Homeowners Ins?

[2BigKIdz]

Recently my aunt told me that if you do not have smoke detectors in your home and you have a fire, insurance will not pay. Does anyone know if this is true?

I find it odd that if it is true that it is not disclosed by the insurance company when applying for insurance, or atleast when asking all of the questions about your home that it is not among them.

 

[clh2]

I hate to ask the really stupid question here - WHO CARES IF THEY ARE OR ARE NOT REQUIRED BY YOUR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE COMPANY???

Smoke detectors should be on every floor in your house and by all sleeping areas. This includes the basement.

There is a very sad thread going on the DIS cruise boards right now, where a 26-year old mom and her 4-yr old daughter died in a fire in their home on Sunday morning. The 4-month old baby is struggling at a hospital. I don't know if smoke detectors where in the house or not, or if they would have helped in this particular case. Smoke detectors will help to alert occupants in a building that there is a problem - so they can get out of the building.

Why would anyone want to take the risk?

Don't mean to flame you - JUST GET SOME. THE SOONER THE BETTER.

 

[2BigKIdz]

I have smoke detectors, thanks.

If this is true, then it should be disclosed to home owners at the time they are applying for the insurance. I find it odd that I was not asked when I purchased my home if I had or intended to have smoke detectors. I was asked all sorts of other questions, some as silly as what breed of dogs I own (yes, I know why they ask but still seems silly to me) but an important question like a fire detection device was not among them.

 

[Abracadabra]

I don't believe a company would deny a claim because you lacked smoke detectors. Some companies will give discounts on the premiums if homeowners do some additional work, such as install smoke detectors, have a fire extinguisher for each floor, install locks and/or alarm systems, etc. The best (and correct) answer can be found from your insurance company or local agent.

 

[Lynn CC]

I just had an electrician come and rewire the panel box and put in new smoke detectors throughout the house.
He also checked out other things and had to rewire the microwave that was wired in over the stove incorrectly.
It's the 20 year update that everyone should have done.

 

[huey duey & luey]

I am believe that in New Jersey at least, smoke detectors are a law. When we moved last year the town fire dept had to come in an literally make sure all our smoke detectors were working prperly. We literally had to pay $75 for a fireman to push the button to see if it worked, but we needed a clearance in order to sell the house. So I can see an ins company denying a claim if it is a law.
Tara

 

[ducklite]

Tara,

I'm not sure if it's a statewide law, but I know most towns and cities in NJ have an ordinance about having them. Before you can transfer title on a home, or release an apartment, you need a c/o, part of which is having functioning smoke detectors.

We have them in each bedroom, the hallway upstairs, and one on the first floor in NJ. In Florida our builder supplies each bedroom and several other rooms with a detector, but we bought a couple of extras that run on batteries in case of a power failure.

CO detectors are required in NJ, not in FL.

Anne

 

[DebbieB]

I work in commercial insurance so I'm not familiar with homeowners policies, but I would take a look at your policy. There would have to be an endorsement showing this requirement. In commercial insurance, we have a form called "protective safeguards". This is where we list the requirements - sprinkler system, fire alarm, burglar alarm, guards. We only put this endorsement on when the application showed these items were in place and we based our underwriting and rating on those facts. If the question was not on the application, I don't think they could exclude it. Best thing is to ask your agent.

 

[Crankyshank]

Why would someone opt not to have smoke detectors?

 

[ahutton]

Most Personal Lines/Homeowners agents will inquire about if and where you have smoke detectors, and if you do, and you said so then he would not be likely to discuss any potential coverage problem if you didn't have them - it just wouldn't apply... but the important piece to remember is to review your insurance policies - there may be things your agent does not know or may not realize apply to you and your situation that can be very important in a claim. Take this from a many year claim rep... Who has fled that part of the business and now works in commercial insurance like DebbieB!!!