Can I sit near a burning fireplace in a showroom to test whether the smell bothers me before buying?
Yes, and because many Mills River homes run on propane rather than a gas main, the smart move is to have us light a propane-configured unit so the smell and flame you judge match your tank. It's a 25-minute drive north to 629 Emma Rd in Asheville. Call (828) 545-0525 first and tell us you're on LP.
Test the fuel you'll actually burn
Out across the Mills River valley — Horse Shoe, Banner Farm, the farmland-and-forest large lots — propane is common, and it behaves a little differently than natural gas: it burns hotter per unit and needs its own orifices and pressure. A licensed installer sets a burner up for the fuel it will run, and a correctly configured propane unit burns clean; a mismatched one soots and smells. So when we light a unit for your smell test, we'll configure it for LP — that way what reaches your nose in the showroom is honest to what you'll live with at home.
Outdoors, smell is barely a factor
Mills River's open valley is made for outdoor living, and a lot of our conversations here are about a gas fire pit or an outdoor fireplace for the entertaining season. Good news on the smell front: outdoors, combustion odor essentially disappears into open air, so a propane fire pit like Napoleon's Uptown reads as pure flame and warmth. If you're weighing both an indoor unit and an outdoor feature, come test them together — we'll have them burning at the same time. Running the propane line is licensed work we permit with Henderson County and pressure-test. Plan fire-pit projects in late spring, before entertaining season. Call (828) 545-0525 or visit weekdays 8 to 5.
Fireplace help in Mills River
We install and service fireplaces throughout Mills River and the rest of Henderson County — just 25 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?