Reloading Home Owners Insurance

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Mark_Mark

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I know better than to ask my insurance company about reloading in my house. Has anybody dealt with reloading and homeowners insurance?

my question is, will the homeowners insurance cover me if I make a mistake?
 
I would assume accidents would be covered provided reloading or its components aren't explicitly excluded activities in the policy. Adhering to state storage limits and recommended containers probably helps as well.

All that said, I'm definitely interested to hear from someone with real world experience on this specific issue.
 
I know better than to ask my insurance company about reloading in my house. Has anybody dealt with reloading and homeowners insurance?

my question is, will the homeowners insurance cover me if I make a mistake?
You mean like the bogus claim mentioned on the other recent thread where house was blown to smithereens?

In this context, don’t ask, don’t tell might rule the day unless there is a “better disclose in advance” clause in the policy.
 
Are you asking about residential fire? Of course, you should review your own homeowner's insurance policy regards to what's covered and not covered.

My sister owns an insurance agency and we have talked about fire damage of main house from attached and detached shop with reloading hobby equipment including flammable components/supplies like powder and primers. Her husband used to teach automotive at college and still restores and builds classic and custom cars using volatile and flammable components and supplies in both attached garage and detached shop.

Will your homeowner's insurance cover if fire damage of main house was caused by woodworking or automotive hobby "mistake" as both hobbies involve use of flammable components/supplies? And what if you conduct your hobby activity with flammable components/supplies in one of the main house rooms? Will your homeowner's insurance policy cover fire damage?
 
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You mean like the bogus claim mentioned on the other recent thread where house was blown to smithereens?

In this context, don’t ask, don’t tell might rule the day unless there is a “better disclose in advance” clause in the policy.
I’m not going to ask my insurance company, I once told them I edited photos for work in a room and they wanted to up my premiums because of “business” usage.

I’m going to look at storing my powder/primers/ammo off premises
 
You mean like ... where house was blown to smithereens?

In this context, don’t ask, don’t tell might rule the day unless there is a “better disclose in advance” clause in the policy.
Many homeowners use refillable propane tanks for residential grill/BBQ. I know of an incident where a residential grill/BBQ had a propane leak that caused an explosion of the garage that literally blew the attached garage apart and part of the main house.

Should that homeowner have disclosed to the insurance company that he might have a grilling/BBQ "mistake"?

I’m going to look at storing my powder/primers/ammo off premises
What are your concerns?
 
Once upon a time, I was in the insurance industry. The language in your policy rules, but my guess is that unless it is specifically excluded, it is covered so long as it is a legal activity. Say you burned your house down cooking meth.......probably not going to be covered. Then there are some other strange twists......for example an arson fire is covered........unless it was you what set it.

There may be one exception as relates to reloading, my Lyman 50th mentioned somewhere that there are local codes that may limit how much powder you can store on the premises. They mentioned 20 pounds loose and 50 pounds if stored in a 1" thick wooden cabinet. If so, and you exceed that, they might try to get out of it.

Plus it may depend on your relationship with your agent. I've been a customer of the same agency for decades.....no losses. For those type customers, agents and company tend to pay reasonable claims.....no questions asked. An online company......say one like you see on TV......has no loyalty to anybody. Independent adjusters who handle their claims may be instructed to look for ways to avoid paying if they can.
 
One more thing.....lying on your application for insurance is the #1 reason they use for denying claims. Say you drive 30,000 miles a year for business, yet you told them you only drive to church on Sunday. You have an accident.......they find out the truth......they not only deny the claim, but cancel the policy back to inception (and give you back all your money to boot).

They will insure you for the business use, but rate you up because of it. Insurance is a large numbers game of stastistical probability. As long as everybody tells the truth, it works.
 
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Many homeowners use refillable propane tanks for residential grill/BBQ. I know of an incident where a residential grill/BBQ had a propane leak that caused an explosion of the garage that literally blew the attached garage apart and part of the main house.

Should that homeowner have disclosed to the insurance company that he might have a grilling/BBQ "mistake"?


What are your concerns?
If the propane tank was in the garage and that’s where he was grilling, he should’ve disclosed he wasn’t very bright.
 
If the propane tank was in the garage and that’s where he was grilling, he should’ve disclosed he wasn’t very bright.
LOL :D.

Propane grill/BBQ was "stored" in the garage when leak occurred and home owner was not actively cooking in the garage. According to news report, fire department presumed the entire content of the propane tank leaked into the garage over time while the homeowner was away from the house and stressed storing of propane tanks in areas where any leaks can vent to atmosphere.
 
