Brevard is propane country for a lot of homes, and it's the wettest ground we serve — 80-plus inches of rain a year — so winterizing an outdoor gas fireplace here is really about water. Close the gas and the propane tank valve, get every bit of standing moisture and debris out of the firebox and burner, and cover it with something that breathes.
Rain is the whole battle here
Transylvania County catches more rainfall than almost anywhere in the state, and the wet season runs hard from March into June — right when you'd otherwise be thinking about reopening. That water is what corrodes burner ports, floods igniters, and rusts connections on an outdoor unit.
Before you cover up, make sure the burner pan actually drains instead of pooling. If fire glass or lava rock sits over the burner, confirm water passes through to the weep holes rather than damming on top. A burner tube that holds water and then freezes is the classic springtime no-light call.
Crawl spaces and chases hold damp too
Brevard's crawl spaces and chimney chases are notorious for staying wet, and an outdoor fireplace built into a masonry chase is no different — moisture wicks in and freezes. When you shut down, look for damp spots, a rusted damper, or a firebox that never quite dries out. A breathable, fitted cover keeps the weather off; a plastic tarp traps condensation against the metal and makes the problem worse.
The gas side is licensed work
Running or connecting the line to a propane fireplace is licensed work in North Carolina — a hardscaper can build the surround, but only a licensed gas contractor can fuel it. We pull the Transylvania County permit and pressure-test every line. Come fall, before the cold sets in, have us check the burner and igniter for water damage before you light it. Call (828) 545-0525.
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.