Can I sit near a burning fireplace in a showroom to test whether the smell bothers me before buying?
Yes, and for a historic Flat Rock home the smell test is really an insert test. Those grand 1800s open masonry fireplaces pull cold-air drafts and can let smell back into the room; a sealed insert fixes that while keeping the mantel's character. Come sit in front of one at 629 Emma Rd, 30 minutes north. Call (828) 545-0525 first.
Old open hearths and where the smell comes from
Flat Rock's homes go back to the 1800s, with oversized open masonry fireplaces and clay flue liners that have aged past their prime. A big open firebox is charming, but it's also a draft problem: on a cool day it can pull cold air — and stray combustion smell — right back into the room rather than up the chimney. That's the source of a lot of 'my fireplace smells' complaints in historic Henderson County homes. A sealed insert dropped into that opening seals the combustion off and vents it through a proper liner, so the room stays clean.
Preserve the look, lose the odor
The reason to test at the showroom is to feel that an insert doesn't cost you the character you love — you keep the original surround and mantel, and gain a fireplace that actually heats and doesn't breathe odor into your parlor. Sit in front of a running insert and a vented gas set side by side and decide for yourself which suits the room. Flat Rock is on the natural-gas mains, so the unit we light burns your exact fuel. Every install is permitted with Henderson County and pressure-tested — running the gas line is licensed work, and we do it once, correctly. Call (828) 545-0525 or come by weekdays 8 to 5.
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
- Is there a good fireplace option for people with chemical or smell sensitivities?
- Is the smell from a brand-new gas fireplace normal, and how long does it last?
- Does a propane fireplace smell more than a natural gas one?
- Do vented gas logs normally have a slight smell?
- Why does my gas fireplace smell when it's running?