Arden, North Carolina

Is it safe to run a gas fireplace during a power outage without the blower?

Yes, safe in Arden. Many of the 1980s and '90s homes in Royal Pines and Skyland still have tired, drafty open masonry fireplaces — and a sealed gas insert dropped into one heats far better and runs fine with the blower off. The fan just spreads warmth; it was never doing safety work.

From drafty open box to real heater

The open masonry fireplaces in a lot of Arden's Royal Pines and Skyland homes pull heat out of the room as fast as they make it — great ambiance, poor heater. A sealed gas insert flips that: it captures the heat, and on the right ignition it keeps warming the room during an outage, which the old open box never could. The insert's blower is a bonus that carries warmth further; the sealed burn and venting hold up without it. If your insert lights when the power's out, it's earning its keep.

On the mains, close to the showroom

Arden is on the natural-gas mains and in Buncombe County, and the Biltmore Park area brings retail and office fireplace work alongside the neighborhoods. Either way, tying an insert into the gas line is licensed work — we pull the Buncombe permit and meet the inspector. We're fifteen minutes south of our Emma Road showroom, so Arden service calls are quick for us.

One thing to watch

With the fan off, more heat rises off the unit and the wall and mantel above run warmer — keep them clear and respect the clearances we set. If your blower quit on its own, you're still safe to burn; it's a comfort fix. Call (828) 545-0525 and we'll usually handle it in one visit.

Fireplace help in Arden

We install and service fireplaces throughout Arden and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes south from our Asheville-area showroom.

Fireplace services in Arden General answer (all of WNC)

This answer for nearby towns

Asheville Black Mountain Brevard Candler Canton Clyde Fairview Flat Rock