How do I check that my fireplace is safe to use before the first fire of the season?
Leicester's rural properties run on propane and wood, and some remote lots have limited electrical capacity, which shapes the pre-season check. On wood, confirm the damper and a clear, creosote-free flue; on propane, check the tank and regulator. Cold-air drainage runs these valleys several degrees below Asheville on clear nights, so you'll light early. Test both alarms before you do.
Wood heat done safely
Wood is popular out here, up Sandy Mush, Turkey Creek, and Newfound, and a wood fireplace or stove that carried the house last winter is the one most likely to need a sweep. Before you burn, open the damper and confirm it swings fully, put a light up the flue looking for shiny black creosote glaze and any nest or debris shelf, and check that your wood is genuinely seasoned. A season of creosote plus a bird's nest is how a chimney fire starts on a cold Leicester night.
Propane and the power question
Many Leicester homes run propane, and on the more remote lots electrical capacity is thin, which is worth remembering when you choose backup heat. A millivolt gas fireplace or a wood stove keeps producing heat with the grid down, while electric and pellet units need power. For your propane pre-season check, verify the tank has fuel before a cold snap, clear the regulator vent, and treat a sooty flame as a licensed-service call, since setting propane pressure and orifices is our work, not a DIY fix.
Cold comes down the valleys
On clear winter nights cold air drains into these rural hollows five to eight degrees below Asheville, so Leicester lights fires early and often. Book the annual inspection before that starts; a technician reads draft and CO under fire and sweeps what needs it. We're 15 minutes west of the Emma Road showroom. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Leicester
We install and service fireplaces throughout Leicester and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes west from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- Does a gas fireplace need an annual safety inspection?
- How often should a chimney be swept to prevent a chimney fire?
- Is a bird's nest or animal in the chimney a fire or carbon monoxide hazard?
- Is a fireplace that hasn't been used in years safe to start using again?
- Why is my carbon monoxide detector going off when my fireplace is running?