Can a fireplace be added to an existing home that never had one?
Yes, and it's a common request in Candler's fast-growing subdivisions. A lot of newer homes here came with a basic decorative firebox — or none at all — and owners want real heat. A sealed direct-vent gas fireplace delivers it, venting out a sidewall with no chimney. The Enka side sits on the gas main; further out the valley, it's propane.
From decorative to real heat
Builder-grade fireboxes in the new Enka-Candler developments are often just for looks. If yours never had a genuine heater, a direct-vent unit like the Napoleon Ascent 36 or a Kozy Heat puts real warmth in the room — sealed combustion, power-optional with battery-backup ignition, and none of the maintenance of an open fire.
Why sealed matters in Hominy Valley
Candler sits in a natural bowl where valley air settles, so a clean-burning appliance is worth choosing on purpose. A sealed direct-vent fireplace draws its combustion air from outside and exhausts outside — nothing vents into your living space. It's a cleaner way to heat than an open fire, and it's why we often steer Candler homes toward direct-vent.
Confirm your fuel, then permit it
Homes toward Enka usually tap natural gas; out along Pisgah Highway and the valley, many run propane, which we connect and pressure-test as licensed work. Either way we pull the Buncombe County permit and meet the inspector. We're 15 minutes west of the showroom — free assessment, (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Candler
We install and service fireplaces throughout Candler and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes west from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- At what stage of new construction does the fireplace get installed?
- Is adding a fireplace during a remodel more involved than in new construction?
- Can a fireplace be installed in an upstairs or second-floor room?
- Can you add a fireplace to a house that has no gas service?
- What should my builder rough in now if I want a fireplace later?