How good does the Chimney Balloon really work? What testing has been done?

How good does the Chimney Balloon really work? What testing has been done?

Q: Jason, How good does the Chimney Balloon work? How much air can I really expect to stop from coming in through my fireplace?- SH

A: SH, The amount of money you save with a Chimney Balloon is directly proportionate to how bad your damper leaks. If you have no damper, or you keep your damper open, the Department of Energy says you will consume 30% more fuel to heat your home (conservative estimate). If you do have a damper (and it is in good shape) you are better off, but a metal damper is still not a good way to hold back the cold and keep in the heat.

Imagine you install a metal flap damper on your front door as a mail slot. Aesthetically that wouldn’t be pretty, but it is certain you would feel the cold convecting through the metal, and if you have the slightest warpage to the metal you are going to feel a full on draft. The reason we don’t think about our dampers (and the cold air it lets in) is that it is out of sight up our chimney not on the front door.

One good way to tell if you need a Chimney Balloon is if you stick your hand in the hearth of your fireplace and you notice a temperature change. If it is colder in there, a Chimney Balloon will without a doubt save you money. If you notice no change a Chimney Balloon will help, but it won’t help as drastically because your damper is in better shape than most.

If you want more definitive numbers data. Here is a link to a third party Chimney Balloon field test review that was done with a blower door on a ranch home comparing the Chimney Balloon to a damper, glass doors, and open damper condition. – Jason

TomsGuide.com reviews the Chimney Balloon

TomsGuide.com reviews the Chimney Balloon

Chimney Balloon product

Chimney Balloon USA provided a 9×9 Chimney Balloon to the editors of the popular Green Technology Website TomsGuide.com. We wanted their honest opinion on the Chimney Balloon product. They installed the Chimney Balloon, took some pictures, and like it! Here is a brief quote from their review:

“…With the Chimney Balloon in place, there was an immediate stop to the air leaking into my basement from my wood stove chimney. I anticipate this will also keep odors from soot at bay (I have not experienced any since it has been in place). The Chimney Balloon can easily be deflated for removal, and should I happen to forget it’s there when starting a fire, the balloon will deflate and fall out to allow for proper evacuation of smoke and heat…” Click Here to read the rest of the article.

Displayed image and text quote is property of TomsGuide.com, ©2009 All Rights Reserved by Copyright holder.

After 1 year it is still stopping the smokey fireplace smell.

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 awhile until the duct tape lost its hold eventually and we were constantly pressing it down again to get a tight seal.

We had the chimney cleaned and a locking top [damper] installed. Even after spending several hundred dollars we were left with the same smoky smell. It was really bad on hot humid days!

Your [Chimney Balloon] product has been the perfect solution and now we have one less thing to worry about. Thank you so much!

Anna Marie B.
Lake Forest, IL

How to stop warm humid air from coming down the chimney?

How to stop warm humid air from coming down the chimney?

Q: Hi Jason,
I am a South Florida resident with a Chimney in my home. Does a Chimney Balloon or Flueblocker help at all in reducing warm & humid air from entering the home? And for that matter, do they limit escape of cold air from the home? Thanks in advance for your assistance – MB

A: Hi MB,
Yes, the Chimney Balloon and the Flueblocker both help quite a bit from stopping hot and humid air infiltration. In the summer your AC, clothes dryer, bathroom vent fan, etc…can cause a reverse draft through the Chimney. This causes the fireplace to siphon super-hot air from your roof area down the Chimney into the house. If you have a wood burning fireplace this reverse draft will often manifest itself by a slightly smoky smell near the fireplace when you start to use your AC, clothes dryer, etc… Installing a Chimney Balloon or Flueblocker seals off the flue, so the Chimney cannot snorkel the hot air down into your home.

Cold A/C air, on the other hand, tends to stay low and doesn’t fly up the Chimney. So you will find your energy savings comes from keeping the hot air out. – Jason