Is it cheaper to heat with wood, propane, or natural gas in Western North Carolina?
In Asheville, natural gas is usually the cheapest fuel you can pipe in, wood beats it only if you cut your own, and propane costs the most per unit — but the main doesn't reach every street. Montford and North Asheville sit on gas; the ridges and outlying lots above the valley still run propane. We're based right here on Emma Road.
Which fuel actually costs least in town
Asheville's gas mains run through the older core — Montford, North Asheville, much of West Asheville — and where you can tap one, natural gas heats for less per BTU than anything else you'd buy delivered. Wood only undercuts it if you're the one running the saw; buy seasoned cords and the labor you skipped shows up on the price. Propane isn't the cheap option here, but plenty of homes on the ridges above the valley have no main to reach and burn it anyway. The fuel your street can actually get usually settles the question before price does.
Why a drafty old firebox changes the math
A lot of Asheville's charm is original masonry — beautiful open fireplaces in century-old Montford homes that send most of their heat straight up the flue. Burn the cheapest wood in a box like that and you're still heating the sky. A sealed gas insert or a modern wood insert at 70% efficiency or better keeps that warmth in the room, which is where the real savings live. Cutting your own wood matters far less than what your appliance does with the fuel once it's lit.
One call, and we're close
Being headquartered at 629 Emma Rd means Asheville is our shortest drive — quick to look at your setup, pull the Buncombe County permit, and pressure-test any gas line we run. Extending or connecting a gas line is licensed work in North Carolina; a showroom or a mason can sell the firebox but legally can't make it burn. We do both. Call (828) 545-0525 and we'll weigh wood, gas, and propane against your actual home.
Fireplace help in Asheville
We install and service fireplaces throughout Asheville and the rest of Buncombe County — we're headquartered right here.
Related questions
- Can I cut my heating bill by zone-heating with a fireplace instead of running the whole-house system?
- Does a gas fireplace cost more to run on propane than on natural gas?
- Is natural gas available in the Asheville area, or do most mountain homes run on propane?
- How much does a cord of firewood cost in the Asheville area?
- What's the best backup heat source for a mountain home that has a heat pump?