I'm buying a house with a fireplace — what should I have inspected?
In Leicester, inspect for propane and wood — these rural large-property homes mostly run LP or wood heat, not a natural-gas main, and some remote spots have limited electrical capacity. Confirm the fuel and orifice, check the propane connection, and get a Level 2 chimney inspection on any wood system before your contingency ends.
Wood and propane country
Wood stoves and inserts are popular out here, and they need the flue scoped for creosote and liner cracks — a Level 2 job, not a glance. Propane units need the right orifice and a connection checked for leaks.
On the properties with thin electrical service, it's worth confirming the hearth can heat without power — a millivolt gas unit or a wood system keeps throwing warmth when the grid is down, which matters on these back roads.
Cold hollows, Buncombe permits
Cold-air drainage runs the Sandy Mush and Turkey Creek valleys 5 to 8 degrees below Asheville on clear winter nights, so heat performance is the whole point of the inspection.
Verify any gas work was permitted with Buncombe County and done by a licensed contractor. We're 15 minutes west of Emma Rd — call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Leicester
We install and service fireplaces throughout Leicester and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes west 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?