by blogediter | Mar 1, 2019 | Chimney Plugs
Chimney Balloons
The Chimney Balloon has become quite a topic of conversation for green energy and green tech bloggers.
The Chimney Balloon is referred to in so many ways. People call it: “an inflatable baffle, chimney seal, flue baffle, inflatable damper, chimney plug, chimney draft stopper, even a draft dodger!
Here is a link to an article that was written by a very well respected green blogger on the Plant Green website, his name is Josh Peterson:
“…That is where a Chimney Balloon comes in. A Chimney Balloon or Chimney Pillow is a reusable, durable plastic balloon that fits in the chimney under the flue and blocks out the cold air. Inflate the balloon and wedge it up near the flue. A Chimney Balloon can save you about $200-$500 dollars a year in heating costs.
Don’t forget to remove the Chimney Balloon before you start a fire. You should put a note on the fireplace door to remind you that the Chimney Balloon is up there. If exposed to heat, the Chimney Balloon will deflate. I assume it just falls into the fire at that point. It’s like a Chimney Balloon Icarus…” Click here to read the whole article
by blogediter | Dec 17, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Chimney Balloon large
Q: Jason, I have a masonary fireplace that appears to have no chimney damper. I have measured the rectangular area after the firebox and it’s approximately 25.5″ X 9.5″. What size Chimney Balloon would be best suited. thanks. – RG
A: RG, For an area that is 25.5″ x 9.5″ I would recommend the 30×9 Chimney Balloon. Chimney Balloons are slightly oversized by their inflatable nature, and a half inch will not make a difference when you install it. – Jason
by blogediter | Jul 13, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Inflating a Chimney Balloon
Q: Jason, I am about to purchase one of your Chimney Balloon fireplace dampers, but have one question. Since this fills with air, Can I use my air compressor, or do I have to purchase your pump? – PS
A: Dear PS, The easiest and the handiest thing you can use to inflate your Chimney Balloon fireplace damper is good old-fashioned lung power. If you would prefer not to inflate it by mouth, you can use an airbed inflation pump or a low power shop-vac to inflate the Chimney Balloon.
I do not recommend using an air compressor to inflate the Chimney Balloon because air compressors will inflate the Chimney Balloon so quickly you might damage the balloon by accidentally over inflating it. The Chimney Balloon is only designed to take about 15 to 20 PSI and an air compressor can get to that PSI level so quick…it is just not worth the risk.
In the picture above is a battery powered air bed pump. In our test lab in the UK we use a rechargeable airbed inflation pump for testing. The nice thing about air bed pumps is they do not have enough power to overinflate the Chimney Balloon. – Jason
by blogediter | Feb 7, 2018 | Gas Logs
Fresh Air Vent
Q: I have a fairly new home built in 2004. I’ve noticed that my living room area is colder than the rest of the house. I always thought it was because of the patio door or maybe the vaulted ceilings and it’s a large room. There is a fireplace I never use. I just noticed today there is a draft coming through the bottom where the controls are and the tile around the bottom is ice cold. This explains why my toes are so cold when I sit on the couch and watch tv. Is there anything I can do about this? I might just put some kind of insulation sheet in front of the whole thing. thanks for your help – JP
A: JP, There is a couple of different sources that could be letting in cold air. If this is a direct vent fireplace that is mostly sealed off from access and “breaths” through tubes or pipes that go through your outside wall, then it is likely bad or no insulation around the gas lines or venting pipes. This can be remedied easily once you find the pipes. If this fireplace has a regular stack chimney and the hearth is accessible to you, it could be that the fireplace damper is clipped open or disabled in some way. Gas log fireplaces in most states have to have disabled or clipped open dampers due to fire code. The reason for this is the county doesn’t want you lighting a gas fireplace without opening the damper since this can start a fire or asphyxiate you and everyone in the home. Another possibility, in this case, could just be a worn out damper. There is a blog entry about this: http://www.chimneyballoonusa.com/blog/2007/01/welcome_to_the_.html If you find that the cold air source is coming from a disabled, or old and crusty damper and inexpensive insulation option is a Chimney Balloon. They can be bought through the manufacturer at http://www.chimneyballoon.us. They are an inflatable plug that stops air passage. Good luck finding the cold air entry point, I know from experience that cold drafts like that can be uncomfortable. – Jason
