by blogediter | Apr 22, 2019 | Chimney Plugs
Q: Jason – I see in some places on the chimney balloon website and in literature you state that a Chimney Balloon can save a homeowner $200 in home heat. How do you get that figure? – JP
A: Dear JP, I’m glad you ask this. A person should always challenge marketing claims of any product. Lets take a look at what the Department of Energy, the Energy Information Administration, and some independent studies say…
Open or Missing Fireplace Dampers:
A European research study titled “Ventilation perturbations due to an open fireplace in a house” – by P. Dalicieux and C. Nicolas concluded that a missing or left open fireplace damper can result in a home to have a 30% increase in heating costs. The US Energy Information Administration said that in 2005-2006 the average US family spent $1044 on home heating bills. This information is on their 2005-2006 report. So 30% of $1044 is $313. Keep in mind this is 2005-2006 information and energy cost trends have home heating cost increasing 25%-30% each year since then. As you can see, $313 is more than our more conservative statement about $200 in savings using a Chimney Balloon. But, lets look at another study…
Fireplace Dampers That are Functional or Damaged:
The Department of Energy (DOE) states that 14% of a homes heat loss is lost through the fireplace even when there is a damper in the fireplace. They also say the average family in 2005 spends $1600 per year on utility bills. Personally, I think this figure is low. I live in a tight 1100 sq ft ranch (with new power vent furnace and water heater) and I know I spent more than $2000 on utilities in 2007, but I suppose the DOE is figuring in the North and South US climates together.
So if we spend the $1044 per year on home heat that the (The US Energy Information Administration says we spend) and 14% goes up the fireplace flue, then the person is loosing $146 in home heat per year even if you have a functional damper.
So with these two studies we take the average between the two to be $230 in home heat. That is where we get our $200 in heat savings. I hope you can pardon us for rounding down on the final figure. – Jason
by blogediter | Jun 13, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Beth yellow fireplace
Q: Jason, I’m trying to measure my fireplace for a Chimney Balloon, but what part of the flue do I measure? When I open the glass doors on the front of the hearth I look up and see the damper. When that damper is open (it opens downward) I see more of an open amount (Seems like the width of the fireplace) and then it slowly decreases in size to the main tunnel way up to the damper on the top of the chimney. This picture is taken just above the fireplace damper.
This main tunnel is approx 6 -9 inches by 12-15 inches. Did I measure correctly?
A: The expanded location (smoke chamber) just above the damper is the more convenient location for your Chimney Balloon to be installed, but that will probubly require a larger Chimney Balloon. You are looking for an area in your Chimney that is close enough to touch with your hand and has roughly parallel walls. Since the tapering starts after the damper opening the spot right above the damper is a perfect spot for the Chimney Balloon. Both gravety and the firepalce flues taper will hold the balloon down close to the damper and help it seal well. Here is a link to the Chimney Balloon sizing page that will help you see the best way to measure your flue. http://www.chimneyballoon.us/Chimneyballoonsizing.html
If odor is the main issue I usually suggest that the Chimney Balloon be installed as low in the chimney as possible to seal off more of the odorous chimney surfaces. – Jason
by blogediter | Mar 9, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Damper Handle
Q: Jason, Most of the diagrams on the Chimney Balloon.us show fireplace dampers with the handle in the middle of the damper door. On my fireplace, I have the damper handle way off to the right side (see the two attached pictures with the damper open and damper closed). Does this make a difference? Should I still install a Chimney Balloon above my damper? I measured the area above the damper and it is 11″ deep and 30″ across – TY
A: Dear TY, Thank you for the two damper photos. The opening and closing mechanism are unique on this fireplace damper. I have seen this type of damper before, but have never take a photo of it. I can tell by the cobwebs hanging in your open flue (in the open damper photo) that you must not use this fireplace very much.
In this particular application, I would recommend that you install the Chimney Balloon above the damper. The handle and other damper hardware are on the way below the damper and it looks like the firebox opens to the hearth almost immediately below the damper so there is not much lintel there.
Since your measurements above the damper are 30″x11″ and it looks like the flue stair steps smaller as it goes upward I would go with a 33×12 Chimney Balloon in this fireplace flue. You can always go a little larger (up to 6″ or so) in the Chimney Balloon size you purchase, just never buy one smaller than your measurements. – Jason
