Is it OK to burn storm-fall or dead trees from my own property?
In Fairview, wood heat is second nature — the wooded lots practically supply the fuel, and yes, your own storm-fall is ideal. But this is also where the fall chimney sweep is non-negotiable: creosote buildup from home-cut wood is the leading cause of chimney fires around here, and it's almost entirely preventable.
Great wood country, one hard rule
The timbered lots off Cane Creek and Garren Creek mean many Fairview homes heat with wood, and much of the area is propane country besides, so free cordwood off your own land is real savings. The trade-off is creosote — burning your own wood all winter builds it up in the flue faster than most people expect, and that buildup is what turns into a chimney fire. A sweep every fall, before you're depending on the fire, is the simple habit that keeps it from starting. It's the one rule this town can't skip.
Dry wood is half the battle
Green, wet wood is what cakes creosote in the first place, so seasoning is as much a safety step as a heat one. Split your downed trees now, stack them off the ground with the top covered and the sides open, and burn only after six to twelve months, under 20 percent on a moisture meter. Hot, dry fires leave far less creosote behind than smoky, smoldering wet ones — the drier your wood, the safer your flue.
Feed and vent it right
Burn natural, untreated wood only — never treated, painted, or reclaimed lumber. Keep pine for kindling since softwood creosotes faster. And if your open firebox is wasting the heat, an EPA insert or stove captures far more of it, permitted with Buncombe County. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Fairview
We install and service fireplaces throughout Fairview and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes east from our Asheville-area showroom.