What do I need to do to get my gas fire pit running again after it sat unused all winter?
In Weaverville you've got two kinds of pit: builder-installed hard-piped natural-gas units at the new Reems Creek homes and portable propane pits at the older downtown places. A north-facing valley that's slow to warm means a long damp off-season, so dry the burner pan, clear the spider-clogged ports and venturi, and check fuel connections before lighting.
New builds versus old downtown
Weaverville's rapid Reems Creek construction often comes with a hard-piped natural-gas pit built into the patio, while the older homes downtown, many with inefficient original masonry indoors, tend to run a portable propane pit out back. The startup differs. A hard-piped unit has no tank but does have a buried line, a shutoff cock, and an ignition module to check. A propane pit gets the tank gauged and the hose and regulator inspected for winter cracks and rodent chew. Sort out which you have first.
A north-facing valley stays damp
Sitting on the north-facing side of the valley, Weaverville warms up slower in spring than sunnier towns, so moisture lingers in the burner pan and orifices later into the year. That's plenty of time for spiders to pack the venturi and for rust to start. Brush the ports clear, blow out the venturi tube, clear the pan drains, and re-spread the lava rock or fire glass evenly so it isn't choking the flame into a sooty yellow.
15 minutes north, permitted
We're 15 minutes up the road from Emma Rd. A buried natural-gas line is licensed work we permit with Buncombe County and pressure-test, and a showroom or hardscaper legally can't connect it to fuel. Found a chewed hose or a flame that won't hold? Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Weaverville
We install and service fireplaces throughout Weaverville and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes north from our Asheville-area showroom.
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