Wood-burning insert vs pellet insert — which should I put in my fireplace?
In Brevard, rain is the quiet deciding factor. In a town that catches 80-plus inches a year, damp storage is brutal on bagged pellets — they swell, crumble, and jam an auger — so unless you have a genuinely dry spot, a wood insert is the more forgiving choice. Pellet still wins on convenience if you can keep fuel bone-dry and have steady power.
Storing fuel in wet country
Pellets are only as good as they are dry. Brevard's wet season from March through June, plus crawl spaces and chimney chases that stay moisture-prone, make pellet storage a real chore — a swollten pellet won't feed cleanly and can stall the auger. Seasoned firewood tolerates the climate better and is cheaper to lose if a stack gets rained on. If pellet is still your pick, plan a sealed, dry, off-the-ground storage area first.
Out here you're largely in propane and cabin country rather than on a gas main, so a wood insert also fits how these homes already heat. If you'd rather compare a gas insert, that's our licensed lane — permitted and pressure-tested.
Moisture, the flue, and the drive
All that rain cracks crowns, spalls brick, and rusts dampers, so we inspect the chimney before fitting either insert and size a stainless liner to match. We're about 40 minutes southwest of the Asheville showroom, which is worth weighing: a wood insert has no electronics to service, while a pellet unit's motors mean occasional trips. We pull the Transylvania County permit and meet the inspector. Call (828) 545-0525 for a free in-home assessment.
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.