Check your Regs/Laws BEFORE you buy
#1
10-12-08, 07:43 PM
Check your Regs/Laws BEFORE you buy
Sad news to relate, which really sucks for us, which is why I want to remind everyone to check your local, state and federal regulations BEFORE you buy something used, like a fireplace insert, or wood/pellet stove.
Am mad as hell at myself for not checking before we bought what appears to be a brand new wood burning fireplace insert, meant to be used as our sole heat source. It turns out we cannot legally install it in our house. No certified installer will touch it, so we would have to install it ourselves and pray we didn't get caught...neither of which I am willing to do. So sadly we are out the money, and still have no heat source for the upcoming winter.
Please don't make the same mistake I made, do your research before you buy.
Am mad as hell at myself for not checking before we bought what appears to be a brand new wood burning fireplace insert, meant to be used as our sole heat source. It turns out we cannot legally install it in our house. No certified installer will touch it, so we would have to install it ourselves and pray we didn't get caught...neither of which I am willing to do. So sadly we are out the money, and still have no heat source for the upcoming winter.Please don't make the same mistake I made, do your research before you buy.
#3
10-13-08, 04:25 AM
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#4
10-13-08, 10:37 AM
Sorry I wasn't more clear in my initial post...
The insert was purchased from a private person, who I am pretty sure had no clue it was not legal to install. He's unemployed, like so many and just trying to keep his head above water. He lives in a fifth wheel so had no use for the insert.
The stove was manufactured prior to the EPA regs being put in place and has not been EPA approved. By Washington State law, we cannot install it PERIOD.
As for whether we can do natural gas or LP, we can do a LP but not natural gas, as it is not available where we live.
So, our next step is to find out if we can install (legally, and therefore covered by our homeowners insurace) a vent free propane heater. They appear to be the least expensive to purchase, and thankfully many are wall mount, or freestanding.
We have had propane in the past, but our furnace was from the neolithic period, and finally died about 6 years ago. No one was able to repair it due to it's age, and the quotes we received were WAY out of our budget, both then and now...
Our best bet I am thinking is to temporarily get a large portable, indoor approved propane heater and a 20 gallon refillable tank, to supplement our other little oil filled electric heaters. Hopefully that will take the financial burden off the electric bill finally, and we can save for a real furnace.
Thanks folks as always you are some of the best!
The insert was purchased from a private person, who I am pretty sure had no clue it was not legal to install. He's unemployed, like so many and just trying to keep his head above water. He lives in a fifth wheel so had no use for the insert.
The stove was manufactured prior to the EPA regs being put in place and has not been EPA approved. By Washington State law, we cannot install it PERIOD.
As for whether we can do natural gas or LP, we can do a LP but not natural gas, as it is not available where we live.
So, our next step is to find out if we can install (legally, and therefore covered by our homeowners insurace) a vent free propane heater. They appear to be the least expensive to purchase, and thankfully many are wall mount, or freestanding.
We have had propane in the past, but our furnace was from the neolithic period, and finally died about 6 years ago. No one was able to repair it due to it's age, and the quotes we received were WAY out of our budget, both then and now...
Our best bet I am thinking is to temporarily get a large portable, indoor approved propane heater and a 20 gallon refillable tank, to supplement our other little oil filled electric heaters. Hopefully that will take the financial burden off the electric bill finally, and we can save for a real furnace.
Thanks folks as always you are some of the best!
