What routine maintenance does a wood-burning fireplace need each year?
In Brevard, where 80-plus inches of rain fall every year, moisture is the enemy of your wood-burning chimney — so the yearly sweep and inspection here are as much about water as creosote. We check the crown, cap, and flashing for the cracks and rust our wet climate causes. Book it in late summer, after the March-to-June wet season has done its worst.
Rain is what wears out Transylvania chimneys
Transylvania County catches more rain than almost anywhere in the state, and all that water finds the weak points in a masonry chimney — a hairline crack in the crown widens with every freeze-thaw cycle, brick faces spall and flake, dampers rust stiff, and moisture creeps down the chase into the firebox. During the annual inspection we look hard at the waterproofing, the stainless cap, and the flashing where the chimney meets the roof, because in Brevard those are what fail first. A sound cap and crown keep the whole system dry.
Cabins, crawl spaces, and creosote
Plenty of Brevard homes are mountain cabins with chimney chases and crawl spaces that stay damp, and many run propane rather than a gas main — but a wood fireplace still needs the same core service. Clear the creosote every year, burn only seasoned hardwood that has dried a full season, and don't let a chemical log stand in for a real sweep. Damp wood and a wet flue together are the fastest path to a dangerous buildup.
Repairs, permitted properly
When the inspection finds water damage — a failing crown, a rusted-through damper, a liner letting moisture in — we repair it and, if the work calls for a permit, pull it with the Transylvania County office and meet the inspector. We're about 40 minutes southwest of the Asheville showroom. Call (828) 545-0525 to get your sweep on the calendar.
Fireplace help in Brevard
We install and service fireplaces throughout Brevard and the rest of Transylvania County — just 40 minutes southwest from our Asheville-area showroom.