Is propane more expensive than natural gas for running a fireplace?
In Leicester, many homes are on propane — these rural, large-property lots often sit past the natural-gas mains, and wood heat is popular besides. Propane does cost more per unit than piped gas because it's trucked and stored, but out here that's the price of gas heat, and some remote properties have another wrinkle: limited electrical capacity that shapes which appliance makes sense.
Propane country, and proud wood-burners
Natural gas is cheaper per unit because a utility meters it off a pipe; Leicester's spread-out rural lots frequently sit beyond that pipe, so propane and wood do the heavy lifting. Propane is delivered by truck and priced by a shifting market — that's the premium — though it burns hotter per unit, so a well-set LP appliance stretches each gallon. For the many households already burning wood up Sandy Mush and Turkey Creek, a modern EPA insert or stove turns that into efficient, grid-independent heat you own outright, and it sidesteps the propane premium entirely.
When the wiring is thin
Some remote Leicester properties run on limited electrical capacity, which is exactly where power-optional gas earns its place. A Valor radiant unit uses no electricity at all — no blower, no circuit board — and a millivolt or battery-backup gas fireplace throws heat with the grid down. Given that cold-air drainage runs these valleys 5 to 8 degrees colder than Asheville on clear winter nights, a hearth that doesn't depend on steady power is worth more here than a slightly cheaper therm ever would be.
Buncombe permit, propane done right
Connecting propane is licensed work — regulator, piping, appliance setup — and we permit the line through Buncombe County and coordinate the tank with your supplier. One accountable licensed company handles the appliance, venting, gas line, permit, and inspection — no hunting for someone to make it burn. Leicester is about 15 minutes west of our 629 Emma Rd showroom. Call (828) 545-0525 for a free in-home assessment.
Fireplace help in Leicester
We install and service fireplaces throughout Leicester and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes west from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- How much does it cost to convert a fireplace from propane to natural gas, or the other way around?
- How much propane does a gas fireplace use per hour?
- How much does it cost to run a gas fireplace per hour?
- How much will a gas fireplace add to my monthly gas bill?
- Is it cheaper to rent or buy a propane tank for a fireplace?