Toronto Chimney Repair · October 4, 2026
When insurers usually ask
The request tends to come at predictable moments: when you buy a home with a fireplace or stove, when you change insurance companies, when you add or replace a wood appliance, and sometimes after a claim. Some insurers ask about any wood-burning appliance on the renewal form and want a report on file.
What they want to see
Insurers are not interested in how nice the fireplace looks. They want proof that the system was installed to code and is safe: correct clearances to combustibles, proper floor and wall protection, a sound chimney or approved stove pipe, and a liner suitable for the appliance.
- The appliance make and model, or that it is a masonry fireplace
- Venting — masonry chimney, factory-built chimney or stove pipe
- Clearances to walls, mantels and floors
- Condition of the flue and liner
What if you don't use the fireplace
Some insurers will accept a declaration that a fireplace is not used, or ask for it to be decommissioned. Tell your broker the truth: an undeclared wood stove can be a problem if you ever make a fire claim.
