What do I need to do to get my gas fire pit running again after it sat unused all winter?
In Arden, established Royal Pines and Skyland yards and the Biltmore Park retail patios run a mix of hard-piped natural-gas and portable propane pits, so identify yours first. Then dry the burner pan, clear the spider-clogged ports and venturi, and check either the buried line and ignition module or the tank, hose, and regulator before lighting.
Know which pit you own
Arden's 1980s and 90s neighborhoods around Royal Pines and Skyland, along with the commercial patios at Biltmore Park, run both kinds of gas pit. A hard-piped natural-gas unit has no tank but does have a buried line, a shutoff cock, and an ignition module to check. A portable propane pit gets the tank gauged and the hose and regulator inspected for winter cracks and rodent chew. Sorting out which you have is the difference between a five-minute fix and an afternoon of chasing the wrong problem.
Winter debris and damp
At 2,150 feet the freeze-thaw cycle and the leaves off nearby trees fill a pit's pan over winter, and spiders take up residence in the venturi tube. Water in the pan corrodes the burner and drowns the igniter; a smothered burner throws soot. Clear the pan drains, brush the ports, blow out the venturi, and re-spread the lava rock or fire glass evenly. On propane units, brush soapy water on the fittings and watch for bubbles before you trust it.
15 minutes south, permitted
We're 15 minutes south of the showroom. A buried natural-gas line is licensed work we permit with Buncombe County and pressure-test, and that permit protects the home and its insurance. If the flame stays sooty or you find a damaged fitting, call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Arden
We install and service fireplaces throughout Arden and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes south from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
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