Are You A Homeowner With An Oil Heating System?

If you’re a homeowner in Massachusetts and you use oil to heat your home, then this blog entry is for you! Massachusetts is implementing some new regulations about home oil heating systems to prevent hazards from leaks, and the deadline for compliance is September 30, 2011. According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s website, “This law has two major provisions that require:
• the installations of either an oil safety valve or oil supply line with protective sleeve on systems that do not currently have these devices; and
• insurance companies that write homeowner policies to offer coverage for leaks from heating systems that use oil.”
And “although it is mandatory that insurance companies make this coverage available by July 1, 2010 to homeowners whose systems are upgraded, the insurance is an optional purchase.”

If you have any questions or concerns about these new regulations, visit our other blogs on the topic: MA Insurance Blog and Encharter Insurance Amherst on June 30, or you can always visit the Mass DEP website!

And, as always, if you have any questions about Amherst MA Homeowners Insurance, Amherst MA Car Insurance, Amherst MA Life Insurance or Amherst MA Business Insurance, we’d like to help! Contact your local Encharter Insurance agent by calling us at 888-865-1244, you can visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com or you can visit our office for insurance in Amherst MA. And now, be sure to find us on Twitter© and Facebook©!

At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”

Not-So-New News: MA Regulations on Oil Home Heating Systems

There has been a lot of buzz lately about the newest Massachusetts laws regarding home heating systems that use oil. It’s important to make sure that you are adequately informed and that your home is in compliance. To learn more about the new laws, see the MA Department of Environmental Protection’s website: http://www.mass.gov/dep/cleanup/laws/hhsl.htm

You can also visit our other blogs on the topic:

• http://www.mainsuranceblog.com/?p=77
• http://encharterinsuranceamherstma.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/homeowner-oil-heating-system-upgrade-and-insurance-law/
• http://encharterinsuranceamherstma.wordpress.com/2010/04/29/new-regulations-for-oil-home-heating-systems/

And of course, if you have any questions about Amherst MA Car Insurance, Amherst MA Life Insurance, Amherst MA Homeowner’s Insurance or Amherst MA Business Insurance, contact your local Encharter Insurance today! You can call us at 888-865-1244, you can visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com or you can visit our office for insurance in Amherst MA. And now, you can find us on Twitter© and Facebook©!

At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”

Homeowner Oil Heating System Upgrade and Insurance Law

Did you know that Massachusetts has changed the Homeowner Oil Heating System and Insurance Law? It’s very important to know whether this applies to you, since upgrades need to be made by September 30^th of this year. According to MassDEP, the two biggest conditions of the change are:

• the installation of either an oil safety valve or an oil supply line with protective sleeve on systems that do not currently have these devices; and
• Insurance companies that write homeowner policies to offer coverage for leaks from heating systems that use oil. 

Encharter Insurance wants to help protect you from the hazards associated with an oil leak so, to find out more about this upgrade including: exemptions, its necessity, and associated costs, visit the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection or call your local Encharter agent today. In addition, click to see a list of licensed technicians who can perform the upgrade for you, don’t try to do this on your own!

And if you have any questions about Amherst Car Insurance, Amherst Life Insurance or Amherst Business Insurance, we’d like to help with that too! You can call us at 888-865-1244, visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com or you can visit our office for insurance in Amherst MA. And now, you can find us on Twitter© and Facebook©!

At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”

New Regulations for Oil Home Heating Systems

According to a recent article, by July 1, 2010 in the state of Massachusetts, residents must upgrade their home heating system equipment to prevent leaks from tanks and pipes that connect to their furnaces. This law requires the installation of either an oil safety valve or an oil supply line with a protective sleeve on systems that do not currently have these devices.  This should cost under $350 to fix.

However, not everyone must abide by this new law.  There are some exceptions. Homeowners are exempt from taking these leak prevention steps if:

• the oil burner is located above the oil storage tank and the entire oil supply line is connected to and above the top of the tank OR 
• an oil safety valve or oil supply line with protective sleeve was installed on or after January 1, 1990, AND
• those changes are in compliance with the oil burning equipment regulations; a copy of the oil burner permit from the local fire department may be used to demonstrate compliance.

For more information on these new regulations, click here.  And as always, if you have any questions about Amherst Car Insurance, Amherst Homeowner’s Insurance, Amherst Life Insurance, or any other kind of insurance, contact your Encharter Insurance agent today!  You can find us on Twitter© and Facebook©, you can visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com, you can call us at 888-865-1244 or you can visit our insurance office in Amherst MA, our insurance office in Lexington MA or our insurance office in Reading MA.

At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”