Will a gas insert seal off the drafts and old smoke odors coming from my open fireplace chimney?
Yes. Out on Mills River's large rural lots, where many homes run on propane rather than a gas main, a gas insert still does exactly this: it seals your open masonry firebox behind a stainless liner and surround panel, caps the flue that's been drafting heat out of the house, and stops the stale smoke odor that drifts back on damp days.
Propane country, same fix
Mills River is a mix of farmland, forest, and newer developments, and a lot of these properties sit off the natural-gas mains on propane. That doesn't change how the insert seals your fireplace — it just means we configure the unit for LP with the right orifices and pressures so it burns clean instead of sooting. A Kozy Heat insert, built in Minnesota for cold-climate propane homes, is a natural fit out here.
Closing the open flue
An open masonry fireplace is a permanent vent: even unlit, it pulls heated air up and out all winter, and on humid days the creosote in the flue pushes that old campfire smell back into the room. A [gas insert](/services/gas-insert-installation) caps the chimney with a stainless liner and seals the face with a surround panel, so the draft stops and the odor clears. Where the open hearth ran a net heat loss, the sealed insert commonly runs 70% efficient or better and warms the room. We [inspect the flue](/services/fireplace-inspection) and size the liner as part of the work.
Licensed gas, permit, and the patio too
Connecting propane and running gas lines is licensed work — the tank is coordinated with your supplier, but the piping, regulator, and appliance setup are ours, permitted through Henderson County and pressure-tested. While we're out, Mills River's open valley is prime for a gas fire pit; plan it for late spring before entertaining season. We're 25 minutes south of the Asheville showroom. Call (828) 545-0525.
Fireplace help in Mills River
We install and service fireplaces throughout Mills River and the rest of Henderson County — just 25 minutes south from our Asheville-area showroom.
Related questions
- Does replacing an open wood fireplace with an insert improve the air in my house?
- Can an unused fireplace or chimney cause moisture and mold problems in the house?
- Why do I smell smoke in my house when the fireplace isn't even burning?
- Does a direct vent gas fireplace use the air in my room for combustion?
- Do gas fireplace inserts burn cleaner than gas log sets?