Wood-burning insert vs pellet insert — which should I put in my fireplace?
In Canton, after the Pigeon River flooding, simpler is safer: a wood insert has no motor, circuit board, or auger to be ruined by water and no electricity to depend on, which matters in a valley that has already lost both power and dry ground. Choose wood for resilience; a pellet insert's convenience comes with electronics that don't love a flood plain.
After the flood, simpler holds up
Canton's mill-town homes along the Pigeon River took water damage to hearths and gas appliances, and rebuilding families have learned to value heat that doesn't quit. A wood insert is about as simple as heat gets — fuel and fire, nothing electrical to short out and nothing to stop working when the lines go down. A pellet insert runs on an auger, blower, and igniter; that's fine in a dry, powered home, but it's more to lose in a valley that floods and loses power together.
What we inspect before we fit an insert
Given the flood history, we don't just drop in an insert — we inspect the chimney and any existing gas connections first, because water-damaged flues and appliances need real scrutiny, not a cover-up. Valley-floor fog and dampness also rust dampers and caps early here. Both insert types get a correctly sized stainless liner. We pull the Haywood County permit and meet the inspector on every job. Call (828) 545-0525 for a free assessment.
Fireplace help in Canton
We install and service fireplaces throughout Canton and the rest of Haywood County — just 20 minutes west from our Asheville-area showroom.