Which is cheaper to run, a gas fireplace or an electric fireplace?
In Brevard, you're mostly on propane, and that shifts the math: electric is cheapest for flame-only ambiance, but for actual heat, propane still makes warmth for meaningfully less than an electric heater's 1,500-watt resistance coil. Propane costs more than natural gas, yet it beats resistance heat on output every time.
Propane country changes the comparison, not the verdict
Brevard sits in propane territory — the mains that run under Asheville and Hendersonville don't reach the cabins and downtown lots out here. Propane runs higher per unit than natural gas, but it burns hotter and still delivers real heat for far less than an electric coil. It needs the correct orifices and pressures, which is licensed work: we set the regulator and piping, coordinate the tank with your supplier, pull the Transylvania County permit, and pressure-test the line.
Moisture is the hidden cost here
Brevard collects 80-plus inches of rain a year, and those crawl spaces and chimney chases are prone to moisture damage — cracked crowns, spalled brick, rusted dampers. A sealed direct-vent gas unit or a wall electric both sidestep an aging open masonry flue. The electric stays the cheap pick for pure ambiance in its no-heat mode, but remember it's dead in an outage, and Transylvania storms drop power. Buying warmth, propane wins going away. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Brevard
We install and service fireplaces throughout Brevard and the rest of Transylvania County — just 40 minutes southwest from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- What's the difference between a gas fireplace and an electric fireplace?
- Does an electric fireplace put out as much heat as a gas fireplace?
- Is it cheaper to heat your house with wood or with gas?
- Does a gas fireplace add more home value than an electric fireplace?
- Is it worth switching from a wood-burning fireplace to an electric fireplace?