Propane vs natural gas fire pit — which should I get?
Get the fuel your property already has — in WNC that decision is mostly made by your address. On the mains in Asheville, Hendersonville, Fletcher, or Arden, natural gas is the better long-term choice: no tank to watch, lower running cost, endless burn time. Out in Fairview, Candler, Brevard, and the cabins, propane is the answer — the burner just has to be built for it.
Start with your address, not the showroom floor
Around here the fuel question mostly answers itself. If you're on the natural-gas mains — much of Asheville, Hendersonville, Fletcher, and Arden — natural gas is the obvious pick: we tee off the house line, bury an outdoor-rated run to the pit, and you never think about fuel again. Out in Fairview, Candler, Brevard, and the cabins tucked up our mountain roads, there are no mains, so propane is the answer — plumbed from your existing tank, or a new one we coordinate with your propane supplier. We walk the whole tradeoff in our guide to [natural gas vs. propane in WNC](/guides/natural-gas-vs-propane-in-wnc).
What changes at the burner
The two fuels are not interchangeable hardware. Propane burns hotter per unit and runs at different pressure, so the burner needs the correct orifices for the fuel it's fed — a pit set up for the wrong fuel burns dirty and soots everything above it. Propane is also heavier than air, which is why LP fire features get extra attention on burner-pan ventilation and drainage during design. None of this should worry you; it should simply be handled by your installer. The Napoleon Uptown square fire pit we carry, for example, is a 60,000 BTU propane unit — plenty of fire for a mountain patio.
Running cost and convenience
Natural gas is typically the cheaper of the two to run and never needs a delivery, which is why plumbed NG pits get used the most — no tank to watch, no empty cylinder on a cold Friday night. Propane costs more per hour of flame but delivers the same beautiful fire, and over a season of evening fires the difference is modest for most families. Whichever side of the line you're on, this is licensed gas work in North Carolina — we run the line, pull the county permit, and pressure-test it before you ever see a flame. Call (828) 545-0525 for a free quote.
Related questions
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- What's the difference between a natural gas and a propane fireplace?
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- Match-lit vs electronic ignition on a gas fire pit — what's the difference?
- Should I get a gas fireplace or a wood-burning fireplace?
Still deciding? Talk to a real installer.
Free assessments across Western North Carolina — no pressure, straight answers.