by blogediter | Jun 11, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Customer Diagram
Q: Jason – Here is a drawn diagram of my fireplace and how the hearth, smoke shelf, damper, and flue are interlinked. I am thinking that the best place to have the Chimney Balloon is right in the area that is 8″x18″ above the smoke shelf. How do I install the Chimney Balloon that high? – JA
A: Dear JA, Thank you very much for the diagram. We spoke about this application on the phone, but it really helps to see exactly what you are looking at.
I agree with you about the best location to install the Chimney Balloon. The spot above the smoke shelf that narrows down to 8×18 is the lowest spot possible to install the Chimney Balloon. The tapered walls of the fire box and smoke chamber make it too hard to install anywhere else. Since the smoke chamber is 13″ tall, you will want to purchase a HEK extender with your Chimney Balloon so the handle will have enough length to reach all the way up to where the Chimney Balloon needs to be. – 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
by blogediter | Mar 2, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Smoke Chamber Install
Q: Jason – I previously ordered a 9X9 Chimney Balloon and it works fine for the flue (size 8″ square). What I don’t like about it is that the flue is about 5″ higher than the 12″ X 16″ smoke chamber. So when I place the 9×9 Chimney Balloon in the flue I have to really reach to get a good fit. Instead of getting your Chimney Balloon extension rod I figure it would be best to try and get another him Chimney Balloon to fit the 12 X 16 area above the damper. As I mentioned the 12 X 16 area (smoke chamber?) has only a 5-inch height then the flue begins. So if I understand correctly order a custom 12 X 18 and this would seal the area above my damper (12 X 16 X 5) Thanks, DT
A: Hi DT, It is true that a lower install location makes putting in a Chimney Balloon much easier, so I agree a larger Chimney Balloon for the smoke chamber is the way to go.
A custom 12×18 Chimney Balloon would work well for a 12″x16″ area. Remember, a Custom Chimney Balloon requires a 14 day build time, but it is worth the wait to get the correct size. You could consider a stock 24×12 Chimney Balloon, but I am concerned there will be too much extra Chimney Balloon material if you went with this size. If you get a Chimney Balloon that is more than 6″ oversize the extra material can make the install more difficult.
by blogediter | Feb 19, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Fireplace Damper
[Q: Jason, I previously ordered a 9X9 Chimney Balloon fireplace damper and it works fine for the flue (size 8″ diameter). What I don’t like about it is that the flue is about 5″ higher than the 12″ X 16″ smoke chamber. So when I place the 9×9 Chimney Balloon in the flue I have to really reach to get a good fit.
Instead of getting your extension rod I figure it would be best to try and get another balloon to fit the 12 X 16 area above the damper. As I mentioned the 12 X 16 area (smoke chamber?) has only a 5-inch height then the flue begins. So if I understand you correctly order a custom 12 X 18 and this would seal the area above my damper (12 X 16 X 5)
Thanks, DT
A: Hi DT, You can send back your current 9×9 Chimney Balloon and get a custom 18×12. It would work well for a 12″x16″ area. Remember, a Custom Chimney Balloon requires a 14 day build time. You could order a standard 24×12 that would ship right away, but I am concerned there will be too much extra Chimney Balloon material. It really would be worth the wait to get the correct size. – Jason
by blogediter | Jan 25, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
There are different structures of chimneys that we can see on the rooftop. These chimneys provide ventilation for hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside. Big holes remain open so all the rain, hail or dust will go straight into the home. The heat escaping out the chimney top make the birds sit upon because it is relatively warm. These must be closed and the reason why every single one of them needs Chimella Umbrella.
