What annual maintenance does a wood-burning insert need?
In Mars Hill, plenty of homes out in the Spring Creek and Gabriels Creek valleys run on propane or wood rather than a gas main, so wood-burning inserts earn their keep — and need yearly service. We sweep and inspect the stainless liner, check the firebox and gaskets, and clear the blower before this cold corner of Madison County settles in for winter.
Wood country, cold nights
Mars Hill sits in one of the colder pockets we cover, and away from the university the homes up Spring Creek, Gabriels Creek, and toward Forks of Ivy lean on propane or wood for heat. For those rural houses a wood insert is a practical, self-reliant heater — but it depends on a stainless liner that has to be swept and inspected every year. Creosote accumulates in that liner the same way it does in any wood chimney, and in a town that burns as long and hard as this one, letting it build is how a chimney fire starts.
The university rentals in town get used heavily through the academic year, which is its own argument for keeping their inserts on a regular service schedule.
What we handle each year
We sweep the full liner run, inspect the cap and top-plate seal, check firebrick for cracks, test the door gasket, vacuum cold ash, clean the glass, and dust the blower. Reaching the entire liner often means pulling the insert partway out of the masonry, so plan on a proper visit, not a quick chore.
Book late summer or early fall, ahead of the first hard nights. A wood insert is also grid-independent heat, which matters up here where storms take the power. We pull the Madison County permit when a job requires it and service all major wood brands, Regency and Superior included. Call (828) 545-0525.
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
- Does a wood-burning insert have to be pulled out for chimney sweeping?
- What routine maintenance does a wood-burning fireplace need each year?
- How often should a wood-burning fireplace chimney be swept?
- How long does a chimney liner last, and when should it be replaced?
- How do I clean the glass doors on a wood-burning fireplace?