Hi, after three days of heavy rain and lightning the peak shaped top of the
brick chimney on my house fell into the chimney.
It's still raining very hard. The hot water heater is the thing using the
chimney. How do I go about getting this fixed? It's a end
of group row house with the chimney on the alley side of the house. I've
got a pretty good home owners insurance policy should I file a claim?

Thanks,

Mike

"Mike" wrote in message
news:fxGng.3216$uo.2662@trnddc07...
Hi, after three days of heavy rain and lightning the peak shaped top of
the brick chimney on my house fell into the chimney.
It's still raining very hard. The hot water heater is the thing using the
chimney. How do I go about getting this fixed? It's a end
of group row house with the chimney on the alley side of the house. I've
got a pretty good home owners insurance policy should I file a claim?

Call your agent and he can tell you about filing a claim. That is why he
earns a commission on your policy. He'll be happy to assist you.

Look in the phone book for a chimney mason. Probably not a big deal to
repair, but you want to be sure the rest of the chimney is OK. .

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
"Mike" wrote in message
news:fxGng.3216$uo.2662@trnddc07...
Hi, after three days of heavy rain and lightning the peak shaped top of
the brick chimney on my house fell into the chimney.
It's still raining very hard. The hot water heater is the thing using the
chimney. How do I go about getting this fixed? It's a end
of group row house with the chimney on the alley side of the house. I've
got a pretty good home owners insurance policy should I file a claim?

Call your agent and he can tell you about filing a claim. That is why he
earns a commission on your policy. He'll be happy to assist you.

Look in the phone book for a chimney mason. Probably not a big deal to
repair, but you want to be sure the rest of the chimney is OK. .

Your chimney was likely in poor condition for a quick fix try a chimney
sweep, they can get the brick or whatrever out . Insurance will cover
fast damage but not long term detoriation.

investigate a new direct vent hot water heater, they vent thru the wall
and will probably be cheaper than rebuilding or lining your chimney

rebuilding chimneys cosat big bucks

wrote in message
oups.com...

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
Look in the phone book for a chimney mason. Probably not a big deal to
repair, but you want to be sure the rest of the chimney is OK. .

Your chimney was likely in poor condition for a quick fix try a chimney
sweep, they can get the brick or whatrever out . Insurance will cover
fast damage but not long term detoriation.

investigate a new direct vent hot water heater, they vent thru the wall
and will probably be cheaper than rebuilding or lining your chimney

rebuilding chimneys cosat big bucks

The only thing venting to the chimney is the gas hot water heater. Not sure
what kind of shape the chimney was in
as it's a seventy y/o house that I'm rebuilding. What is fast damage? The
house is not in great condition and I
think the insurANCE comapny migfht start nosing around if they come to check
out the chimney.

Mike

Verify that the chimney is still drafting. If it is blocked, the hot water
heater will put off carbon monoxide into the house. Watch for symptoms of
the flu. Headache, nausea, sleepy. Do this FIRST, then look into the
repair.

"Mike" wrote in message
news:fxGng.3216$uo.2662@trnddc07...
Hi, after three days of heavy rain and lightning the peak shaped top of
the brick chimney on my house fell into the chimney.
It's still raining very hard. The hot water heater is the thing using the
chimney. How do I go about getting this fixed? It's a end
of group row house with the chimney on the alley side of the house. I've
got a pretty good home owners insurance policy should I file a claim?

Thanks,

Mike

I wouldnt bother with the home insurance. If you do a small claim they
will drop you like a rock or crank your rates. Home insurance is only
something you want to use if it burned down.

You have got to do the carbon monoxide check first. Go buy a $20 Co
detector and plug it in next to your water heater to see if the CO is
backing up. If the detector goes off shut down the water heater untill
the repair is done.

If the chimney is expensive to fix go with a direct vent water heater
and have the chimney capped and sealed. I went to a direct vent and i
love it becasue it is cheaper to run. Next time i get my roof done i am
having my chimney removed becasue I dont need it anymore.

German Jerry

wrote in message
ups.com...

Mike wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

Insurance covers stuff like in otherwise OK chimney lightning strikes
and damagers it.......

Insurance doesnt cover a chimney thats in poor shape from age, any more
than will they pay to rebuild your 10 year olds car transmssion after
it dies.

It's a 70 y/o house w/ some problems. . . .

You can buy a vent kit that fits most hot water tanks to power vent
them thru a wall.

The dryer is vented through the wall so I understand.

get a price on chimney repair but for a quick fast affordable back in
service a power vent will likely cost less. check ww graingers web site
i know they sell them.

if you invite insurance to visit it may cause all sorts of hassles,
your chimney is bad, your roof needs replaced, the fromt sidewalk is in
poor shape, uneven trip hazard.

I can see that happening.

get all these fixed in 90 days or your policy wouldnt be renewed.

this actually happened to some friends, their homeowners got cancelled,
their mortage company put on forced place insurance on the structure
only for 5 TIMES their original homeowners, they had a fire, cat
knocked over lamp $120,000.00 damage to structure........

no coverage for possessions, or living expenses while their home was
under construction

They lived with us for 7 months....

In their case the homepowner company sold out and the new one visited
every customer being aquired. another friend, in the same situation HAD
to have his home rewired, it had knob and tube...

with a 70 year old home you probably have some things insurance wouldnt
like, and do you have depreciated or replacement insurance?

Replacment insurance.

"John Galbreath Jr." wrote in message
news
Verify that the chimney is still drafting. If it is blocked, the hot
water heater will put off carbon monoxide into the house. Watch for
symptoms of the flu. Headache, nausea, sleepy. Do this FIRST, then look
into the repair.

"Mike" wrote in message
news:fxGng.3216$uo.2662@trnddc07...
Hi, after three days of heavy rain and lightning the peak shaped top of
the brick chimney on my house fell into the chimney.
It's still raining very hard. The hot water heater is the thing using
the chimney. How do I go about getting this fixed? It's a end
of group row house with the chimney on the alley side of the house. I've
got a pretty good home owners insurance policy should I file a claim?

Thanks,

MikeI'm going to install some CO2 detectors.

"German Jerry" wrote in message
oups.com...
I wouldnt bother with the home insurance. If you do a small claim they
will drop you like a rock or crank your rates. Home insurance is only
something you want to use if it burned down.

You have got to do the carbon monoxide check first. Go buy a $20 Co
detector and plug it in next to your water heater to see if the CO is
backing up. If the detector goes off shut down the water heater untill
the repair is done.

If the chimney is expensive to fix go with a direct vent water heater
and have the chimney capped and sealed. I went to a direct vent and i
love it becasue it is cheaper to run. Next time i get my roof done i am
having my chimney removed becasue I dont need it anymore.

German Jerry

Good points.