What should I check before lighting my gas fireplace for the first time each fall?
In Fletcher, most homes came out of 1990s subdivisions with a builder-grade gas fireplace, and after 25-plus years those units earn a careful first-fall look: confirm the glass front still seals against a good gasket, put fresh batteries in the remote and receiver, and shine a light on the pilot and burner for the season's spider webs before you strike the flame.
Aging builder-grade units
Fletcher grew up in the 1990s, and a lot of its fireplaces are the builder-grade gas units that came with those subdivisions — solid enough, but now old enough that gaskets harden and crack and logs drift out of position over the years. So the fall check here is genuinely worth doing: press-test that the glass front is clipped tight, match the log set to the factory diagram, and watch the first burn for a lazy, yellow-tipped, or sooty flame that says a log has shifted or the orifices are fouled. You're on the natural-gas main along this corridor, so the outside job is simply keeping the sidewall vent cap clear.
Airport-corridor commercial spaces too
Fletcher carries more commercial demand than the residential towns around it, thanks to the airport and I-26 corridor, and those gas fireplaces and outdoor features run hard through the season. A business unit deserves the same pre-season once-over as a home's: a clear vent terminal, a seated glass front, fresh batteries, and a flashlight look at the pilot before the first cold morning brings a lobby full of people expecting heat. Catching a fouled pilot in September is a lot cheaper than a no-heat call in January.
Where we come in
Cleaning the pilot assembly or testing the valve is our work — we cover Henderson County from 20 minutes south. A tune-up runs from $189, and our [annual maintenance](/guides/annual-gas-fireplace-maintenance) guide has the full rundown. If the pilot won't hold or you smell gas, call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Fletcher
We install and service fireplaces throughout Fletcher and the rest of Henderson County — just 20 minutes south from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- What should I do before the first fire of the season in my wood-burning fireplace or wood stove?
- Why does my fireplace smell like burning dust the first time I use it each year, and is that normal?
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- Should I leave my gas fireplace pilot light on all summer or turn it off?
- How do I light the pilot light on my gas fireplace?

