I'm buying a house with a fireplace — what should I have inspected?
In Arden, inspect whether that fireplace is a heater or a heat-leak — the 1980s-90s homes in Royal Pines and Skyland often have open masonry fireboxes that pull warm air straight up the flue. A Level 2 camera inspection covers the liner and damper, and if there's gas, get a full function-and-safety check before your contingency closes.
Open fireboxes lose heat
An open masonry fireplace can actually run a net heat loss — the damper leaks, warm room air escapes up the flue, and you feel a draft when it's not lit. In the older Royal Pines and Skyland homes, that's the norm rather than the exception.
A Level 2 inspection checks the damper seal, liner condition, and clearances, and shows whether the firebox is sound. A sealed insert with a liner turns a heat-leak into a real heater — worth pricing during due diligence with a free in-home assessment.
Natural gas, Buncombe permits
Arden is on the natural-gas main, so if the home already has a gas unit, confirm the fuel, test the ignition, and check the venting and connection.
Verify any gas work was permitted with Buncombe County and done by a licensed contractor. We're 15 minutes south of Emma Rd — call (828) 545-0525.
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
- Does a standard home inspection cover the fireplace and chimney?
- What is a Level 2 chimney inspection and do I need one when buying a house?
- Is it safe to use the fireplace in a house I just bought before having it serviced?
- Will my homeowner's insurance have issues with an existing wood stove in a house I'm buying?
- Should I ask the seller to repair or service the fireplace before closing on a house?