Heating homes with oil is still common in the Northeast, where 650,00 home in Massachusetts alone rely on oil for heat. Massachusetts passed a law effective July 1, 2010 which addresses oil leaks from home heating systems.
The law has two major provisions that require 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. It also ensures that insurance companies that write homeowner policies offer coverage for leaks from heating systems that use oil.
In 2021, an oil tank in Wareham, MA, spilled about 25 gallons of oil in a basement, and environmental laws required a $185k clean-up. Insurance, it appeared, wouldn’t cover it.
There is an insurance solution
For homeowners who are affected by this new law and who comply with the MA requirements, both “first party” and “third party” coverage for the cost of cleaning up leaks and for legal defense costs is available. A Certificate of Compliance can be completed by your local fire department, and is required before the endorsement can be added.
Ready to learn more?
Acacia Insurance has been helping to make the unexpected uneventful since 1988, and we look forward to working with you. Please contact us with questions and for additional information.