Which fireplace problems can I safely fix myself and which need a technician?
In Mars Hill, the answer splits two ways: campus-area rentals run easy-use gas, so tenants can swap batteries and check the switch, while rural Spring Creek and Gabriels Creek homes lean on propane and wood. On those, check the propane tank first — but the regulator, valve, pilot, and any chimney or creosote work are licensed jobs for us, permitted through Madison County.
Two kinds of homes, one licensed line
Mars Hill packs university-area rentals in close and scatters rural homes up Spring Creek and Gabriels Creek, and the fireplaces differ accordingly. Near campus, an easy-use gas unit that won't light is usually a battery or a bumped switch — quick, tenant-safe checks. Out in the valleys, propane and wood do the heavy lifting, so a propane unit that quits may just be low on fuel or have a closed tank valve worth confirming before you call.
What's off-limits is the same everywhere: the propane regulator, the gas valve, the pilot assembly, the igniter, and — on wood units — the flue and creosote. All of it is licensed or specialized work.
Cold nights, academic timing, Madison permits
Mars Hill is one of the colder spots we serve, and demand around the academic year concentrates on gas units that just work at the flip of a switch. Getting a pilot serviced before winter beats forcing a relight in January. When a unit needs replacing or a line needs running, we permit it with Madison County and pressure-test the gas.
We're about 30 minutes north of the Asheville showroom. Whether it's a campus rental or a creek-side cabin, call (828) 545-0525 — and never DIY the gas or the chimney.
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
- Nothing happens when I flip the switch on my fireplace — where do I start troubleshooting?
- Do gas fireplaces have batteries, and can dead batteries stop the fireplace from working?
- How do I relight the pilot light on my gas fireplace?
- Can I replace a fireplace wall switch with a regular light switch?
- Why does my fireplace smell like rotten eggs even when it's off?

