How do I get my fireplace ready for fall and winter?
Fairview is propane-and-wood country — wooded rural lots where wood heat is a way of life and most gas appliances run off a propane tank, not a main. That makes the fall chimney sweep the single most important thing on your list: on these wooded lots, creosote buildup is the leading cause of chimney fires. Book it, then handle the propane and the service.
The sweep comes first out here
Fairview's wooded rural lots make wood heat a way of life, and that puts the fall chimney sweep at the top of the list — creosote buildup is the leading cause of chimney fires, and it accumulates fast on a hearth that burns most nights. Before the first fire, the chimney needs sweeping and inspecting for creosote, cracked flue tile, a worn damper, and animal nests, plus a check of the firebrick. Have seasoned, dry wood ready, and we do level 1 and 2 inspections per CSIA and NFPA standards.
Propane prep for the gas homes
The homes here that run gas are almost all on propane, not a main, so top off the tank with your supplier and have us check the regulator, the connections, and the burner before winter — propane's higher heat and different pressures need the right setup or it soots. On rural lines that go down in storms, ignition matters: a battery-backup unit or a Valor that runs on no electricity keeps the heat coming when the grid drops. Wood, of course, doesn't care about the grid at all.
Buncombe permit, close to home
Any gas line we run or extend is licensed work — we pull the Buncombe County permit, pressure-test the connection, and meet the inspector, which a mason or landscaper legally can't do. We're just 15 minutes east of the Emma Road showroom, so a Fairview service call is a short drive. Book late summer or early fall, before the first cold snap fills the schedule, and call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Fairview
We install and service fireplaces throughout Fairview and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes east from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- How do I shut down my gas fireplace for the summer?
- Why does my fireplace smell like burning dust the first time I light it each fall?
- How do I keep dust and debris out of my fireplace during the months it is not used?
- Should the damper be kept closed during the off-season?
- Is it good to run my gas fireplace occasionally during the off-season?