What do I need to do to get my gas fire pit running again after it sat unused all winter?
In Marshall, steep hillside lots and tight downtown terraces built against the mountainside make a pit's spot awkward, and the French Broad gorge keeps evenings cool and damp. After a winter idle, dry the burner pan, clear spider nests from the ports and venturi, gauge the propane, and check the hose and regulator before lighting.
Damp gorge air on a hillside
The French Broad gorge funnels cool, damp evening air through Marshall much of the year, and hillside patios hold that moisture rather than shedding it. Water sits in the burner pan and works into the orifices, and the steep wooded lots above drop leaves that plug the pan drains. Dry everything out, clear the drain holes, and brush the burner ports before you go near fuel. A soaked igniter simply won't spark until it dries and gets cleaned.
Awkward access, careful fuel check
Marshall's tight mountainside lots complicate everything from chimney routing to running or inspecting a gas line, and many Madison County homes lean on propane and wood. On a propane pit, gauge the tank, look the regulator over for cracks, and inspect the full hose for the chew marks rodents leave over winter. Brush soapy water on the fittings, open the gas with no flame, and watch for bubbles. Re-spread the lava rock evenly so the ports run clean.
25 minutes north, Madison County
We're 25 minutes north. A buried outdoor gas line is licensed work in North Carolina, permitted with Madison County and inspected, and a hardscaper or handyman legally can't connect it to fuel. If the flame won't hold or a fitting looks wrong, call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Marshall
We install and service fireplaces throughout Marshall and the rest of Madison County — just 25 minutes north from our Asheville-area showroom.
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