Short answer: most insurance companies will cover an outdoor wood boiler, but many have rules. Call your insurance company before you install.
Common rules
- Distance from buildings: for example, Wisconsin's Rural Mutual says at least 25 feet from your nearest building and 500 feet from a neighbor's.
- Where you stack wood: Rural Mutual says at least 20 feet from the boiler, and not between the boiler and a building.
- Ashes: put them in a metal can with a tight lid, away from anything that can burn. They can hold live embers.
- Upkeep: some insurers ask how often the boiler is maintained. Creosote buildup is a common cause of fires, and green wood makes it build up faster.
Buying used? We do inspections on used boilers. Get in touch with any questions.