What size gas insert will fit my existing fireplace?
In Asheville it comes down to which firebox you have: a Montford or North Asheville home's hand-laid masonry opening and a newer South Asheville clean-face prefab box measure very differently. Either way an insert fits once its body clears the tightest of four interior dimensions with clearances intact, so we measure on-site before naming a model.
Which firebox you're working with
Older Montford and North Asheville homes usually have an original masonry firebox — tapered toward the back and no two alike — so all four numbers get taken cold: front width, the tighter rear width, height, and depth. Newer South Asheville construction tends to have a factory-built box with a rating plate, and there the label tells us which inserts are listed to seat inside it, so the plate matters as much as the tape measure.
On the gas mains, and close to home
Asheville sits on natural-gas mains, so most inserts here run on NG without conversion, and connecting or extending that line is licensed work we permit through Buncombe County and pressure-test before we leave. Because our showroom is at 629 Emma Road, the measure visit is a short drive, and you can carry your four numbers in to stand in front of a Napoleon Oakville X4 or Kozy Heat Chaska before you decide.
What the swap buys you
An open masonry firebox in a drafty older Asheville home can pull more heat up the chimney than it puts in the room. A sealed insert with a correctly sized liner turns that opening into a real heater that commonly runs 70 percent efficient or better, and a surround panel frames whatever gap is left around a century-old opening. Call (828) 545-0525 for a free in-home measure.
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 are the minimum firebox dimensions for a gas insert — will one fit a small fireplace?
- Can a gas insert go into a shallow firebox?
- How do I measure my fireplace for a gas insert?
- How much smaller than my fireplace opening will an insert's viewing window be?
- What is the surround or flashing panel on an insert and how is it sized?