I'm buying a house with a fireplace — what should I have inspected?
In Asheville, what you inspect depends on which side of town the house sits: a Montford or North Asheville home likely hides an original masonry chimney that needs a Level 2 camera scan, while newer South Asheville construction usually means a sealed gas unit that needs a full function-and-safety check. Book both inside your contingency window.
Montford masonry vs. South Asheville gas
The city splits cleanly. In Montford, North Asheville, and the older streets around Biltmore Village, you're usually looking at a century-old masonry firebox with a clay-tile flue — decades of wood fires leave cracked tiles, eroded mortar joints, and a creosote load nobody sees from the hearth. That's a Level 2 job: a scope run up the liner, plus the crown, damper, and clearances behind the finish.
South Asheville and the newer West Asheville infill lean the other way. There you're inspecting a sealed direct-vent gas unit — we confirm it's plumbed for natural gas, test the ignition, and check the venting isn't spilling and the connection isn't leaking.
The Buncombe permit trail
Because we're a licensed gas contractor, we can tell quickly whether a gas line was run by someone allowed to touch it — in North Carolina a showroom or a handyman legally can't, and unpermitted work can shadow both the sale and the homeowner's policy. We'll check the permit history with Buncombe County and flag anything that never met an inspector.
Our showroom is right here at 629 Emma Rd, so an Asheville buyer can have eyes on the hearth fast. Call (828) 545-0525 and we'll look before you sign.
Fireplace help in Asheville
We install and service fireplaces throughout Asheville and the rest of Buncombe County — we're headquartered right here.
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?