by blogediter | Jun 19, 2019 | Chimney Problems
Q: I have a very old fireplace that is not operational and I use strictly for decoration. the flue in masonry and unlined. It was capped/closed at the top by the previous owners. I want to get a Chimney Balloon because I suspect that there is still heat loss through this flue gave the age of the house–120+ years old.
However, I also like to burn decorative candles in the fireplace from time to time. Will the Chimney Balloon work in this case or do I need to find something more fireproof? how much space should I allow between the candles and the Chimney Balloon? Thanks.- PH
A: A Chimney Balloon will help this capped chimney retain more heat by closing it low in the flue and tight. But you don’t want it too close to the flame because it is designed to melt and release at a temperature of 180-230 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you keep the candles at least 3 feet away from the Chimney Balloon and keep the wicks trimmed you should not have a problem. But if you have 12 candles raging in the fireplace with long smokey flames you could easily get up to the 180-230 Degree flash point.
Personally, I burn a 6 candle candelabra in my fireplace in the summer and I have a 9×9 Chimney Balloon installed about 3 feet above them…and I have never had a problem. – Jason
by blogediter | Mar 8, 2019 | Fireplaces
Jason – If the Chimney Balloon fireplace damper is inserted in the flue can you still burn candles in the fireplace? Thanks! – NC
Dear NC, The answer to this questions is a definitive…sometimes.
You see, the Chimney Balloon is designed to burst and release at right around 200 degrees Fahrenheit. So if you burned a few candles and kept about a 3′ distance between the flame and the Chimney Balloon and kept your glass doors open (if you have them) then you will probably be OK to leave the Chimney Balloon in while burning the candles.
I know my wife has lit candles for up to 4 hours in our fireplace and not removed the Chimney Balloon and everything was fine. The key is to keep the wicks trimmed on the candles. If you get along yellow flame on your candle you can really get some serious heat coming from a candle that might get over 200 degrees.
So keep the candles short and away from the Chimney Balloon, keep the wicks trimmed, and keep your glass doors open and you should be fine.
by blogediter | Feb 15, 2019 | Chimney Plugs
This posting was found on Google Groups and I thought it was an interesting and relevant post on this blog.
Q: My wood burning fireplace has a lot of missing mortar between the bricks right behind where the logs go. I went to Home Depot and they sell fireplace mortar in a tube (the kind you need to use a caulking gun). The area that needs the mortar has a lot of soot around it. Would I need to clean the soot off before applying this mortar stuff? If so, how do one clean year of soot? Thanks. -RR
A: RR, I don’t throw around the term “have a pro look at it” a lot but in this case, your description of “a lot of missing mortar” concerns me. If it is that way in the hearth it is bound to be that way in the chimney and you need to know if it is. Cracked or missing mortar is a serious problem and can easily lead to a house fire.
If that suggestion doesn’t appeal to your wallet but you still like the fireplace then you are just like me. My fireplace was in bad shape due to mortar issues, a bad crusty worn & damper, but I still liked the look of the fireplace. I didn’t want to bother with repairs so I bought a nice candelabra and a Chimney Balloon. I use the candelabra and light it up when I want some ambiance (just like I used the fireplace). Doing this actually saved money on my gas bill since the fireplace didn’t suck the heat out on my home when I was using it. The Chimney Balloon helped me seal up the damper nice and tight when I wasn’t using it at all which also prevented the den from feeling so cold in the winter. I know this is a different way to look at the issue with your fireplace, but the best I can offer is what worked for me. -GJ
