Can I convert my gas fireplace back to wood-burning, and is it worth it versus keeping gas?
Flat Rock has some of the oldest housing stock we serve — homes dating to the 1800s with big open masonry fireplaces — so the bones for wood are almost always there. The catch is the flue: those aging clay liners have to pass inspection before wood goes back in. If they do, gas logs come out and wood returns; if they're cracked, relining is part of the job.
Old masonry is the easy case — with an asterisk
An 1800s Flat Rock fireplace is exactly the situation that converts back to wood most cleanly: a real masonry firebox and chimney that burned wood long before anyone dropped a gas log set into it. But historic also means aging clay flue liners, and a century-plus of heat cycling cracks and gaps them. Wood is far less forgiving of a compromised flue than a sealed gas unit — so the honest first step is a chimney inspection, and if the liner's failed, a reline belongs in the conversion, not a surprise after the first fire.
Preserve the character, fix the draft
Here's the thing about those oversized original hearths: they're beautiful and they're draft machines, pulling cold air down into the room and warm air up the chimney when they're not burning. A lot of Flat Rock owners don't actually want to return to an open wood fire — they want the character without the cold draft. A sealed wood insert, or a sealed gas insert, closes that opening off and turns a heat-loser into a real heater while keeping the historic face. Worth weighing before you commit to open wood.
Licensed, permitted, inspector met
Whichever direction you choose, capping or extending the gas line is licensed work — permitted with Henderson County, pressure-tested, inspector met — which also protects the value and insurability of a historic home. We're about 30 minutes south of the Asheville showroom. Call (828) 545-0525 and we'll assess the firebox and flue together.
Fireplace help in Flat Rock
We install and service fireplaces throughout Flat Rock and the rest of Henderson County — just 30 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?