Can a gas fire pit stay outside all winter?
In Mills River, a built-in gas fire pit is permitted work we pull with Henderson County — and yes, once it's in, it's built to stay outdoors all winter. This open farmland valley is prime outdoor-living country, so the pits get real use. Cold at 2,096 feet doesn't threaten them; standing water frozen in the burner does.
Permitted for a valley made to be outside
Mills River's open valley and large lots — out toward Horse Shoe, Etowah, and Banner Farm — make outdoor living the point, and a gas fire pit anchors it. Because the gas connection is licensed work, we permit it with Henderson County and meet the inspector; the hardscaper who builds your patio legally can't make that fuel connection in NC. Plan a new pit for late spring, before the entertaining season, so it's ready when you are.
Most of these run on propane
Out on Mills River's rural lots, propane is the common fuel rather than a gas main. Wintering a propane pit means disconnecting the tank, storing it upright outdoors and away from the house, and keeping the regulator clear of ice and standing water. Skip that and a spring thaw finds a corroded connection instead of a pit ready for the first warm evening.
Then just cover and drain
A fitted, breathable cover keeps rain off without trapping condensation, and a burner pan that drains keeps water from freezing where it does damage. Set up that way, your built-in pit stays put through winter and lights right up in April. Tabletop models come inside. We're 25 minutes south — (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Mills River
We install and service fireplaces throughout Mills River and the rest of Henderson County — just 25 minutes south from our Asheville-area showroom.