Can a wood-burning insert be installed in my masonry fireplace?
Yes. Mars Hill runs two ways: easy-use rentals near the university, and rural Spring Creek and Gabriels Creek homes already heating with propane or wood. For those rural properties, a wood-burning insert is a natural upgrade — it seals an open masonry firebox into an EPA-certified overnight heater and needs a full stainless liner run first.
Rural homes that already burn wood
Out in the Spring Creek and Gabriels Creek valleys, a lot of homes already run on propane or wood, and Mars Hill is one of the colder spots we serve — so grid-independent heat isn't a luxury, it's how you get through a winter. A wood insert takes a drafty open masonry fireplace and turns it into a sealed, EPA-certified heater that holds a fire overnight. Beyond the lines we carry, we also install and service Lopi, Jotul, HearthStone, and Quadra-Fire for wood-heat homes.
The liner and inspection
A wood insert has to vent through a full stainless liner running to the top of the chimney, not just into the smoke chamber — that continuous liner is what makes it draft right, burn cleanly, and stay safe. We inspect the flue before lining and address any crown or masonry issues first. We pull the county permit and meet the inspector, 30 minutes north of the Asheville showroom.
Sized so it doesn't smolder
We measure the firebox and match the insert to the room and how much wood you burn — an oversized stove run low all season smolders and cakes the flue with creosote. For the university-area rentals where nobody wants to tend a fire, we'll honestly point you to an easy-use gas option instead. No upselling; the right appliance beats the priciest one. Call (828) 545-0525 for a free assessment.
Fireplace help in Mars Hill
We install and service fireplaces throughout Mars Hill and the rest of Madison County — just 30 minutes north from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- Can a gas insert be installed in my existing masonry fireplace?
- Does a wood-burning insert require a full stainless steel liner to the top of the chimney?
- Do I need a chimney inspection before installing an insert?
- How do you measure a fireplace to know if an insert will fit?
- My fireplace opening is too small or too shallow — can an insert still work?