Can I convert my gas fireplace back to wood-burning, and is it worth it versus keeping gas?
Arden is the opposite of a new-build town — the 1980s and 90s homes in Royal Pines and Skyland were built with real open masonry fireplaces, so going back to wood is genuinely possible. The catch isn't whether you can; it's that a big open firebox loses most of its heat up the chimney. If you want warmth and not just flames, convert to a wood insert, not an open fire.
Real masonry, but a drafty one
Unlike the framed-chase gas units in Fletcher's newer subdivisions, Arden's Royal Pines and Skyland homes came with actual open masonry fireplaces — many now holding a gas log set. That's the straightforward conversion case: the set comes out, a licensed contractor caps the line, and the chimney gets inspected for wood service. But be clear about what an open masonry fireplace does at 2,150 feet — it pulls warm room air up the chimney and can run a net heat loss. Restoring open wood gets you the fire and the smell, not much of the heat.
The upgrade that actually heats
This is why we point most Arden homeowners toward a sealed wood insert rather than a bare open firebox. An EPA wood insert with a proper liner commonly runs 70 percent efficient or better, turning that tired open fireplace into a room that's genuinely warm — real, grid-independent heat you own outright when the power's out. If you love the idea of wood but not the whole-house draft your open hearth creates, the insert is the honest answer. If you mainly want ambiance and easy heat, the gas you already have is hard to beat.
Fifteen minutes south, Buncombe permit
We're just 15 minutes south of our Emma Road showroom, so come see wood inserts and gas units burning side by side before you decide. Any gas-line cap is permitted with Buncombe County, pressure-tested, and inspected — licensed work, never DIY. 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
- Should I get a gas fireplace or a wood-burning fireplace?
- Which fireplace still works during a power outage — gas, wood, or electric?
- Should I install gas logs or keep burning real wood in my fireplace?
- Is it cheaper to heat your house with wood or with gas?
- Which requires more maintenance, a gas fireplace or a wood-burning fireplace?