Can I add a remote control to a gas fireplace that only has a wall switch?
In Weaverville, almost certainly yes — but which remote we fit depends on how new your fireplace is. The builder-grade units going into Reems Creek's new construction often use electronic ignition, while older downtown fireboxes are usually millivolt, and the receiver differs between them. Either way we add it at the valve for handheld control, fifteen minutes north of our showroom.
New builds versus older downtown
Weaverville's split between fast-rising Reems Creek subdivisions and established downtown homes shows up right at the fireplace. Many new builder-grade units — the ones that shipped with a plain wall switch to hit a price point — run electronic ignition like IntelliFire, which uses a different receiver and, on some models, a battery-backup ignition module. The original masonry fireboxes downtown more often carry an older millivolt or standing-pilot valve, the classic easy candidate for a handheld. Neither is a problem; they just take different parts. That's exactly why we ask for the make and model before quoting the upgrade.
What you gain past on/off
Whichever ignition you've got, the fuller receiver-and-handset opens up flame-height control, fan control where there's a blower, and thermostat and timer modes — handy in a north-facing valley that warms slowly in spring and holds its chill into the mornings. A bare switch gave you none of that. We pick the receiver to match your valve and ignition, mount it near the controls, and pair the handset on-site.
Licensed at the valve
The reason this isn't a boxed kit: fitting the receiver means connecting to the gas control of a live appliance, and North Carolina keeps that work with licensed gas contractors. A big-box store can sell you a remote; it can't legally connect it. We can, we test every mode before we leave, and the manual override stays in place. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Weaverville
We install and service fireplaces throughout Weaverville and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes north from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- How do I pair or sync a new remote to my gas fireplace?
- How do I use the remote control that came with my gas fireplace?
- Can I control my gas fireplace from my phone or with Alexa or Google Home?
- Can I connect my gas fireplace to my home thermostat, like a Nest?
- Where are the batteries in my gas fireplace remote and receiver, and when should I change them?