Do I need a chimney inspection before installing an insert?
Yes — before any Brevard insert we inspect the chimney, and in Transylvania County that's really a moisture inspection. Brevard takes 80-plus inches of rain a year, and that water cracks crowns, spalls brick, and rusts dampers on downtown homes and mountain cabins alike. We camera-scope the flue to find the water damage before it disappears behind a new insert.
Rain is the enemy here
The wet season runs March through June, and a cracked crown or failed cap lets water pour straight into the flue, where it eats mortar joints and rusts the damper from the inside. At 2,230 feet, freeze-thaw finishes the job on any brick the rain has already softened. Crawl spaces and chimney chases in this area are especially prone to moisture, so we look at the whole path — crown, cap, flue, and firebase — before deciding what liner your insert needs. Water damage is exactly the kind of trouble that hides well behind a beautiful new front.
Cabins on propane, and the county permit
Brevard is mixed-fuel and propane-heavy — plenty of cabins run LP rather than a gas main — so we confirm the fuel and size the liner for either a propane gas insert or a wood insert with a full stainless liner. Then we pull the Transylvania County permit and pressure-test any gas line we run. The showroom is 40 minutes northeast, so we plan the visit.
Fireplace help in Brevard
We install and service fireplaces throughout Brevard and the rest of Transylvania County — just 40 minutes southwest from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- My chimney is damaged — can I still install a gas insert?
- Does a wood-burning insert require a full stainless steel liner to the top of the chimney?
- Can a gas insert be installed in my existing masonry fireplace?
- Does a gas fireplace insert need a chimney liner?
- How do you measure a fireplace to know if an insert will fit?