Canterbury Earthquake Victims

The Chimney Replacement Programme is up and running.

If your chimney was damaged by the recent earthquake and you have made a claim with the EQC, an assessor will come to your house and determine whether you qualify for the Chimney Replacement Programme.

The programme gives you the option to replace your old log burner or open fire with a new, efficient heating system. The costs, less the standard $200 EQC excess, will be covered under your claim.

Here is how it is going to work:

• If you have made a claim, you will be contacted by an EQC assessor who will arrange a time to visit your house and assess the damage. We are aiming to visit all houses before Christmas.
• If the EQC assessor confirms your house qualifies for the Chimney Replacement Programme, your claim will automatically be passed to EECA and you will be allocated an approved builder who will be responsible for doing the work.
• The approved builder will give you a call to arrange a convenient time to come and start the work.
• You need to consider which efficient heating system you would like. The kind of heater you can choose may depend on the value of your claim and what other heaters you already have in your home.
• The four options available under the programme are: an ENERGY STAR® qualified heat pump, a solid fuel wood burner, a wood pellet burner or a 4-Star AGA-rated flued gas space heater.
• Visit www.eeca.govt.nz for more information on these heating options and a list of approved products. Talk to your builder about which one you would like.

Under the Chimney Replacement Programme:

• Homeowners do not need to organise the repair of their chimney, this work will be organised by the approved builder.
• You will not receive a cash settlement; all claims will be settled directly with the builder. Before repair work can start on your property, you need to pay your $200 excess to the approved builder.
• The EQC assessors aim to visit all houses with chimney damage by Christmas, but the repairs will take longer.

The level of damage to your chimney and your home determines how your claim is dealt with. Some houses may not qualify for the EECA Chimney Replacement Programme, but will still qualify for an efficient, clean heater under another EQC programme. Talk to your EQC assessor or visit www.eqc.govt.nz for more information.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) is administering the Chimney Replacement Programme on behalf of the Earthquake Commission (EQC)

Go to www.eeca.govt.nz for the latest information.