How much does firewood cost per cord, and how many cords do you burn in a winter?
Flat Rock's historic homes are why this question has such a wide answer here. Those oversized 1800s open masonry fireplaces burn cordwood faster than almost anything and can pull cold drafts into the room while they do it. An open hearth like that can eat three or four cords a winter; a sealed insert set into it manages on one or two. Price seasoned hardwood by the full cord.
Grand old fireboxes, aging flues
Many of Flat Rock's homes date to the 1800s and still have their original clay flue liners, decades past their prime. Before you commit to a heavy wood season, have that liner checked, because a cracked one is both a draft problem and a fire risk, and it makes even well-seasoned wood burn sluggishly and dirty. These oversized open hearths were built for a different era of heating, and left as-is they're among the least efficient fireplaces we see, drawing warm air up and cold air in through the same big opening.
Keep the character, cut the cordwood
You don't have to gut a historic room to fix a drafty firebox. A sealed wood insert, 70% efficient or better, slides into the existing masonry and turns a beautiful heat-sink into a genuine heater, preserving the mantel and surround that make these Historic Flat Rock and Kanuga homes what they are. We handle it start to finish, pull the Henderson County permit, and meet the inspector, 30 minutes south of the Emma Road showroom. Call (828) 545-0525 for a free in-home assessment.
Fireplace help in Flat Rock
We install and service fireplaces throughout Flat Rock and the rest of Henderson County — just 30 minutes south from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
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- Does using an open wood-burning fireplace actually increase my heating bill?