Is it OK to burn storm-fall or dead trees from my own property?
In Brevard, burning your own downed trees is smart — but our rainfall changes the timeline. Transylvania County catches 80-plus inches a year, so wood seasons slower and standing water is hard on chimneys. Split and cover your stack early, and plan on the long end of the drying window before any of it goes on the fire.
Rain is the enemy of a good woodpile
Eighty inches of rain a year means an uncovered stack reabsorbs moisture almost as fast as it sheds it, and even standing-dead wood that felt dry can be wet clear through here. Crib your split wood up off the soaked ground on pallets, cap the top hard against the weather, and leave the sides open so air still moves through it. Green oak in Brevard often wants closer to a full year rather than six months, and a moisture meter reading under 20 percent is the only real proof it's ready — the bark and the color will fool you in this climate.
The same rain works on your chimney
Brevard's long wet season spalls brick, cracks crowns, and rusts dampers, and the moisture problems common in local crawl spaces and chimney chases quietly hide flue damage. Before you commit a winter to home-cut wood, have the crown, cap, and liner checked so a hidden crack and fresh creosote never meet. A stainless liner and a good cap fix the wet-weather weak points, and we permit the work with Transylvania County.
Keep the fire clean
Stick to natural, untreated wood only — never treated, painted, or reclaimed lumber. Softwood off the surrounding ridges seasons quickly but throws more creosote, so save it for starting fires. Keep up the yearly sweep, since our damp climate and heavy wood use build creosote fast. 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.