by blogediter | May 28, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Chimney Balloon Double Construction
Q: Jason – Can you make a Chimney Balloon with the inflator valve off center? My Chimney flue leads into a larger area that won’t allow a centered valve. – CC
A: CC – We can absolutely make your Chimney Balloon with the inflator valve off center. When you place your order for the Chimney Balloon followup with an email that says how many inches off center you need the inflator valve on the Chimney Balloon. attached to this posting is a picture of what a Chimney Balloon looks like with the handle valve off center. This photo is shot from a side angle so you have to look close to see that there is another retaining band inside the Chimney Balloon further back, and the handle/inflator valve is actually forward in the picture. Keep in mind that this type of Chimney Balloon is a custom Chimney Balloon. Therefore it takes up to 14 days to ship. – Jason
by blogediter | May 23, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Chimney Balloon Flue Cable
Q: Jason – Can I install a Chimney Balloon just above my fireplace damper opening if I have a cable going through the flue up to the chimney top lymance damper? Right above the damper, the cable is about 3″ away from the wall of the flue. The trouble I am having with my current damper is the fireplace is smelly and it stinks like the campfire all the time, even when I haven’t had a fire for months. – GJ
A: GJ, Yes it is possible to install a Chimney Balloon with a lock-top cable on the side of the flue. The Chimney Balloon will wrap around the cable as it inflates, but it takes some planning to apply the Chimney Balloon properly. Here are 3 steps to keep in mind.
Step 1) When you measure above your flue buy a Chimney Balloon that is a little oversized. For Example, If the cable is 3 inches away from the side of the flue buy a Chimney Balloon that is 3″ too big in both width and length.
Step 2) Carefully, feel the cable before you install the Chimney Balloon. It may be sharp so be careful. If it feels frayed or pokey or flat on one edge then you will have to wrap it with some tape to protect the Chimney Balloon. If you don’t, the cable will poke or cut into the Chimney Balloon as it envelopes the cable, since that tight cable can cut like a knife.
Step 3) DO NOT open and close your lock top damper with the Chimney Balloon in place. If you do this the cable will saw into the Chimney Balloon.
The picture above is a photo of a customers damper with a Chimney Balloon that has a cable for a lock-top (you can see the cable on the lower left side of the picture.)
by blogediter | May 21, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Chimney Balloon
Q: Jason, My wood burning fireplace has an 8-inch chimney pipe. Am I correct that the 9×9 inch Chimney Balloon would be the correct size? – DS
A: Dear DS, Thank you for your interest in the Chimney Balloon for a chimney plug for this 8″ chimney pipe. You are exactly right. A 9X9 Chimney Balloon is made specifically for the 8″ chimney pipe application. You will find it fits perfectly. See the picture with this post.- Jason
by blogediter | May 18, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Fireplace Cover
Q: Jason – I too am struggling with two fireplaces built in 1970’s that are old and too costly to repair the brick seal. I can smell the draft odor and me confident now that my master bedroom temperature is fluctuating due to the fireplace. I can’t see a safer solution anywhere, “The Great Stuff” seems ok but not perfect and not safe. Once I order your Chimney Balloon how do you suggest to clean the brick inside so it ends up looking nice and where can I find a decent fireplace cover? – BMM
A: BMM, The Chimney Balloon will certainly help stop the chimney odor and the temperature fluctuations in the room, but not with the looks of the fireplace, as the Chimney Balloon is designed to be installed up out of eyesight in the flue.
You could try cleaning the bricks with a brick cleaner. Rutland Products has one that is available at Ace Hardware or fireplace shops and I have heard muriatic acid works as well. Be very careful with these cleaners though and follow their instructions closely.
If you want a more decorative touch you can go with a fireplace cover or fireplace shield as you suggested. You will likely find those online through retailers like Northline Express or Woodland Direct and they will be listed under fireplace screens. I have attached a picture of a Tiffany style fireplace shield cover that retailed for $200. There are many styles to chose from and plenty of vendors who sell them online. – Jason
by blogediter | May 16, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Q: How can I get more heat out of my wood burning fireplace during use? – SB
A: We already went over some ways to improve your fireplace’s efficiency while it is dormant and not being used. Let review some steps on how a person can get more useful BTUs from their fireplace during the burn. I will rank the improvements in estimated efficiency and cost.
1) Burn Dry Wood:
You would be surprised how much energy and BTUs are robbed from a fire if you are using under seasoned wood. Most hard woods will properly dry after 24 months of being stacked in a dry environment with at least some air circulation (ie a yard shed or a garage. Some more dense and sappy wood can take longer. I had some small Cherry wood logs in my shed for 16 months that was still not ready to burn. Some red oak was stacked next to the cherry wood and seasoned for the same amount of time, to it that was all set to go. Wood that has too much moisture tends to bubble and sizzle when burned and also it creates a terrible moist creosote collection that is hard on your chimney. It often also makes the room smell bad after it is burned and occasionally it will not burn all the way down to ashes.
Efficiency increase: up to $15 percent
Cost: $0 just takes some time.
2) Iron Firebacks
Iron Firebacks have been used to cast radiant heat from a fireplace into a room for centuries. Some more recent developments in stainless steel have some manufacturers making lightweight stainless firebacks that work the same as their heavy antique counterparts do. Firebacks work in two ways they retain and release heat after the fire has gone down. and they help to reflect heat outward during the warmest part of the burn. They are not terribly effective at real energy savings but they are certainly better than nothing.
Effectiveness: 5% to 7% increase in useful BTUs
Cost: $200-$300 shipped.
3) Heatalators
This is a brand name for a product that is made by many different manufacturers and often referred to as a great heater. The concept is usually the same though. Some steel tubes with an internally mounted fan are mounted or set in the fireplace around the location of the burn. The tubes heat during the burn and a fan blow the heated air through the tubes and out into the room. They are mildly effective at harnessing the BTUs that the fire would normally spit out the chimney. They also allow a person to keep the glass doors of the fireplace closed and still enjoy the heat of the fire.
Efficiency: increase 15%-25% useful BTUs
Cost: $300-$600
Learn more about how to save energy when your fireplace is dormant: http://www.chimneyballoonusa.com/blog/2007/01/how_can_i_help_.html
by blogediter | May 7, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Q: Jason – I bought a Fireplace Chimney Creosote Sweep Log. You burn it like another log and it is supposed to release fumes to loosen creosote in the chimney. Do those things really work? – FW
A: It would be unfair to say that the chimney sweep type logs make no difference in your fireplace chimney. They, in fact, make such a small difference that it is almost imperceivable. But they do have a very effective marketing strategy. I don’t recommend them as maintenance items for fireplace chimneys. The chimneysweep type logs tend to give a homeowner a false sense of proper maintenance on sweeping their chimney. Nothing beats a good old brush scrubbing and inspection. – Jason
