My fireplace or chimney was flooded during Hurricane Helene — is it safe to use?
No — and in Canton this is not hypothetical. The Pigeon River has put water into hearths and gas appliances here before, and a flood-soaked fireplace should never be lit until a licensed gas contractor inspects it. Floodwater ruins valves and control boards outright and can undermine a chimney's base. Please have it checked. Call (828) 545-0525.
Canton has lived this — inspect the gas connections first
This valley knows river flooding in a way most towns don't, and we've replaced water-damaged hearths and gas appliances across Canton and the Pigeon River bottom. The single most important step is having the gas connections inspected before anything is relit. A submerged gas valve or ignition board is compromised for good — silt and corrosive floodwater get inside the sealing surfaces, and a valve that leaks or sticks is exactly the kind of failure you can't afford. We replace flood-soaked gas components rather than gamble on drying them.
Valley damp already works against your chimney
Even in a dry year, Canton's valley-floor fog and morning dampness rust dampers and caps earlier than folks expect. A flood accelerates all of it — saturating masonry, washing out mortar at the base of the stack, and soaking a flue liner through. We inspect the full structure to CSIA and NFPA standards and tell you honestly what came through and what has to be rebuilt or replaced, with no nickel-and-diming a lost cause.
Haywood permit and paperwork for your claim
Reconnecting or extending a flood-damaged gas line is licensed work — we pull the Haywood County permit, meet the inspector, and leave a written report that also documents the loss for your insurance. And if you ever smell gas near the unit, don't test anything yourself — leave the house and call from outside. We're about 20 minutes west of the Asheville showroom. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Canton
We install and service fireplaces throughout Canton and the rest of Haywood County — just 20 minutes west from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- A storm or falling tree damaged my chimney — what needs to be checked before I use the fireplace?
- Does homeowners insurance cover replacing a flood- or storm-damaged fireplace?
- After Hurricane Helene, what's the best fireplace setup so my family is never without heat again?
- Should I have the fireplace and chimney inspected before using them in a WNC home I just bought?
- Can a gas fireplace heat my house through a multi-day outage like the one after Hurricane Helene?