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LOL :D.

Propane grill/BBQ was "stored" in the garage when leak occurred and home owners was not actively cooking in the garage. According to news report, fire department presumed the entire content of the propane tank leaked into the garage over time while the homeowner was away from the house and stressed storing of propane tanks in areas where any leaks can vent to atmosphere.
That’s a frightening scenario. Remember back when we were permitted to fill our own tanks at the hardware store? I saw a guy start filling without fully screwing down the connector….the tank broke loose under pressure and shot across the parking lot.
 
Once upon a time, I was in the insurance industry. The language in your policy rules, but my guess is that unless it is specifically excluded, it is covered so long as it is a legal activity. Say you burned your house down cooking meth.......probably not going to be covered. Then there are some other strange twists......for example an arson fire is covered........unless it was you what set it.

There may be one exception as relates to reloading, my Lyman 50th mentioned somewhere that there are local codes that may limit how much powder you can store on the premises. They mentioned 20 pounds loose and 50 pounds if stored in a 1" thick wooden cabinet. If so, and you exceed that, they might try to get out of it.

Plus it may depend on your relationship with your agent. I've been a customer of the same agency for decades.....no losses. For those type customers, agents and company tend to pay reasonable claims.....no questions asked. An online company......say one like you see on TV......has no loyalty to anybody. Independent adjusters who handle their claims may be instructed to look for ways to avoid paying if they can.
I just read my policy (with an old large well known insurer) and the only place “explosion” is mentioned is if I rent my property, explosions are excluded. Otherwise I presume you’re correct, if it’s legal, it’s covered. Presumptions are really dangerous though, eh? But I dare not ask.
 
One more thing.....lying on your application for insurance is the #1 reason they use for denying claims. Say you drive 30,000 miles a year for business, yet you told them you only drive to church on Sunday. You have an accident.......they find out the truth......they not only deny the claim, but cancel the policy back to conception (and give you back all your money to boot).

They will insure you for the business use, but rate you up because of it.
When wife and I bought our retirement vehicles, I told our insurance company and my sister as our agent we likely won't drive more than 5000 miles a year on each vehicle, which she agreed as I would essentially drive to grocery stores and doctor's appointments.

Well, my wife and her future SIL decided they wanted puppies and wife and I this year drove to PA, TX (Twice) and AL from CA and picked up four puppies (And I drove my wife's sister to NE after holidays) racking up over 7000 miles round trip to PA alone and 5600 miles round trip to AL recently. If we had an accident during our last trip with odometer showing over 25,000 miles driven just this year, would my insurance company deny my claim and cancel my policy?

BTW, here are Faith and Charity playing with wife on the couch ... And believe me, they had plenty of "accidents" I had to clean up. :rofl: Shhhhh, don't tell USAA insurance company puppies had "accidents". :p

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When wife and I bought our retirement vehicles, I told our insurance company and my sister as our agent we likely won't drive more than 5000 miles a year on each vehicle, which she agreed as I would essentially drive to grocery stores and doctor's appointments.

Well, my wife and her future SIL decided they wanted puppies and wife and I this year drove to PA, AL, TX (Twice) and from CA and picked up four puppies (And I drove my wife's sister to NE after holidays) racking up over 7000 miles round trip to PA alone and 5600 miles round trip to AL recently. If we had an accident during our last trip with odometer showing over 25,000 miles driven just this year, would my insurance company deny my claim and cancel my policy?
My insurance agent told me back when I was working/commuting into DC, if I exceeded my mileage or used a different car once and a while, a “reasonable person/good faith standard” was applied as required by State Insurance Commission. Doesn’t mean they wouldn’t try to back out, but at least I had a recourse.
 
A one time thing and back to normal after that, you may get by. Where they get pissy is when you drive 30 miles to work each day, yet tell them only 5. That is an intentional misrepresentation that they frown on. Trouble being, nobody says anything until you have a claim. Only then do they pull the rug out from under you. You think you have insurance, yet you don't.

By the same token, when my spousal unit bought her car, she was driving it 30,000 miles for work each year. Now retired, doesnt drive 5,000. Seriously......never leaves the house. :fire: So was paying for more insurance than needed. When last notice came, I went it and got it all reduced. No questions asked.
 
