What is the best fireplace to put in new construction?
Mars Hill's best new-construction fireplace depends on which side of town you're building. Near the university, it's a simple sealed direct-vent gas unit — the easy-use heat the academic-year market actually runs. Out the Spring Creek and Gabriels Creek valleys, propane and wood are the reality, and one of our colder service areas demands a true heater either way.
In town: switch-on simplicity
Demand around Mars Hill University concentrates on gas fireplaces that just work — students, faculty, and rental owners all want flame at the flip of a switch with nothing to learn and nothing to haul. For new rental and infill construction, the Heatilator Novus nXt 36 is the practical, value-driven pick — a solid first gas fireplace with IntelliFire ignition — and the Napoleon Ascent 36 adds battery-backup lighting for outage nights.
Up the valleys: propane and wood country
Rural Madison County homes out Spring Creek and Gabriels Creek run on propane or wood, and new builds there should embrace that rather than fight it. The Kozy Heat Springfield 36 delivers 30,000 BTU of sealed direct-vent propane heat built for cold climates. If total grid independence is the goal — and in these valleys it's a reasonable goal — the Regency Cascades F1500 wood stove is EPA-certified at 78% efficiency and heats up to 1,500 square feet: heat you own outright, framed in with its chimney while the build is open.
Cold-spot sizing, licensed fuel work
Mars Hill is one of the colder spots we serve, so size generously — around 20 Btu per square foot is the moderate-climate rule of thumb, and this isn't a moderate climate. Whichever fuel wins, the gas side is licensed work in North Carolina: we run and pressure-test the line, handle the county permit, and meet the inspector. Mars Hill is about 30 minutes north of our Asheville showroom at 629 Emma Rd, and the free consultation includes an honest fuel recommendation — we'd rather get you the right appliance than the most expensive one. Call (828) 545-0525.
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.