Can a gas insert be installed in my existing masonry fireplace?
Yes — and in Sylva, a gas insert makes particular sense in the hard-used WCU-area rentals and the historic Dillsboro homes with older masonry chimneys. It seats in the existing firebox, vents through a stainless liner, and ties into gas we set for your fuel. An open hearth that loses heat up the flue becomes a sealed unit that's far easier to run and maintain.
The Tuckasegee-valley flue problem
Cold air drains down the Tuckasegee valley and river moisture hangs in it, and that combination rusts dampers and degrades flue liners faster than in drier towns. In the older Dillsboro chimneys especially, what's up there may not be sound. So before we line for an insert, we inspect — the stainless liner a gas insert needs has to run clean top to bottom, and this is the moment to catch a failing flue rather than discover it later. In the student rentals, where maintenance has often been inconsistent, that check regularly turns up neglect worth fixing.
Sealed, simple, and permitted
A sealed insert commonly runs 70% efficient or better and lights on a switch — a big step up from an open firebox and a lot less to go wrong for a rental. Sylva is mixed-fuel, so we set the unit for natural gas or propane and dial the orifices accordingly. Connecting fuel is licensed work in North Carolina; we run and pressure-test the line, pull the Jackson County permit, and meet the inspector. We're about 50 minutes west of our Asheville showroom, so we'll plan the visit efficiently rather than making two trips — call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Sylva
We install and service fireplaces throughout Sylva and the rest of Jackson County — just 50 minutes west from our Asheville-area showroom.
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?