What should I do before the first fire of the season in my wood-burning fireplace or wood stove?
In Asheville, line up your chimney sweep and inspection before the first cold snap — our showroom sits on Emma Road, minutes from Montford, North Asheville, and West Asheville. Have the flue swept for creosote, confirm the damper seals, check the firebox brick, and keep dry hardwood on hand. At 2,134 feet, wood-burning season starts early and runs long.
Montford and North Asheville masonry earns a close look
The original masonry fireplaces in Montford, North Asheville, and Biltmore Village were built generations ago, and their clay flue tiles, mortar joints, and smoke chambers hide the wear. Before the first fire, we check the liner for cracks, the crown for water intrusion, and the cap for nests. Newer South Asheville homes lean toward clean-face and modern wood designs, where the concern shifts to refractory panels and factory venting — a different inspection, the same goal.
A long burn season loads the flue faster
At 2,134 feet, nighttime lows stay in the 20s well into early spring, so an Asheville household burns more wood across a longer stretch than towns down the mountain. More fires mean creosote builds sooner, which is why we like to sweep in late summer or early fall rather than wait for a December cold snap. Burn only seasoned hardwood — wet or unseasoned wood is what tars the flue in the first place.
Headquartered right here in West Asheville
Our shop is at 629 Emma Road, so getting a technician out to a Buncombe County home is quick, and we permit and inspect with the county when a reline or insert is part of the plan. If the damper is stuck, the firebrick is crumbling, or you saw daylight up the flue, don't light it. Call (828) 545-0525 and we'll have it fire-ready.
Fireplace help in Asheville
We install and service fireplaces throughout Asheville and the rest of Buncombe County — we're headquartered right here.
Related questions
- What should I check before lighting my gas fireplace for the first time each fall?
- Why does my fireplace smell like burning dust the first time I use it each year, and is that normal?
- What's the best way to build and light a fire in my wood-burning fireplace?
- When do I open and close the damper on my wood-burning fireplace?
- Do I need to do small break-in fires to cure the paint on a new wood stove?