​Heating Equipment, Bylaws & Property Insurance

We routinely receive inquiries from customers seeking additional information for heating & energy equipment. From these conversations we have determined that a high level of confusion exists when it comes to bylaws, home insurance and what is or is not permitted.

Buyer beware!

There are what appears to be some great deals on heating and energy equipment available online from several sources, many outside of Canada.

Purchasing the wrong piece of equipment can result in fines, the added cost of you removing a noncompliant piece of equipment and potentially the cancellation of your home insurance policy.

Therefor we have assembled a short summary of some important information that we strongly recommend you further investigate.

Contact your local bylaw authority and insurance company and ask what you can or cannot install prior to making any purchase.

Emissions

Over the past decade there has been an abundance of new regulations in various regions across Canada and all of the USA in relation to solid fuel /wood, pellet or biomass burning heating equipment.

Ask if your appliance is required to be 'CSA Certified for Air Quality and Emission Regulations;. CSA B415.1-10 or the comparable USA, EPA Phase 2 or 3 certification.

For Indoor or Outdoor Wood burning equipment, you should also ask if there are any lot size minimums or setback requirements from property boundaries etc.

Property Insurance and CSA Safety

We are not talk about emissions or air quality regulations. We are talking CSA SAFETY If you are you considering installing a new heating appliance, whether it is electric, gas, propane, oil or uses, wood, pellet, biomass, solid fuel (logs, split firewood) as an energy source (basically everything). Be sure that the appliance is CSA Certified for Safety.

This has come as a surprise to many people. The installation of virtually any Non-CSA Safety approved energy or heating appliance can and likely will void your property insurance.