Mills River, North Carolina

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

Safe to run in Mills River, and out on these rural large-lot properties — many of them on propane — that's the whole appeal. A propane fireplace on a millivolt pilot needs no grid power at all, so the blower being off is a non-issue. The fan spreads warm air; the heat and safeties work without it.

Propane on the big Mills River lots

Between Horse Shoe, Banner Farm, and the farmland stretches of the Mills River valley, a lot of homes sit too far from a gas main to tap one, so they run on propane — and propane pairs beautifully with the no-electronics millivolt units that keep heating when the power's out. On the right unit, a full propane tank and a tiny pilot current are all it takes to warm the room. If yours lit during the last outage, let it run; if it didn't, the fix is usually the ignition type, not the blower.

The valley's outdoor side

The open Mills River valley is prime outdoor-living country, and we plan a lot of gas fire pits out here for late-spring entertaining season — same licensed gas line, same permit. Whether it's an indoor hearth or a patio feature, we pull the permit with Henderson County and meet the inspector. We're twenty-five minutes south of the Asheville showroom, so a service run out to a rural property is routine for us.

Keep the mantel clear

Fan-off, more heat climbs the face of the unit, so the wall and mantel above run warmer — keep them clear and respect your clearances. And if the blower motor quit on its own, you're still safe to burn; that's about comfort. Call (828) 545-0525 and we'll bring the part on one trip.

Fireplace help in Mills River

We install and service fireplaces throughout Mills River and the rest of Henderson County — just 25 minutes south from our Asheville-area showroom.

Fireplace services in Mills River General answer (all of WNC)

This answer for nearby towns

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