Why does my gas fireplace burn differently after being converted between natural gas and propane?
Arden's 1980s and 1990s homes in Royal Pines and Skyland often have tired open masonry fireplaces that pull heat out of the room, and a sealed gas insert turns them into real heaters. Arden is on the natural-gas main, so a used insert from a propane home has to be converted up to gas — leave the LP orifice in and it burns small and weak.
Turning a drafty hearth into a real heater — on the right fuel
An open masonry fireplace in a Skyland or Glenn Bridge home loses more heat up the flue than it delivers, which is why a sealed insert is such a satisfying upgrade here. But an insert only heats if it's jetted for the fuel it's on: natural gas needs a wide orifice and full flow at low pressure, where propane runs a smaller orifice at higher pressure. A propane-configured insert dropped onto the Arden main starves and can't produce the heat you bought it for — the conversion kit fixes that by matching the orifice, pilot, and regulator to natural gas.
Normal difference vs. a half-done job
Even done right, the flame won't look identical on two fuels — propane burns hotter and yellower. But soot, a roaring flame, or a pilot that keeps dropping out mean the swap was never finished. We're 15 minutes from the Emma Rd showroom, so verifying it is quick.
Permitted with Buncombe
The gas connection is licensed work in North Carolina. We permit with Buncombe County and confirm burner pressure on a manometer. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Arden
We install and service fireplaces throughout Arden and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes south from our Asheville-area showroom.
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