What's the mechanical difference between a natural gas and a propane fireplace?
Mars Hill splits between easy-use gas fireplaces for the university-area rentals and propane or wood out in the Spring Creek and Gabriels Creek valleys — so fuel varies by where you are in Madison County. A propane appliance is the same casting as its natural-gas twin, just with smaller orifices, a different pilot, and a regulator set for LP's higher pressure.
Rentals want simple; the rural valleys run LP
Around Mars Hill University, the demand is for a fireplace that lights on one click and never needs babysitting — which points to sealed gas jetted for whatever fuel the building has. Out in the rural valleys, propane from a tank is the norm, and that setup involves more than the appliance: a tank regulator at the tank and the appliance regulator work together to step propane's pressure down in stages before it reaches the burner.
That two-part regulation is part of why LP is genuinely different plumbing, not just a smaller orifice, even though the firebox itself is unchanged.
One colder-than-most town, jetted correctly
Mars Hill is one of the colder spots we serve, so these hearths work for it — and a burner jetted for the wrong fuel wastes energy exactly when you need it. We coordinate the propane tank with your supplier, then run, regulate, and pressure-test the line as licensed gas work permitted through Madison County.
Call (828) 545-0525 and we'll confirm your fuel and size the setup for the season ahead.
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 is an orifice, and why are natural gas and propane orifices different?
- What does a natural gas to propane conversion kit actually change?
- Why do natural gas and propane flames look different?
- What gas pressure does a fireplace need — what is manifold pressure?
- Does high elevation affect how a gas fireplace burns or how much heat it makes?