In Arden the classic job is rescuing a tired, drafty open fireplace. The 1980s-'90s homes in Royal Pines and Skyland were built with open masonry fireboxes that pull heat out of the room, and converting to sealed gas runs $3,500–$8,000 installed for a direct-vent unit. Arden sits on natural-gas mains, so fuel is rarely the sticking point — the unit is.
From heat-loser to real heater
An open masonry fireplace can actually run a net heat loss — the flue lets more warm air escape than the fire replaces. A sealed direct-vent unit set into that opening reverses it: combustion is closed off from the room, and the heat stays in. That single change is why so many Arden homeowners make the switch. A Napoleon Ascent 36 is the everyday choice; step up to a Heat & Glo 6000CLX if the fireplace anchors a big great room.
Insert or new firebox — both fit the range
If you want to keep the existing masonry visible, a sealed gas insert drops into the current opening; if you're reworking the wall, a new direct-vent firebox is the move. Both bring the same sealed, power-optional heat, and both live within similar installed pricing driven by the unit and the vent path. With Biltmore Park's retail and office spaces nearby, we do plenty of commercial versions of this same upgrade too.
Buncombe County, 15 minutes south
We pull the Buncombe County permit, pressure-test the gas line, and meet the inspector — one accountable crew. Arden is about 15 minutes south of Emma Road. Call (828) 545-0525 for a free in-home assessment.
Fireplace help in Arden
We install and service fireplaces throughout Arden and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes south from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- How much does a gas fireplace cost installed?
- How much does a ventless gas fireplace cost?
- Why do linear fireplaces cost so much more than traditional gas fireplaces?
- How much does it cost to run a gas line to a fireplace?
- Why does professional fireplace installation cost so much — what's actually included in the price?