Out in Brevard's propane country, a standing pilot is a slightly more noticeable trickle than on a gas main — propane costs more per unit, so that round-the-clock flame draws down your tank a bit between fills. But in Transylvania's 80-inch rainfall, keeping it lit earns its keep: the small continuous heat helps fight the moisture that rusts everything here.
Propane makes the pilot noticeable, not costly
Much of the Brevard area burns propane rather than natural gas, and propane runs pricier per unit of energy — so a standing pilot that never goes out is a more visible line against your tank than the same pilot would be on the Asheville main. It's still a small amount; it just adds up faster out of a tank you pay to fill. That's why propane customers here are the most common to switch the pilot off over a mild stretch, or to choose a unit with electronic ignition that carries no standing pilot at all.
In this rainfall, a lit pilot fights rust
Brevard sees 80-plus inches of rain a year, and that wet season from March into June cracks crowns, spalls brick, and rusts dampers and burners. A standing pilot's tiny continuous warmth helps keep the firebox and burner assembly dry through all that damp — so the small gas cost buys a real anti-corrosion benefit here that it wouldn't in a drier climate. For homes with cabins and chimney chases prone to moisture, that dry-firebox effect is worth weighing before you shut the pilot off for the summer.
Weigh it for your place
There's a genuine tradeoff in Brevard: shut the pilot off and save a bit of propane, or leave it lit against the moisture. We'll help you decide based on your unit and how damp your firebox runs — no upsell, and we'd rather get you the right setup than the priciest one. Converting to electronic ignition is licensed gas work we permit through Transylvania County. We're 40 minutes southwest. 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.
Related questions
- Should I leave my gas fireplace pilot light on all summer or turn it off?
- Does the pilot light give off enough heat to warm up the room in summer?
- Are there benefits to leaving the pilot lit year-round, like keeping moisture and spiders out?
- How do I shut the pilot light off for the summer?
- Does turning the flame down make my gas fireplace use less gas?