I’m going to look at storing my powder/primers/ammo off premises
Here are SAAMI recommendations and requirements for "residential" storage of powders and primers - https://saami.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Info-Doc-Smokeless-Powder.pdf

"RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STORAGE OF SMOKELESS POWDER

Store in a cool, dry place. Be sure the storage area selected is free from any possible sources of excess heat and is isolated from open flame, furnaces, hot water heaters, etc. Do not store smokeless powder where it will be exposed to the sun’s rays. Avoid storage in areas where mechanical or electrical equipment is in operation. Restrict from the storage areas heat or sparks which may result from improper, defective or overloaded electrical circuits.

Do not store smokeless powder in the same area with solvents, flammable gasses or highly combustible materials. Store only in Department of Transportation approved containers.

Do not transfer the smokeless powder from an approved container into one which is not approved.

Do not smoke in areas where smokeless powder is stored or used. Place appropriate “no smoking” signs in these areas.

Do not subject the storage cabinets to close confinement. Storage cabinets should be constructed of insulating materials and with a weak wall, seams or joints to provide an easy means of selfventing.

Do not keep old or salvaged powders. Check old powders for deterioration regularly. Destroy deteriorated powders immediately.

Obey all regulations regarding quantity and methods of storing. Do not store all your smokeless powders in one place. If you can, maintain separate storage locations. Many small containers are safer than one large container.

Keep your storage and use area clean. Clean up spilled smokeless powder promptly. Make sure the surrounding area is free of trash or other readily combustible materials."
And here's residential vs commercial storage "requirements"

NFPA 495 Explosive Materials Code 1996 Edition
Chapter 11 Small Arms Ammunition and Primers, Smokeless Propellants, and Black Powder Propellants
11-1 Basic Requirements
11-3.6 Smokeless propellants shall be stored in shipping containers approved by US Department of Transportation.
11-3.7 Smokeless propellants intended for personal use in quantities not exceeding 20 lb. (9.1 kg) shall be permitted to be stored in original containers in residences. Quantities exceeding 20 lb. (9.1 kg), but not exceeding 50 lb. (22.7 kg), shall be permitted to be stored in residences where kept in a wooden box or cabinet having walls of at least 1 in. (25.4 mm) nominal thickness

... 11-3.9 Commercial stocks of smokeless propellants shall be stored as follows: (a) Quantities exceeding 20 lb. (9.1 kg) but not exceeding 100 lb. (45.4 kg) shall be stored in portable wooden boxes having walls of at least 1 in. (25.4 mm) thickness. (b) Quantities exceeding 100 lb. (45.4 kg) but not exceeding 800 lb. (363 kg) shall be stored in non-portable storage cabinets having walls of at least 1 in. (25.4 mm) thickness. Not more than 400 lb. (181 kg) shall be permitted to be stored in any one cabinet and cabinets shall be separated by a distance of at least 25 ft (7.63 m) or by a fire partition having a fire resistance of at least 1 hour​
 
I’m not going to ask my insurance company, I once told them I edited photos for work in a room and they wanted to up my premiums because of “business” usage.

I’m going to look at storing my powder/primers/ammo off premises


Where exactly would this off premise location be? Who is gonna let you store flammable (powder) or explosive (primers)??
 
FWIW; any time a thread about "reloading safety and health" concers is posted it often gets crazy. The "What if brigade" provides every possible theory on what could go wrong and how to protect oneshelf against fires, explosions, poisoning, and lawsuits. Then there's the "Chicken Littles" that are overly concerned with everything "dangerous" about reloading. Plus the "cut and paste" posts that post all concievable laws an regulations possibly dealing with reloading "dangers".I've been reloading for over 40 years and casting bullets for about 25 years and I am not poisoned, have had no fires or exposions and no one has slipped on a spent primer in my shop and sued me. Perhaps a "Reloading Safety" sub forum is needed to keep the Old Wives tale repeaters, Chicken Little frightened, parroters, in one place...
 
Independent adjusters who handle their claims may be instructed to look for ways to avoid paying if they can.

2 winters ago the pipe to an outside sillcock froze inside the wall of my house. Mucho damage, 3 rooms flooded, etc.

Adjuster told me that replacement of the pipe itself was not covered, because 'normal wear and tear' in my 35 year old house.

I laughed in his face, literally. I said that if copper pipes regularly wore out every few decades, there would be plumbing companies doing nothing but regular copper pipe replacement.

You couldn't drive down the block without seeing someone having their pipes replaced.

That being said, the first job for any adjuster, every adjuster, is to close the claim spending the least amount possible. That's what they get paid to do.

As an insured, it is your job to protect your own property, and make certain that you are getting what you paid for in your policy.
 
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