In Arden, the honest answer often points past repair to an insert. The 1980s-90s homes in Royal Pines and Skyland tend to have drafty open masonry fireplaces that lose more heat than they make — so if a 20-year gas set in one needs work, a sealed insert may be the smarter money. If it's a sound direct-vent unit, though, most fixes are cheap.
Drafty open fireplaces change the math
A lot of Arden's established 1980s and '90s neighborhoods — Royal Pines, Skyland, Glenn Bridge — were built with open masonry fireplaces, often with a gas log set added later. The trouble is that an open masonry fireplace can actually run a net heat loss, pulling warm room air up the flue even while it burns. So when a 20-year gas set in one of these needs a repair, the question isn't just fix-or-replace the logs — it's whether this is the moment to seal the opening with an insert that turns a heat-waster into a real heater.
The insert upgrade, on the gas main
Arden sits on the natural-gas main, which makes a sealed gas insert straightforward — a modern insert commonly runs 70% efficient or better, versus the open hearth's losses, and it brings clean glass, a blower, and power-optional ignition. That said, if you own a sound sealed direct-vent unit rather than an open set, we don't oversell: a worn sensor or blower is an inexpensive, single-visit fix. Every insert or gas job is licensed work, permitted with Buncombe County and inspected.
Repair, or step up
We diagnose before we advise. If your unit is sound and cheap to fix, we fix it. If you've got a discontinued part or a drafty open set that's overdue for an efficient insert, we lay the numbers out and let you decide. No pressure. Call (828) 545-0525.
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.
Related questions
- Should I repair or replace my old gas fireplace?
- What do I do if replacement parts for my old fireplace are discontinued?
- Is a fireplace from the 1980s or 1990s still safe to use?
- What are the signs a gas fireplace needs to be replaced?
- Is it worth replacing a gas fireplace that still works just to get better efficiency or a newer look?