by blogediter | Feb 9, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Seal an old chimney
Q: Jason, I have a property built around 1900. It is a three-story building with a three-story shed behind it. The chimney is located on the back wall of the building. All of the sheds are not insulated but roughly 50% are.
The previous owner got some pipes installed in the chimney to provide water for washer outlets in the sheds. Needless to say, the pipes froze! Anyways…I wanted to know can I install a Chimney balloon on the top of the chimney to stop any drafts from coming in? Is it as effective as fiberglass? If it gets up to freezing temperatures is the Chimney Balloon still going to stay in place? Will it not change shape or wither up to -30 degrees (Celsius)? Thanks!
PS. The space is quite small about 1.25 feet by 1.25 feet or perhaps even smaller. – OM
A: Dear OM, Ahhh, running pipes through an open chimney. That previous owner really set you up for a fall on that one. Since this is essentially an abandoned chimney you can install a Chimney Balloon at the top and it will help significantly as long as you have a spot to put the Chimney Balloon in that isn’t in the way of the pipes. From your measurements, it sounds like it would take a 15×15 Chimney Balloon.
The Chimney Balloon will not shrivel in the cold, but it will soften slightly. To minimize this I do recommend inflating it when the temp outside is cool (like late fall or winter) and you should inflate it with a pump, not by mouth. That way you will inflate it with cold air when the ambient air is cold as well.
I would advise checking it once a year in the fall just to top it off with air and make sure it didn’t shift. Also, make sure you install it at arm’s length into the top of the flue so the suns UV doesn’t reach it. UV will shorten the life of the membrane of the Chimney Balloon.
The Chimney Balloon will plug the chimney better than a fiberglass plug since the Chimney Balloon will insulate and air seal at the same time. Fiberglass is a great insulator, but it is not an air sealer, so if there are air currents (like in a drafty chimney) it will let cold right through. That is exactly why people call us all the time and say “I plugged my flue with fiberglass but it is still drafty…what is the deal?” – Jason
by blogediter | Feb 9, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
All fireplaces have a smoke chamber behind and a lobby that goes to the left or to the right. It is so rare that it will go straight. Having a huge lovely fireplace in your home, use a large Chimella to perfectly fit in so you can feel the warmth of it. Insert the Chimella inside and tighten it up. It will only take 5 seconds to install it. The air pressure changes in the house and it can’t come into your fireplace. It will definitely keep the heat in your house.
by blogediter | Feb 8, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
The first thing to do before inserting the Chimella is to check the direction of your chimney. You need to know if your chimney goes straight up, does or it go to the left and does it go to the right. Look up and check the direction of your chimney. Place one Chimella and see how it will keep you warm, will save your energy and will save your money.
by blogediter | Feb 7, 2018 | Gas Logs
Fresh Air Vent
Q: I have a fairly new home built in 2004. I’ve noticed that my living room area is colder than the rest of the house. I always thought it was because of the patio door or maybe the vaulted ceilings and it’s a large room. There is a fireplace I never use. I just noticed today there is a draft coming through the bottom where the controls are and the tile around the bottom is ice cold. This explains why my toes are so cold when I sit on the couch and watch tv. Is there anything I can do about this? I might just put some kind of insulation sheet in front of the whole thing. thanks for your help – JP
A: JP, There is a couple of different sources that could be letting in cold air. If this is a direct vent fireplace that is mostly sealed off from access and “breaths” through tubes or pipes that go through your outside wall, then it is likely bad or no insulation around the gas lines or venting pipes. This can be remedied easily once you find the pipes. If this fireplace has a regular stack chimney and the hearth is accessible to you, it could be that the fireplace damper is clipped open or disabled in some way. Gas log fireplaces in most states have to have disabled or clipped open dampers due to fire code. The reason for this is the county doesn’t want you lighting a gas fireplace without opening the damper since this can start a fire or asphyxiate you and everyone in the home. Another possibility, in this case, could just be a worn out damper. There is a blog entry about this: http://www.chimneyballoonusa.com/blog/2007/01/welcome_to_the_.html If you find that the cold air source is coming from a disabled, or old and crusty damper and inexpensive insulation option is a Chimney Balloon. They can be bought through the manufacturer at http://www.chimneyballoon.us. They are an inflatable plug that stops air passage. Good luck finding the cold air entry point, I know from experience that cold drafts like that can be uncomfortable. – Jason
by blogediter | Feb 7, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Fireplace Brass
This is an interesting post in Google groups in which a fellow used a Chimney Balloon to solve 2 problems at once. http://groups.google.com/group/alt.home.repair/browse_thread/thread/37116a6eda8bd6d1?hl=en
Q: I am considering fabricating some doors and frame for my fireplace but i am having a hard time finding just the glass..googling for fireplace door glass brings up complete doors..any help would be appreciated – CJ
A: My kids accidentally broke the glass on my fireplace glass door and I looked around at glass shops for a replacement. I didn’t realize how bad my damper was until those doors were out. I ended up going a less expensive route and getting a Chimney Balloon to plug the fireplace
chimney flue.
This solved the bad damper and as for the glass doors I just removed them and put a candelabra in the hearth.I never used the fireplace much anyway, it made my home feel colder when I used it anyway. The only comfy spot was right in front of it. – GJ
