Can a propane fire pit be converted to natural gas later?
In most of Asheville, yes, and it's often worth doing, because natural-gas mains run through much of the city and a plumbed line ends the cylinder shuffle for good. The catch is street-level: some older Montford and North Asheville blocks were never brought onto the main, so the first thing we confirm is whether gas actually reaches your patio.
Knowing what your street actually has
Because we're based right here on Emma Road, confirming your gas situation is a short site visit rather than a project. Most of South Asheville's newer construction sits on natural-gas mains, but pockets of Montford, North Asheville, and West Asheville were never brought onto the line, and a handful of blocks still run entirely on tank propane.
Before we quote a conversion we verify the main reaches your street and that your meter has the capacity to feed a fire pit on top of everything else the house already burns. When the gas is there, moving the pit off cylinders is usually a clear upgrade — no topping off a tank in October, and a steadier flame all fall.
What changes at the burner
Propane and natural gas don't share an orifice. Propane leaves the tank at higher pressure and carries more energy per cubic foot, so its jets are tight; natural gas needs wider orifices and far more volume to build the same flame. Run the pit on the wrong fuel and you'll get a low, listless fire, or a rich one that blackens the lava rock and glass with soot.
Better pits ship with a manufacturer conversion kit sized for exactly this; some models don't convert at all, worth confirming before you plan around it. We run the new line, pull the Buncombe County permit, pressure-test it, and tune the flame. Call (828) 545-0525 and we'll look at what you've got.
Fireplace help in Asheville
We install and service fireplaces throughout Asheville and the rest of Buncombe County — we're headquartered right here.
Related questions
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- How much does it cost to run a gas line to a patio or fire pit?