How to prepare a Chimney Balloon to install it high into the flue?
Chimney Balloon
Q: Jason, I have two chimneys and I am not using them. I just bought the house so I don’t plan on using them this year at least. My heater is always on like every 10-20 minutes and as soon as the heater is off the house gets cold quick. I think that my chimneys are causing the heat loss.
I measured my chimney chute/hole and it looks like 12×6 (LxW). The problem is that it is about 36 inches up to reach this small 12×6 hole. I plan on getting a 36″ extender and two 15×9 ballon, is that a good size? Please let me know. – AX
A: HI AX, Yes, you did size this application up well. A 36 HEK and a 9×15 should go into your flue tile nicely. You will want to pre-fluff the Chimney Balloon when you go to do this higher install though.
Pre-fluffing means to separate the top and bottom membranes of the Chimney Balloon and crumple in the sides in, so effectively you are crumpling the Chimney Balloon material up on top of the handle valve. This gets the Chimney Balloon material to stand proud of the handle, but without adding air volume into the balloon. (See image at left)
Take the Chimney Balloon with the extender attached and align the crumpled Chimney Balloon material into the 12×6 spot you want to fill, then put a big puff of air in it. The sides of the Chimney Balloon will pop out horizontally and fill the cavity. If the balloon starts to tip when you put in this initial puff of air, remove the balloon and squeeze the air out of it and try again.
Once you are sure the Chimney Balloon is going in horizontally top it off with a little more air and close the valve on the bottom of the HEK extender. Higher installs can be a little tricky, so if you have any questions give us a call right away. – Jason
