Save on A/C when it is hot outside
Q: Dear Jason,
Is there any purpose to using the Chimney Balloon in the summer to seal off chimneys in a house in Arizona that will be closed for the summer? And what if the property is occupied? Does it help with A/C savings? Keep in mind it gets very hot here, will that hurt the Chimney Balloon?
I understand its purpose in the north. I have a home in Illinois for which I am getting one. – KG
A: Dear KG,
We actually get this question a lot. I understand it does get very hot in Arizona (over 110 degrees F). The Chimney Balloon is essentially an air sealing and insulation device that plugs a major home envelope penetration (the chimney). Because of this, it saves A/C in the summer as well. Cool air doesn’t rise like hot air does so the difference is not as noticeable in the hot weather as in cold weather.
But, when you plug a hole in your house tightly it makes a difference on energy bills just by tightening the energy envelope of the home no matter if you are heating or cooling. Besides the insulation factor, homeowners often install a Chimney Balloon in the summer to stop chimney odors and insect and bird/bat entry through the flue.
Also, the Chimney Balloon can handle any temperature up to 180 degrees F. So as long as you don’t have a forecast of 185 degrees *whew* you should be fine. – Jason