How To
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Who can install a Chimney Balloon properly?
Fall & Winter Q: Who can come out to measure the size needed for the installation of the Chimney Balloon? Do they install? A: If you prefer not to do the sizing and install of a Chimney Balloon yourself, you can have your local chimney sweep do it. Most Chimney...
How to stop wind, bird noise, and other noise from comming down the Chimney?
Chimney noise stoppers This was a post about Chimney balloons as a noise stopper or noise barrier found on Google groups at this link: I thought it was interesting. http://groups.google.com/group/alt.home.repair/browse_thread/thread/5d0efc3c31e9eac4?hl=en Q: I'm...
How to clean black soot of outside of fireplace hearth?
Q: Jason, have you ever had to clean the black soot marks off the outside of your fireplace hearth? What cleaner do you recommend? - TY A: There are quite a few products on the market to do this. With all of them, you should be using rubber gloves and safety goggles....
Can I heat my home with my fireplace?
Q: I am tired of high propane prices and I can't afford to upgrade my furnace yet. So, this winter I am trying to heat my living room area with my wood burning fireplace. My intent is to use the fireplace as a supplementary heating source so my furnace doesn't run so...
This is how a Chimney Sweep can take advantage of a homeowner!
Clean Your Own This is a summary of a phone conversation I had with a very nice older woman in a North suburb of Chicago. I will refer to her as Mrs. G: Mrs. G: Thank you for the information on the Chimney Balloon. I hired a chimney sweep to come to my home so I could...
Should I convert my wood fireplace to a gas log or not?
Gas Burn Q: Jason, I have a wood fireplace right now but no supply of wood. I am thinking of converting to a gas log fireplace to supplement my home heat. What do you think? -CM A: CM, I have my opinions on this but this story from a customer speaks so well on the...
Help, my Chimney Balloon is deflating!
Chimney Balloon is deflating! Q: Jason, Your customer service has been top notch, but I'm still not having good luck with the Chimney Balloon. I purchased one a year or two ago. Over time I noticed it had become deflated. I've not blown it back up a number of times in...
Can I use an air compressor or tank to inflate a Chimney Balloon?
Newspaper Q: Jason, I know you recommend using an air bed inflation pump but can I use an air compressor or holding tank to inflate a Chimney Balloon? - MM A: Dear MM, I can appreciate your question, but I still recommend an air bed inflation pump or even a shop vac...
How can a home inspector or energy auditor use a Chimney Balloon to solve fireplace downdrafts?
Energy audit Q: Jason, I have a wood burning fireplace with a cozy great heater insert. I have a top of the Chimney Balloon and traditional damper installed. I have bad downdrafts and soot smell on rainy, windy days. I am a Home Inspector and I am in the middle of a...
After 1 year it is still stopping the smokey fireplace smell.
FirePlace Dear Jason, We have used the Chimney Balloon for over a year now and it is like a weight lifted off our shoulders. We have tried many things to get rid of the smokey smell from our fireplace. We had even duct taped plastic sheeting over it. That worked for...
My fireplace gives me a headache, what should I do?
My fireplace Q: Jason, I have a problem when I use my fireplace-Initially, smoke was occasionally coming in and I would feel very sick from the fumes- headaches, dizzy, nauseous. We had an expert come out and inspect it- he capped off an older part of the chimney that...
How can I tell if I have a vented or vent-free (ventless) gas logs?
Q: Jason, I bought my Virginia home about 3 yrs ago, and have never thought about the amount of heat / ac leaving the home until seeing a "home energy saving" piece on the local news. They recommended using a "Chimney Pillow" as a possible solution. So, I came to your...