What do I need to do to get my gas fire pit running again after it sat unused all winter?
In Asheville, the odd part is that even with natural-gas mains under Montford, West Asheville, and most of town, the pit on your patio usually runs off a portable propane cylinder, so treat spring startup as a propane job. Clear the burner and venturi of overwintered spider nests, gauge the tank, and check the hose before you strike a flame.
A gas-main town, a propane pit
Asheville sits on natural-gas lines through Montford, North Asheville, and Biltmore Village, yet most backyard pits are still fed by a 20-pound cylinder tucked under the table. That matters at startup: a hard-piped natural-gas pit, common at newer South Asheville builds, has no tank to gauge but does have a buried line, a shutoff cock, and an electronic ignition to check. A cylinder pit gets the tank, hose, and regulator once-over instead. Figure out which one you own before you start troubleshooting, and you'll save yourself an hour of chasing the wrong problem. We're headquartered right up the road at 629 Emma Rd, so a technician is minutes away either way.
What a wet Asheville winter leaves behind
At 2,134 feet the nights stay in the 20s well into early spring, so an uncovered pit spends months in freeze-thaw. Water works into the burner pan and orifices, the tree canopy drops leaves that plug the pan's drain holes, and spiders pack the venturi tube chasing the gas scent. The result is a weak, uneven, or sooty flame. Brush the ports clear with a soft brush, blow out the venturi, clear the drains so the pan isn't holding water, and re-spread the lava rock or fire glass evenly so it isn't smothering the burner.
When to hand it to us
If yours is hard-piped, the buried outdoor line is licensed gas work in North Carolina. A landscaper or hardscaper can set a beautiful pit but legally can't connect it to fuel; we can, we permit the run with Buncombe County, and we pressure-test before lighting. If the flame stays stubbornly yellow, the igniter won't hold, or you find a chewed hose or corroded regulator, stop and call (828) 545-0525. See [gas fire pit installation](/services/gas-fire-pit-installation).
Fireplace help in Asheville
We install and service fireplaces throughout Asheville and the rest of Buncombe County — we're headquartered right here.
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