1902 Kalamazoo Wood Stove

Many old wood stoves exist on the market. There are many areas where burning them is illegal, as an example if the stove was installed pre-epa rules then it is grandfathered in under housing and fire regulation. If the stove is not grandfathered in, was not installed pre-EPA rules then a professional installer cannot install it. http://www.chimneysweeponline.com/hoepareg.htm Now as to the argument of a homeoner installing a stove, the insurance industry casts a suspicious eye on wood stoves, they increase your insurance rates. That said, a properly installed and inspected woodstove is less of an impact on the homeowners coverage. But let me be succinct. Insurance companies specifically inquire about fireplaces and woodstoves. If you for example added one yourself and was not covered by the insurance, a fire resulting in loss could be denied, this is also typcially the way that "purchasing" and dating a wood stove is performed. So unless the owner of an antique stove lives in a rural area, and more specifically on a farm, and if that owner of the stove wants to assume the liability of the stove, then the resale value of an old stove as a functional working woodstove is low. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=epa+wood+stove+regulation+exemptions+agriculture&aq=f&oq=&aqi= Aside from the agriculture exemption essentially once woodstoves change hands they are technically illegal to use by the new owner as a functioning stove. I own rural property, own more than 25 acres, pay ag tax, have an old wood stove, and elected not to use it in new construction. If I build a detached building and it is a primary source of occasional heat I might use it, but the resale value is typically cost of material. And in summation: Woodstoves even if cleaned smell of smoke, it has to be one really clean and unusual wodstove to be of antique value. I have seen this request for appraisal on woodstoves many times and unless you have an ag exemption and meet insurance considerations would not touch them. In addition many old stoves have absestos as well, best to recycle these items unless they are very unique, excellect condition, and old.