What do I need to do to get my gas fire pit running again after it sat unused all winter?
In Mars Hill, university-area rentals want an easy-lighting pit while rural Spring Creek and Gabriels Creek homes run propane or wood, so spring startup splits two ways. Either way, at this colder elevation clear the spider-clogged burner and venturi, gauge the propane, and inspect the hose and regulator before the first cool-evening fire.
Two kinds of Mars Hill pit
Demand around the university concentrates on easy-use gas, so campus-area rentals often have push-button or electronic-ignition pits. On those, the first thing to check after a long idle is the ignition: a dead battery or a spider-blocked spark gap is the usual culprit. Out in the Spring Creek and Gabriels Creek valleys, homes run propane and wood, and those pits get the tank gauged and the hose and regulator inspected. Know which kind you're dealing with before you start pulling it apart.
Colder than most, longer idle
Mars Hill is one of the colder spots we serve, which means a longer off-season and more time for spiders to pack the venturi and mice to chew the hose. Cold also draws a propane tank down and can crack a regulator, so gauge the tank and inspect the regulator for damage. Brush the burner ports, blow out the venturi, and re-spread the lava rock evenly so the ports aren't choked into a weak yellow flame.
30 minutes north, Madison County
We're 30 minutes north of the showroom. Any buried or hard-piped gas line is licensed work, permitted with Madison County and pressure-tested. If you found a damaged hose, a bad regulator, or a flame that won't settle, call (828) 545-0525 and we'll service the gas side.
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
- What should I check before lighting my gas fireplace for the first time each fall?
- How do I winterize my gas fire pit at the end of the season?
- How do I light the pilot on my gas fire pit?
- Should I leave the propane tank hooked up to my fire pit between uses?
- How do I use the push-button or electronic ignition on a gas fire pit?

