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) 770-8079 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.

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

This answer for nearby towns

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