How do I winterize my gas fire pit at the end of the season?
In Leicester, most homes sit on large rural lots running propane, so winterizing starts at the tank — close the valve, disconnect, and store the cylinder upright outdoors, away from the house. Then clear and dry the burner and pan and cover it. Cold-air drainage runs these valleys 5 to 8 degrees colder on clear nights, so the freeze can catch you early.
Propane first on the big rural lots
Out toward Sandy Mush, Turkey Creek, and Newfound Road, Leicester is large-property, rural, and largely off the gas main — many homes run propane, and wood heat is popular. So a gas fire pit here almost always burns propane, and the cylinder is where winterizing begins. Close the tank valve, disconnect the regulator, and set the tank upright in a shaded, ventilated spot outside; never store it in a basement or an attached garage.
Some remote properties out here have limited electrical capacity, which makes the pit's own igniter and gas connection all the more worth keeping dry and in good order over winter.
Cold drainage that arrives without warning
On clear winter nights, cold air drains down Leicester's rural valleys and runs 5 to 8 degrees colder than Asheville — so a freeze can settle in here while town is still comfortable. That means shutting the pit down a little earlier than you'd think, and not un-winterizing on a warm afternoon that'll dip below freezing by morning.
We're 15 minutes west in Buncombe County. If the propane connection or burner looked worn at season's end, call (828) 545-0525 — reworking that line is licensed gas work, and it's ours.
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
- What do I need to do to get my gas fire pit running again after it sat unused all winter?
- Should I cover my gas fire pit when I'm not using it?
- Should I leave the propane tank hooked up to my fire pit between uses?
- Can I use my gas fire pit in the winter?
- What's the proper way to shut down a gas fire pit after using it?

