Do you have a fire pit in your backyard? Does having a fire pit increase your insurance? Does it need to be insured separately, or does homeowners’ insurance cover the costs of accidental fire damage?
This post will address most of these concerns and more. We’ll discuss how a backyard fire pit can affect your house insurance, what type of coverage is available if you rent, and how to file a claim if something goes wrong with your outdoor fire pit.
Does Having a Fire Pit Increase your Insurance
Insurance companies classify fire pits as an “outdoor structure,” so they generally won’t increase your insurance premium or cause a policy to be cancelled. Suppose you have a built-in outdoor fireplace or fire pit, on the other hand. In that case, it could increase your premiums since this is considered a more permanent fixture that can raise your property value and also may require additional labour to remove if necessary.
Is there a basis for specialized fire pit insurance?
No. Most homeowners’ insurance policies cover fire damage and accidents that happen at your residence, including those caused by a backyard fire pit. If you have additional buildings on the property, such as an outdoor shed or gazebo, these may require separate coverage if they are not attached to the house.
Fire Pit Effects on the Value of Property?
As previously said, permanent fixtures such as well built fire pits or garden sheds can increase the value of your home and insurance policy. This is a good thing!
A permanent fire pit constructed safely, professionally, and under regional rules regarding outdoor fires may be costly to build. However, you can make your house more valuable by adding a well-structured one with additional facilities such as an outdoor patio kitchen and leisure spaces for socializing – this might help in reselling it!
- If the fire pit is a focal point of your outdoor living space, landscaping should surround it.
- Gas fires don’t produce plumes like traditional wood fires, which could linger on the skin all day, giving off an unwanted fragrance that some people may enjoy while others dislike intensely.
Evaluate and Update Insurance
You would need to have your property value evaluated after establishing a permanent fire pit, and then you should adjust your insurance coverage accordingly.
In most cases, fire insurance is incorporated into your overall house policy. The specifics of each policy holder’s protection are predetermined based on their agreement and can vary depending on what kind or how much coverage you want. In case anything goes wrong with the home itself, such as fires triggered by torches or culinary mishaps like burned cookies in someone else’s oven!
Fire Pit Effect on Risks
When fires occur, they can pose a severe danger to your house. If you have an outdoor fire pit in the backyard, make sure it is well constructed and installed.
You may decide to seek expert counsel before proceeding with DIY plans. Alternatively, hiring a professional contractor or builder responsible for installing the fire pit’s design and materials used in construction.
Have you ever considered the worst-case scenario for an accident involving your yard? Maybe it’s a fire pit or patio heater that causes an accident. You’ll want to be insured in the instance catastrophe happens with these modifications, right!
Fire Pit Insurance Premiums
Although there is a possibility that your premium may rise, the most fundamental point to mention is that you are safeguarded.
The cost of insuring your home will increase if you add extra features like an extension. This is because it becomes more expensive to repair and maintain the property, affecting insurance providers’ rates. Accordingly, this can also depend on what type of fuel source (wood or gas, i.e. propane or biofuel) is used for heating purposes – so make sure that these factors are considered when looking at prices with different companies!
Is a fixed fire pit protected by my home insurance policy?
As outlined above, there will be a provision in your existing homeowner’s policy that at least essentially covers damage caused by such types of recreational use of fixed or permanent fire pits. Unattached structures such as sheds or gazebos may not be covered in any way or may just be partially covered.
Note, If you go DIY and build the fire chamber yourself and/or do not have safety accessories like a fire barrier and non-flammable ground cover, you may be more susceptible and exposed.
If you build a fire pit, make sure it meets the highest quality and safety standards. Having an extinguisher on hand is also innovative because they will need proof that every measure has been taken for your protection and any possible claim.
Is a portable fire pit covered by my homeowner’s insurance?
With a portable fire pit, you are faced with the same risks as in an inside fire pit. Many home insurance policies include a possibility of damages based on a portable excavation. Like a traditional fire pit in an inside ground, many home insurance policies include damages to habitations that occurred by portable.
Your house insurance company may cover the damages caused by a portable fire pit. Most homeowners’ policies provide coverage for fires in your own yard, but not outside of it!
Still, as mentioned above, it’s categorized as an outer structure, so look into liability insurance and adhere to all safety precautions. I would also record your purchase and take photographs of the actions you’ve done, which can be used in case something does happen!
What type of coverage is available if you rent
Unless you are relocating and want to add a fireplace or heating to your outside area, you should first contact your landlord. In most cases, the landowner is liable for the building structures and everything attached to it. If you’re renting, a portable fire pit would be a better option insurance wise.
Landlords: If you don’t alert your renter, your tenants may shift the blame, and you could find out you’re liable for the accident. Rental Property Insurance is critical.
Renters: Upgrading your rental insurance will help as legal liability coverage is often included in renters insurance.
For instance, if you were to lose control of your mower and hurt someone or damage property outside the house, then this legal protection would keep you from being held liable for any damages done as long as it was an accident!
Do I need liability insurance in case my fire pit damages my house?
In many cases, companies might refuse existing fire pit insurance. If you plan to participate in any festive events or consume alcohol, you should consider adding liability insurance to your current house and renters insurance policies.
Your current home insurance policy may cover flammable equipment that might cause electrical fires and smoke dangers.
Your insurance covers damages to tree-side plants and landscaping, and insurance may cover living costs if you are forced to leave your home due to an inferno or flood.
How do I file a claim for my backyard if something goes wrong with my Backyard fire pit?
In the event of a home hazard claim, keep track of any safety precautions taken in advance. Once you file for compensation from your insurance provider and submit evidence documenting what happened at-fault party’s property, this also includes documentation regarding all possessions lost or damaged during a said incident as well!
I recommend storing everything quickly on the cloud in case your files get lost. As soon as you submit your claim, it becomes teamwork to help the adjuster settle for any damages and ensure that all aspects of their job go smoothly, including tracking down those pesky receipt copies!
Read here for additional information on filing insurance claims or repairing a house fire at Consumer Reports.org.
Final Thoughts
If you don’t own your property, ask the dwelling owner whether or not they require a personal liability insurance policy.
Insurance companies recommend having an active fire pit hazard coverage to address any damages while using it. It’s highly advisable to verify with them before getting into anything significant, and definitely consider adding some legal protection and liability insurance in case anything does happen!
I hope you’ve learned a thing or two about backyard fire pits, their impact on your insurance and how to claim with your insurance provider.
Thanks for reading! 🙂
This is a very helpful post on outdoor fire pits and the insurance surrounding it. And it is something that I had not really considered properly. It is essential to have household insurance that will also cover fire pits and barbecues. One never knows when something goes wrong and you do have sparks being blown onto something that catches fire. Thank you for sharing a very informative and useful article.
Thanks, Line Cowley. You can never be too safe! Keep a record that you have taken fire safety measures with all recreational fires. As insurance companies will want to see this if something did go wrong; otherwise, they’ll think of your lackadaisical attitude towards risks and deny coverage in the event anything goes burnt up or blown up. I know someone whose barbie exploded while he was cooking away on his deck last summer–the poor guy couldn’t even claim from his homeowners’ policy because you posted no instructions about how far back from where they should place the barbie.
Many Blessings
J W RIDDELL-THE FUN HUB