How do I find out if natural gas is available on my street?
Look for signs a main is already nearby — neighbors with gas meters instead of propane tanks, or yellow gas utility markers along the road. The definitive answer comes from the natural-gas utility serving the Asheville area: call them with your address and ask if a main runs to your street and whether they'll tap your service.
Signs the main is already there
The quickest read is your neighbors. If the houses around you have metal gas meters on an exterior wall — and no propane tanks in their yards — a natural-gas main almost certainly runs down your street, and extending service to your home is usually straightforward. Yellow utility flags or paint along the road after an 811 locate are another tell. Around Asheville and Hendersonville, most established neighborhoods along the main corridors already have service; the further you get from those corridors, the less likely it is.
Get the definitive answer from the utility
Signs are a guide; the utility is the authority. Call the natural-gas provider serving the Asheville area, give them your service address, and ask two things: is there a main on my street, and what would it cost to run and tap a service line to the house. They'll tell you the distance from the main, whether it's a simple tap or a full main extension, and any allowance or fee. Availability can change block to block — a main may run one street over but not down yours.
If the answer is no
Plenty of WNC homes never get a yes, and that's fine. Out in Fairview, Candler, Brevard, and up the mountain roads, propane does the same job — a propane fireplace is every bit as good a heater as a natural-gas one; it just runs at a different pressure with different orifices. We install both, all day long. If you're weighing gas against no gas for a new fireplace, we can lay out the real options at a free in-home assessment. Call (828) 545-0525.
Related questions
- How do I know if my house has natural gas or propane?
- How much does it cost to get connected to natural gas service?
- What are my options for a gas fireplace if my neighborhood doesn't have natural gas?
- Who supplies natural gas in the Asheville area, and how do I ask them about getting service to my home?
- Do I need a gas meter upgrade when adding a gas fireplace to my natural gas service?
- How can I tell if a gas fireplace or log set is set up for natural gas or propane?
Still deciding? Talk to a real installer.
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