my life and never heard such a thing.”Mr. Hartleben refused to add another chimney. He received a non-renewal notice, dated July 9, from the insurance company. It told the story in a five-word message: “Does not meet underwriting requirements.”Another insurance company gave Mr. Hartleben a policy at 25 percent less.Guenther Ruch. director of marketing regulations in the Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner's Office in Madison, said insurance companies are free to set their own rates.Mr. Hartleben was not alone in being asked to make changes by an insurance company.Stanley Schlintz of rural Bangor said Wisconsin Farmers Mutual of Juneau told him he had to have a liner in his chimney. He missed the deadline because of a heart condition.“They canceled us out,’’ he said.Mr. Schlintz also owns a home that he rents out. It has a chimney w'ith a liner. The insurance company added a $50 surcharge to the premium for the policy insuring the home, he said.“They don’t explain it, and it doesn’t make sense,” Mr. SchlintzSUCK CONCRETE CAN IE CHANGEDTA DrM If -LIsaid. “If you don’t have a liner, we won’t sell you insurance. And if you have a liner, we’re going to add a surcharge.”Mr. Schlintz said he switched to another insurance carrier.Don Stoner of Galesville says his experience with his insurance carrier began with a questionnaire inquiring if he had woodbuming equipment.His answer to the questionnaire was followed by a visit from an inspector.“The only thing they told me was to dismantle the free-standing fireplace in the basement. I told them I hadn't used it since I put in wood heat.”Then he received a letter from the insurance company advising him his policy would not be renewed because he had 7 inches between a chimney pipe and a ceiling, although 9 inches were required.Mr. Stoner said he has been a volunteer firefighter for 20 years.think I know what's safe.”But Mr. Stoner isn't complaining too much because his new insurer is charging less.“Each company has the right to choose whom they want to insure,” said Margo Moon, a program assistant in the state insurance commissioner’s complaint department. Carriers are required to say why they drop a customer, and they also have to give 60 days notice if the premium is going to increase by 25 percent or more, Ms. Moon said.Representatives of several insurance companies that have sent non-renewal notices to Coulee Region residents said they were cautious in writing coverage for woodbuming heating systems.Jerry Faulkner of General Casualty Co. said his firm is being a bit more cautious these days.“We were writing them (policies) more freely until two yean? ago. Our position is we’re obviously continuing the ones we have, but we are very selective on new ones who come to us.”MINKERYHIGHEST PRICES PAIDfor yourlarge fresh DEAD and DOWN at«ek800-472-2331Greenwood, WlFREE SMALL STOCK REMOVALI PRECAST CONCRETE PRODUCTS \
Newspaper Details
Country Today
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, US
Wed, Nov 25, 1987
Page 70
Full Page
Clipped by
La C.
WI, USA 25 Jul 2024
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