by blogediter | May 29, 2019 | Chimney Plugs
Where to Measure a Heatelator Pre-Fab Fireplace
Jason, I have a fireplace in our basement that I want to plug since we do not use it.
There is a metal damper that operated on a hand crank just 3″ above the fireplace opening. However, about 14″ above the damper is an 11″x11″ terra cotta flue tile that I think I can easily get a Chimney Balloon into. The website instructions say to buy a Chimney Balloon that is a little large…should I get a 15×15 or 12×12 Chimney Balloon and should I buy a HEK extender with it? – RW
Dear RW, You sized up this application well and your instinct is right-on to go with a 12×12 with a HEK Extender.
11″x11″ is a very common size flue tile, and experience tells me that a 12×12 Chimney Balloon is the perfect size to plug that flue. Since your flue tile terminates just 14″ above the damper then you can certainly use a HEK extender to get it up there and installed. I have attached some pictures that are similar to your install. – Jason
by blogediter | May 27, 2019 | Chimney Plugs
Q: Following the instructions on this site our place for a Chimney Balloon would be roughly 4 feet above the metal damper in a space that is roughly 12×12. I am planning to purchase a 15×15 Chimney Balloon, but is there a HEX extension long enough for placement and inflation of the Chimney Balloon?- RM
A: Dear RM, It sounds like you are trying to size a Chimney Balloon in your first chimney tile area. We do make 36″ long custom HEK Extenders, but I think you will find it much easier to measure and install a Chimney Balloon in a lower location if possible.
What you are looking for in your flue is an area about 7″ or 8″ in height that has roughly parallel walls on at least 2 opposing sides, and is out of the way of the damper hardware.
Knowing that description, is there an area just above or below your damper that may be a better location to measure? Call us at 608-467-0229 for a little more guidance. – Jason
by blogediter | May 3, 2019 | Chimney Plugs
Q:Jason, My fireplace chimney is very unusual since the flue is so far forward and the smoke shelf or smoke chamber is so deep. There is no place to put the Chimney Balloon that has parallel walls before the 8×18 tile flue. Do you see any options that may be easier to install in according to my diagram? – JA
Dear JA: This is not an easy install since your lowest point with parallel walls will be the flue tile above the smoke shelf. Looks like the 18″x 8″ location would be best with an HEK extender handgrip. The smoke shelf juts out so much that the CB handgrip would get in the way of it, if trying to put the CB into the chamber just above the smoke shelf. – Jason
Note: In this case, a Custom 18×8 with an HEK extender worked very well and was easy to install since the flue was only 13″ above the smoke shelf ledge.
by blogediter | Jul 16, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Install low just above the damper
Q: Jason, We have a wood fireplace that we haven’t used since we bought the house (5 years) and who knows how long before that. So, I checked out the fireplace damper website and read the instructions for measuring my fireplace. It measured 12″ X 12″ with a carpenter’s rule, so I ordered a 12″ X 12″ Chimney Balloon. I received the Chimney Balloon and went to install it and promptly learned that the fireplace was not a comfortable and fun place to lay or sit in to install the Chimney Balloon and the enclosed plastic tubing was way too short! One trip to the hardware store to get six foot of tubing and I was in business. Since where my flue is getting “square” seems to be pretty far up (about an arm’s length or so, if I am sitting inside the fireplace) I had one heck of a time trying to get the Chimney Balloon in place. Attached is an image of the flue looking up from a sitting position. – JS
A: Dear JS, From the attached picture I think you are selecting a location that is too high to install your Chimney Balloon. It appears that there is either no damper in the fireplace or you put the camera up above the damper when you took the photo, so it would be better to choose a location that is lower and closer to the firebox to install your Chimney Balloon (See image below). A lower installation point is always preferable since you can guide the Chimney Balloon into place better with your hands while inflating and you don’t have to reach so far up to do it.This would require a larger Chimney Balloon for this installation, but if you send back the one you have we can credit the price to a larger Chimney Balloon. I am just taking an educated guess, but it looks like the flue down lower would take a 36×15 Chimney Balloon. Measure the area where the green arrows are in my picture and give us a call and we will get you a Chimney Balloon that is easier to install for this application. – Jason
by blogediter | Mar 12, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Chimney Balloon 4 feet up
Q: Jason, I have attached a few photos of my fireplace and I was wondering how I can get the Chimney Balloon up into the first chimney flue tile if it is about 4 feet above the hearth opening? See the attached photos that the smoke chamber above the damper stair-steps upwards to a smaller square 11″ flue tile clay chimney liner.
I see you have a handle extender but I would need to link 3 of them together to reach this first flue tile. – TR
A: Dear TR, You are making this way too hard for yourself. In the picture of your fireplace firebox, I see the handle of your damper sticking down and it looks like a vestal damper. This damper is installed about as low as possible and this makes it very easy to just inflate a Chimney Balloon in above the damper door.
Take your folding carpenters ruler or tape measure and get the width and depth dimension of that area just above the damper door and that will tell you what Chimney Balloon size to get.
It is hard to tell dimensions from a photo of a flue, but I bet you will find the measurement is around the 36″x15″ size by the looks of it. When there is a large vestal damper the size is usually 36×15. Occasionally the smoke chambers will be up to 45×18 in the area above the damper if the mason that built it gets a little crazy with setting the bricks in the smoke chamber. Either way, it is worth a quick check before ordering. – Jason
