Can I sit near a burning fireplace in a showroom to test whether the smell bothers me before buying?
Yes, and for most Mars Hill homes the key is testing the fuel you actually burn. Out in Spring Creek and the Gabriels Creek valley, that's usually propane or wood rather than a gas main. We're 30 minutes south at 629 Emma Rd in Asheville; call (828) 545-0525 first and tell us your fuel so we light the right setup.
Propane and wood country
The rural valleys around Mars Hill — Spring Creek, Gabriels Creek, Forks of Ivy — mostly run on propane or heat with wood, so a natural-gas demo won't tell you the whole story. If you're on propane, we'll light an LP-configured unit, because propane burns hotter per unit and needs its own orifices and pressure; a licensed installer sets that up so it burns clean instead of sooting. And if you're weighing wood, we'll fire a wood unit too, so you can smell the honest difference between a real wood fire and a clean gas flame before you decide.
Cold nights and easy-use gas
Mars Hill is one of the colder spots we serve, and around the university a lot of the demand is for a gas fireplace that just lights and works — flame at the flip of a switch, no hauling wood, no cold-start smoke. A sealed direct-vent unit fits that perfectly and keeps its combustion out of your room air, so smell is a non-issue in normal running. Come sit in front of a couple of options at the showroom and let your own reaction pick the winner. Running the gas or propane line is licensed work we permit with your county and pressure-test. Call (828) 545-0525, weekdays 8 to 5.
Fireplace help in Mars Hill
We install and service fireplaces throughout Mars Hill and the rest of Madison County — just 30 minutes north 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?