What should I do before the first fire of the season in my wood-burning fireplace or wood stove?
In Black Mountain the Swannanoa Valley traps cold air, so mornings run 10 to 15 degrees colder than Asheville and a cold chimney resists your draft on the first light. Before the first fire, have the flue swept and inspected, then warm it with a small kindling fire before loading up. Confirm the damper seals and burn dry hardwood. We're 15 minutes east.
Valley cold makes the first light tricky
The temperature inversions that settle over the Swannanoa Valley are exactly what fights your draft on a cold morning — the colder and denser the air sitting in the chimney, the harder smoke has to work to climb out. Open the damper fully and get a small, hot kindling fire going first to warm the column before you build a full load. In the heavily wooded lots around Montreat and Ridgecrest, tall trees add downdrafts, so a warmed flue matters even more here.
Shade and damp are hard on the flue
Montreat's wooded, shaded lots keep houses cool and moisture-prone, which rusts dampers and lets debris and nests collect in the cap over a wet summer. Before the first fire we check the flue for creosote and blockage, the crown for cracks, and the damper for a clean seal. Late spring frost dates mean the burning season runs long here, so don't rush the inspection.
Fifteen minutes from the showroom
Black Mountain is close to our Emma Road shop, so a Buncombe County service call is quick, and we permit and inspect with the county on any reline or insert. If the damper is stuck, the firebrick is crumbling, or you saw daylight up the flue, don't light it — call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Black Mountain
We install and service fireplaces throughout Black Mountain and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes east from our Asheville-area showroom.
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