Can a propane fire pit be converted to natural gas later?

Downtown versus up the mountain

In the heart of Black Mountain and through the Swannanoa Valley, natural-gas service is common, and a fire pit is an easy addition to the line. Climb into Montreat, though, and the shaded, wooded lots and higher elevations mean some homes were never brought onto a main and run entirely on propane.

The valley's temperature inversions push morning lows ten to fifteen degrees below Asheville's and hold frost later into spring, so a converted pit here works hard across a long shoulder season. It's a 15-minute run east from our Emma Road showroom, so verifying your street is quick.

Getting the burner right for natural gas

A propane burner can't simply be re-hosed to natural gas — its orifices are jetted for propane's higher pressure and richer fuel, and natural gas needs wider openings and much more volume. We fit the manufacturer's conversion kit and dial in the flame; run it un-converted and you'll get either a weak fire or one that soots the media. Certain pits aren't convertible, and we'll say so.

Permitting the work

Running that new gas line is licensed work in North Carolina. We pull the Buncombe County permit, pressure-test the line, and meet the inspector — the same process that protects your homeowner's coverage and any future sale. Call (828) 545-0525.