Fireplace damper open, or damper closed
Q: Jason, I bought a Chimney Balloon and have a question regarding installation …. When the Chimney Balloon is positioned in the chimney do I let the handle protrude down through the damper opening so that it is visible at the top of the hearth, (damper remains open) or do I make sure it is situated above the damper so that the damper can be closed. thanks – PM
A: Dear PM, That is really a personal preference. If you installed the Chimney Balloon to resolve some odor problems with the fireplace…the lower you install the Chimney Balloon the better.
Also, it is simply easier to install and uninstall the Chimney Balloon if it is lower.
Personally, I have a 9×9 in my living room fireplace and I install it nice and low, just above my damper, and leave the damper open (the Chimney Balloon works better than my damper anyway). Also, the handle hanging from the Chimney Balloon in the firebox reminds me of its presence so I (or anyone else using the fireplace) don’t forget it is in there. So, personally, a low install is what I prefer.
On the other hand, if seeing the handle bugs you and you really want it up above the damper far enough to close the damper. There is nothing wrong with that. The only trouble is… the install can be tougher to do (tougher installs can wear out your Chimney Balloon sooner), and if the Chimney Balloon is tucked too far up out of site you may forget about it being up there.
Hopefully, this answer gives you the pros and cons to make your own choice. – Jason