Can I convert my gas fireplace back to wood-burning, and is it worth it versus keeping gas?
In Brevard the deciding factor is usually the chimney's condition, not the gas. This is 80-inch-rain country — crowns crack, brick spalls, dampers rust, and a flue that's been weathering that for years has to pass inspection before any wood fire goes back in. If it does, gas logs in an original masonry firebox can convert. Out in the propane cabins, a gas-only unit means replacement instead.
Rain decides whether wood is even an option
Transylvania County catches more rain than almost anywhere we serve, and it's hard on masonry. Before we'd cap a gas line and hand a Brevard chimney back to wood, we inspect the crown, the liner, and the damper — the exact parts this climate degrades first. A gas fireplace tolerates a marginal flue; a wood fire doesn't. If the chimney needs a new liner, crown repair, or a stainless cap to stand up to the next wet season, that work is part of the conversion, and it belongs in the decision up front.
Propane country changes the trade
Much of Brevard's heat runs on propane — downtown has some natural gas, but the cabins in Connestee Falls, Sherwood Forest, and up the mountain roads are on tanks. Keeping gas here means keeping a propane tank you refill; going back to wood trades tank deliveries for hauling and splitting, which reads differently to a cabin owner than to a gas-main customer. Wood is the gold standard for outage independence, and an EPA insert actually heats — but be honest with yourself about the labor before we pull the log set.
Permitted with Transylvania County
Capping or rerouting a gas line is licensed work in North Carolina, permitted with Transylvania County and pressure-tested — not a Saturday project. We're about 40 minutes southwest of the Asheville showroom. Call (828) 545-0525 and we'll inspect what you've got and tell you honestly whether wood is worth it on your chimney.
Fireplace help in Brevard
We install and service fireplaces throughout Brevard and the rest of Transylvania County — just 40 minutes southwest 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?