Can a gas insert be installed in my existing masonry fireplace?
Yes — and here in Asheville it's usually the most sensible upgrade we do, because the gas mains already run through much of the city. Your original Montford or North Asheville masonry firebox becomes the pocket a sealed gas insert drops into: stainless liner up the flue, a permitted gas line, and an open hearth that leaked heat turns into a real one.
On the mains, and why that matters here
Across much of Asheville — Montford, West Asheville, Biltmore Village, North Asheville — natural gas already runs to the street, so an insert taps a fuel most homes here can reach instead of waiting on a propane delivery. In the historic north-side houses especially, that line is often already close, which keeps the run short. We still run and pressure-test it ourselves, because North Carolina lets only a licensed gas contractor connect fuel — the mason who laid your chimney and the showroom that sells you a firebox legally can't. We pull the Buncombe County permit, meet the inspector, and back the whole job with one workmanship guarantee.
Turning a heat-losing firebox into a heater
A lot of these houses were built around a big open masonry fireplace that, on a cold night, actually runs a net heat loss — it pulls warmed room air straight up the flue while you sleep. A sealed gas insert flips that, commonly landing at 70% efficient or better, with flame on a wall switch and no cold-start smoke. Since our elevation holds nighttime temperatures in the 20s well into spring, that steady output pays off. We measure the firebox, confirm the flue is sound before lining it in stainless, and clamp or pull the old damper so it can never close on the liner. Bigger isn't automatically better — we'd rather size the unit to the room than oversell you. Our showroom is right here at 629 Emma Rd; come watch the Napoleon Oakville X4 and a Valor insert run. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Asheville
We install and service fireplaces throughout Asheville and the rest of Buncombe County — we're headquartered right here.
Related questions
- Does a gas fireplace insert need a chimney liner?
- How do you measure a fireplace to know if an insert will fit?
- Can a wood-burning insert be installed in my masonry fireplace?
- Do I need a chimney inspection before installing an insert?
- Does the damper get removed or clamped when installing a gas insert?