Large fireplace Frank Lloyd Wright home with pull chain damper
Large fireplace in Frank Lloyd Wright home with Chimney Balloon installed
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text el_class=”.underlinelink , .blackh3″]Hi Jason, This is an old fireplace that is brick and masonry. When I look up the chimney I see the long rectangular metal damper door that pivots in the middle, and two pull chains [or linked pull rods] on the left and right that open and close the damper door by flipping it from horizontal to vertical like a big carburetor choke. The area below the damper is 52″x17″. How can I size a Chimney Balloon for this type of fireplace? – AE
Hi AE, From looking at the photo it looks like the damper is set up about 12 inches vertically above the termination of the lintel. This will give you enough room to put a large Chimney Balloon under the damper. I see the walls taper some on the sides, but are reasonable straight up and down in the front and back.
I recommend we go with a custom size 52″x17″ Chimney Balloon below the damper. As you inflate the Chimney Balloon the chains will be pushed off to the side and the Chimney Balloon will seal around them.
BTW, you are going to want a pump to inflate this 52×17 Chimney Balloon. It takes a lot of air to fill a Chimney Balloon of this size. – Jason
***three weeks later***
Hi Jason, I got the 52×17 Chimney Balloon in the mail a few days ago and Saturday I got it installed. Attached is a photo of the floor looking up at it.
After I inflated it I noticed that about 2 inches of the belly of the Chimney Balloon are still visible below the lintel, but since the Chimney Balloon is clear it is not very noticeable. Especially since I keep the chain spark screen closed anyway. This isn’t going to negatively affect the seal the Chimney Balloon offers, is it? – AE
Hi AE, This large of a custom Chimney Balloon will be about 12 inches tall when inflated, so it is not too surprising is protrudes below the lintel a bit. However, the Chimney Balloon is clear and the fireplace is dark so you won’t notice it.
And, no the seal will not be affected by the Chimney Balloon hanging down below the lintel a few inches. The contact seal will be on the upper side of the Chimney Balloon anyway. If you use a strong flashlight to look through the Chimney Balloon, you will see how the Chimney Balloon sealed to the walls.
Good Job BTW with the measurements and the install. You handled that application like a pro! – Jason