Should I buy a fireplace from a specialty showroom or a big-box store?
In Mars Hill, buy from a specialty showroom — out in Spring Creek and Gabriels Creek, homes lean on propane or wood, and that's licensed, hands-on work a big-box shelf doesn't touch. Steady Flame connects propane, installs wood-burning and gas hearths, and pulls the Madison County permit, then meets the inspector. One accountable company, not a box.
Rural fuel is a different setup than the college side of town
Mars Hill splits two ways. University-area rentals want an easy-use gas fireplace — warmth at the flip of a switch, nothing for a tenant to manage. The rural valleys run on propane or wood, which means LP conversions and correctly sized gas lines, or an EPA-certified wood stove with a proper Class A chimney. A big-box store sells one box to both and connects neither to fuel.
Propane burns hotter per unit and needs different orifices; setting it up wrong soots the glass. We set it up right.
One of the colder corners we serve
Mars Hill sits high and cold, so this isn't a decorative purchase — you depend on the heat. Wood remains the gold standard for grid-independent warmth, and a battery- or millivolt-ignition gas unit keeps running when the power drops. A showroom will tell you honestly which fits your home; a shelf just rings up a box.
You can see the units lit before you decide, 30 minutes from our showroom.
Permitted with Madison County
Gas and wood work both get pulled on a Madison County permit and inspected, which protects your home and its insurance. Call (828) 545-0525 or request a free quote.
Fireplace help in Mars Hill
We install and service fireplaces throughout Mars Hill and the rest of Madison County — just 30 minutes north from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- Are the fireplaces sold at big-box stores the same quality as showroom brands?
- Is it OK to buy a fireplace online and hire someone local to install it?
- Why should I see a fireplace burning in person before I buy it?
- Will fireplace installers install a unit I bought somewhere else?
- Do fireplace stores install what they sell, or do I have to find my own installer?