Wood-burning insert vs pellet insert — which should I put in my fireplace?
In Arden, the win is turning a tired, drafty open fireplace into a real heater — and both inserts do that. On the natural-gas mains through Skyland and Royal Pines with steady power, a pellet insert delivers easy everyday warmth; pick a wood insert if you want that heat to keep going when the grid doesn't. Neither works without a sized liner.
From heat-loser to real heater
Arden's 1980s-90s homes in Royal Pines and Skyland have open masonry fireplaces that pull heat out of the room rather than adding it. Sealing that firebox with an insert is the single biggest efficiency gain available — a modern wood or pellet insert commonly runs 70% efficient or better where the open hearth was near a net heat loss. The choice between them isn't about whether they heat; it's about how you want to run them.
Convenience vs. independence on the Skyland corridor
With reliable natural gas and power here, a pellet insert is genuinely convenient — set it, fill the hopper about once a day, no splitting or bark on the carpet. A wood insert trades that tidiness for total independence: no electricity, an overnight burn, and heat when the corridor loses power. We're about 15 minutes south of the showroom, we size the liner, pull the Buncombe County permit, and meet the inspector. 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.