Can I add a remote control to a gas fireplace that only has a wall switch?
In Arden, the answer hinges on what you've got. If a gas insert or log set already lives in your Royal Pines or Skyland fireplace, a wall switch means a millivolt valve we can usually fit a remote to. But if it's still one of the area's tired open masonry fireboxes with no gas appliance, there's nothing for a remote to operate — the upgrade starts with adding gas first.
First, is there a gas appliance?
A remote controls a gas valve — so before anything, there has to be a valve. Many Arden homes from the 1980s and 90s still have open masonry fireplaces that pull heat out of the room and send it up the chimney, with no gas unit inside. For those, a handheld isn't the first step; a sealed gas insert or a log set is. Drop one of those in and the remote is part of the package, and you turn a drafty heat-loser into a real heater at the same time.
If gas is already in there
Plenty of these homes were converted years ago, and if yours has a gas log set or insert running off a switch, you're likely a quick candidate. Most millivolt and standing-pilot valves pair with a handset, giving you on/off, flame height, fan control on blower-equipped units, and thermostat and timer modes. Send us the make and model and we can usually confirm compatibility before scheduling the fifteen-minute run south.
One accountable licensed company
Whether it's a straight remote add or an insert-plus-remote, the gas connection is licensed work in North Carolina — our lane, not a handyman's, and not a boxed kit. Keeping the appliance, the venting, and the remote with one licensed contractor beats hunting for someone to make it burn. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Arden
We install and service fireplaces throughout Arden and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes south from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
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