Can I put gas logs in my Heatilator wood-burning fireplace?
For Black Mountain, often yes — the natural-gas system reaches much of town, so a masonry firebox can usually take a vented gas log set once we run a licensed line. But Swannanoa Valley mornings that sit 10 to 15 degrees colder than Asheville's make many owners want an insert's real heat instead. Call (828) 545-0525.
Cold valley air argues for heat, not just flame
Black Mountain sits in the Swannanoa Valley, where temperature inversions leave mornings well below what Asheville sees, and frost lingers later into spring. Montreat's heavily wooded lots keep houses cool and shaded on top of that. A vented gas log set is ambiance; a sealed gas insert holds warmth through those inversion mornings and keeps throwing heat when the grid drops. For a hearth you actually depend on, that's the direction we lean.
Wooded, damp lots and your flue
The tree cover that shades Montreat and Ridgecrest also keeps chimneys damp, and debris and moisture degrade masonry faster than owners expect. Before we set logs into a masonry firebox, we inspect the flue liner and damper. And we confirm the basics: an open masonry Heatilator usually accepts vented logs, while a factory zero-clearance box often doesn't — the model plate decides.
Pulling the Buncombe permit
Connecting gas is licensed work; a showroom or handyman can sell you a firebox but legally can't run the fuel line, we can. We pull the Buncombe County permit, run and pressure-test the line, and meet the inspector — just 15 minutes east of our Emma Rd showroom. Call (828) 545-0525 to start with a free in-home look.
Fireplace help in Black Mountain
We install and service fireplaces throughout Black Mountain and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes east from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- Where do I find the model number on my Heatilator fireplace?
- Is Heatilator a good brand or just builder-grade?
- Where can I buy replacement parts for a Heatilator fireplace?
- Is Heatilator a brand name or a generic term for a heat-circulating fireplace?
- Can I put gas logs in a Superior or Majestic wood-burning fireplace?