by blogediter | Dec 14, 2018 | Save Energy
Small Chimney
Q: Jason, How much energy will a Chimney Balloon save for an average 15 inch chimney?
A: AP, Your question is hard to answer with the little information you gave. It is kind of like asking me how much water you would save if you fix your leaky faucet. I can’t really tell unless I saw the leak and measured it. However, your question is well worth answering, but I will have to give you a ballpark figure working with averages.
The biggest factor is… how bad is your damper right now? Is it missing? Is it rusty, corroded or warped? Is it a flapper, chimney top, or a pivot style damper? There are a million variables as to how bad or good your damper may be doing currently. If your metal damper is not 100% tight, which they hardly ever are, then you are losing heat.
So let’s take a look at what the US Department of Energy and other third parties say… The US DOE estimates 14% of a home’s energy is lost through the fireplace. Here is a link to that information: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/air_leaks.html
Lets put this figure in dollars. The DOE estimates an average home in 2005 used $1300 in energy per year and 43% of that is heating and cooling. Now if 14% of that amount is lost through the fireplace then sealing the fireplace will save $80 per year on average.
Those are pretty conservative figures since other studies have pointed to a savings of over $200 annually by plugging the chimney flue.
AP, I hope this answers your question thoroughly enough…, – Jason
by blogediter | Dec 12, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Electric Fireplace
Q: Jason – I installed one of those cool electric hologram type fireplace inserts into my wood burning fireplace. I have a cold draft that is coming down the chimney and it seeps out around the electric fireplace box insert.
I was told by the installer that he stuffed the flue full of fiberglass batting, but if I still have a draft. He told me I should remove the fiberglass and put in a Chimney Balloon. Can I install a Chimney Balloon and then put my electric fireplace insert back in place? – PR
A: Dear PR, Fiberglass is a rotten air barrier if you have a location that has air movement (like a Chimney). A Chimney Balloon will work just fine above your electric fireplace insert. Before you install the insert, be sure to install your Chimney Balloon high enough into the fireplace flue so it does not come in contact with the insert. Also, remember to remove the inflation tube after inflating the Chimney Ballon in place so it doesn’t hang down in the way. Wait 24 hours after you install the Chimney Balloon and check the Chimney Balloon again. This will ensure you installed it properly and solidly and it is working properly before you slide in the electric fireplace insert. Then take a peek at the Chimney Balloon every year or two just to top it off with air if needed.
Most of these electric inserts are closed systems so they put no heat up the flue at all (see the image above that the top is flat and it is fully encased), If you unit is encased, you just want to make sure the heating element and fan will not come in contact with the Chimney Balloon.
We have had many customers buy a Chimney Balloon for this type of electric fireplaces application. I have a family member with an electric fireplace that was installed as an insert in his old wood fireplace. I helped him put a Chimney Balloon in his flue as well for the same reasons you are stating. I think electric fireplaces are great and add a nice ambiance, but have no venting issues. – Jason
by blogediter | Dec 10, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Europe
Q: Jason – Do you post the Chimney Balloon item to Ireland or Europe. If yes, how much would it cost? – Mr. Seamus
A: Dear Mr. Seamus, We could certainly send you a Chimney Balloon in Ireland via regular Post from our USA distribution hub and the cost of shipping would be around $8 USD. However, since you are in Europe you would be better served by calling Chimney Balloon LTD near Aldershot, UK to have them send you a Chimney Balloon from the UK distributor hub. Their phone number is 01252 319 325.
They have friendly and excellent phone customer service and I think they could send it to you far quicker and more efficiently than the US hub can from the western side of the Atlantic Ocean. – Jason
by blogediter | Dec 7, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Chimney Balloon too big
Q: Jason – According to the attached picture do you think I bought a Chimney Pillow that is too big? – GJ
A: GJ, You absolutely bought a Chimney Balloon that was too big. I would say it is at least 6″ too big in 2 dimensions by the look of it. It is hard to tell the dimensions from a picture like this, but I am willing to bet that is a 9″x9″ flue passage that you stuffed a 15×15 Chimney Ballon into. You would be much better served by using a 9×9 Chimney Balloon for this particular spot. But you did do the right thing by purchasing an HEK extender to install your Chimney Balloon so high in the flue. Without the extender, you would have had a terrible time getting the Chimney Balloon that high.
Actually, you may want to consider using a larger Chimney Balloon closer down to where your damper was. I see you had your damper cut off when you had the lock top damper installed. I can tell you have a locktop Lymance chimney top damper by the cable that runs along the side of your flue. The Chimney Balloon will inflate around the cable just fine, but be sure to wrap some tape around the cable where it will come in contact with the Chimney Balloon. Cables like this often have rough frayed edges that will poke into the Chimney Balloon when you inflate it into place.
Note: This customer ended up with a 36×15 Chimney Balloon that was easier to install lower by the flue opening. Read more on this at this link on How to install a Chimney Balloon where there is a locktop damper cable in the flue.
by blogediter | Dec 5, 2018 | Gas Logs
Chimney Balloon Diagram
Q: Jason, Recently getting my chimney swept, I was given an estimate of 1k to replace my disintegrated Smoke Shelf. The guy was nice and said that is why I sometimes may get smoke in the room (I do — but only initially and it goes away in less than 20 seconds). But, on his estimate, he noted that the chimney could be brought “into” code with said Smoke Shelf. Getting back to this Smoke Shelf, it is above the damper, and if it looks like the diagram shown, how on Earth could it be disintegrated? One thing the sweep did not mention was my crusty damper that actuates open funny- NG
A: NG, 20 seconds of smoke at the start is quite normal. I wouldn’t worry about that, but if it bothers you then glass doors will work to cut that smoke escape way back. Since the damper is actuating funny you would be looking at a Chimney Balloon ($50) or a replacement damper ($500 or so installed) to fix that issue. Repairing your smoke shelf will not help this issue much at all. If the condition of the inside of the smoke shelf of the chimney is in question, then the whole interior of the chimney would be in question, so you would really be looking more at a stainless chimney liner. But that would be up to a sweep that has a camera to inspect it well. Or you could just plug it and forget it, since traditional fireplaces are such a losing heat energy option anyway. Using them makes your energy bill go up – not down. – Jason
