Heritage Home Insurance
Protect Your Century Home With The Right Insurance
Heritage homes — particularly ones over 100 years old — are considered hard to insure homes. Because of their age, these homes have issues that may make it difficult to find insurance for them. If you’re struggling, though, don’t worry. As a trusted and experienced broker, James Inwood makes getting home insurance protection an easy process for you.
Want to know more?
Call James at 647-966-7093 any day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for any insurance info about your property.
What Are Tough to Insure Homes?
Insuring homes is a straightforward process for most homeowners. However, that isn’t the case for all, as others face many issues that make the process more difficult. Older homes that need updating fall under this category, and particularly homes with certain types of electrical wiring, plumbing, and heating.
To understand if your home belongs to the “hard to insure” category, we break down the most common issues that come with tough to insure homes.
Antiquated Homes in Need of an Update
Homes that are over 25 years old are typically harder to insure, especially if they have not been updated. It is risky for insurers to insure older homes because age is a factor in the wear of the materials around the house. Moreover, many things used in the construction of older homes are now considered dangerous or unsafe, not to mention non-compliant with recent laws.
Besides the age of the home, insurance companies look at various factors that indicate if it’s susceptible to risk. Some of these factors are the conditions of the house’s heating, plumbing, and electrical systems.
Outdated Electrical Wiring
A house with outdated wiring belongs to the tough to insure homes category. Some of the types of wiring considered outdated are:
- Knob and Tube Wiring
Knob and tube wiring is not dangerous on its own for the most part. The main reason why it’s dangerous in older homes is largely because of improper installation and incompatibility with modern electronics usage. It’s easily overloaded, and the rubber insulation on it tends to wear down quicker than other types of wiring. Beyond that, it doesn’t have a ground wire. If the system is overloaded, the excess electricity doesn’t have anywhere to go, which could cause fires. - 60-Amp Electrical Systems
“60-amp” refers to the amount of power that the house has, based on the electrical demand at that time. Today, most new houses have 100-amp or even 200-amp power, which means that 60-amp electrical systems experience more stress than they’re capable of handling. - Aluminum Wiring
Aluminum wiring is mainly dangerous because it lacks the durability of other types of wire. When it is heated, it expands. In addition, its softness means it is prone to damage, potentially leading to exposed wires. If the wires are exposed while electricity is running through them, they could pose a real fire risk, which is the main reason insurance companies prefer not to bother with homes that have it.
If your older home has a knob and tube system, 60-amp service, or aluminum wiring, it has a greater chance of catching fire and having other problems that may result in claims. Understandably, most insurance companies avoid offering insurance protection for these tough to insure homes.
Outdated Plumbing
There are certain types of plumbing common in older houses that make it hard to get insurance due to the higher possibility of claims. The types of plumbing that are typically tough to insure are those that use lead pipes, galvanized steel pipes, polybutylene pipes, and Kitec pipes.
- Lead Pipes
Lead was very common decades ago, as back then the dangers were not well-understood. These pipes are also problematic, though, because they can corrode, rust, and burst far more easily than standard pipes. Their lackluster durability means that insurance companies would rather not cover homes that have them. - Galvanized Steel Pipes
Galvanized steel pipes are pipes coated with zinc to prevent corrosion and rust. Unfortunately, galvanized steel pipes rust and corrode more easily, much like lead pipes. As such, it can also lead to weakened pipes and pipe bursts, and in turn, attempted insurance claims. - Polybutylene Pipes
As with the pipes above, polybutylene pipes lack durability. This is not just general durability, though – it is specifically chlorine exposure that weakens these pipes. Chlorine needs to be in the water to purify it, and yet that same chemical destroyed the pipes in many older homes. They would weaken over time, particularly at the joints. - Kitec Pipes
Kitec pipes are a type of pipe made of polymer and aluminum. These pipes were reinforced with brass, making them seem durable. However, this brass contained high zinc content. When brass is exposed to oxygen and water, this zinc breaks down. After that, the pipes would suddenly burst.
If your home has any of the plumbing mentioned above, it is going to be difficult to get insurance. However, James Inwood can help you with the different solutions we offer.
Call any day from 9 to 9 and we can discuss the options available for you.
Outdated Heating
A wood-burning appliance or an older heating system is another reason why some homeowners are having a hard time getting their house insured. Heating appliances and systems like this are a high fire risk, likely to fail and cause burst pipes or fire that can lead to claims.
- Wood Burning Stoves
Wood burning stoves and other appliances make it hard for homes to get insured because they are a high fire risk. However, you may get your home insured if your wood-burning stove is only a secondary heating source. Some insurance companies may insure homes with this heating appliance, but they need Wood Energy Technology Transfer (WETT) inspection.
- Oil Furnace
An oil furnace is also a fire risk. Not only can it cause fires, but it also has the added danger of releasing carbon monoxide in your home. All these dangers make insurance companies think twice about insuring older homes with these types of heating systems.
An outdated heating system makes it difficult to get home insurance. Fortunately, James Inwood offers heritage home insurance that can cover these issues. We can help you look for insurance for homes over 100 years old, taking into consideration all the problems mentioned above. We have varying options, all meant to make paying for older home insurance easier for you.
Heritage Home Insurance: Coverage and Solutions
If you have a home with the traits or issues mentioned above and are looking to get insurance, you are in the right place. James Inwood can aid in looking for alternative options that can mitigate the risks that come with an older home. We can help find the right century home insurance with the following coverage and solutions:
Increased Dwelling Protection
The increased dwelling coverage is a solution we advise that you get as it will cover the cost necessary to rebuild your home. If an older home is destroyed by a storm, fire, or other risks, our heritage home insurance can help in rebuilding it. However, keep in mind the limits of the dwelling coverage since the cost for rebuilding is likely not the same as the price of the home.
Building Code Replacement Cost Coverage
Our knob and tube insurance may include replacement cost coverage based on the current building codes. While the dwelling protection helps in rebuilding, the replacement cost coverage can be used to update the electrical wiring so that it is up to code. This coverage can help a homeowner to meet modern safety regulations.
Water Backup and Service Line Coverage
A sump pump has a greater risk of failure, which makes it crucial to consider getting water backup coverage. This is optional coverage but can save you a lot of trouble in the case of a sump pump failure. With water backup coverage, you can pay for repairing the damage of a sewer back up or a backed-up drain.
Find the Right Insurance Plan for You
Heritage homes might be more difficult to ensure, but know that it’s not impossible.
James Inwood can help as a trusted broker with expertise in heritage home insurance. If you are looking for the best coverage options for your older home, there’s no need to look anywhere else.
Call us at 647-966-7093 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. or you can reach out through our contact page.