by blogediter | Apr 16, 2018 | Chimney Problems
Install Chimney Balloon
Q: I have several questions. My experience with inflatable devices is that they leak. Can one insert the Chimney Balloon and leave it in for months, or does it gradually leak air?
Can one use the Chimney Balloon in a fireplace that one uses almost daily? For example, inflate the Chimney Balloon in the morning and then remove it in the evening when one wants to build a fire? If this is done, does the Chimney Balloon get “messy” covered with soot etc? We have the fireplace cleaned yearly but use it a lot.What is the life expectancy of a Chimney Balloon if it is inserted and not removed for months (a fireplace that we don’t use) vs. one where we would remove it quite often. I wonder if the Chimney Balloon is to be used only in a fireplace that is not used often. Thanks!- DR
A: Dear DR, If you use a fireplace daily you are going to find a Chimney Balloon to be a hassle, if you use it occasionally you will find it a keen energy saver. Since you use your fireplace daily I would recommend that you use your Chimney Balloon seasonally. So put it in when you are done using the fireplace for the season.
If you put a Chimney Balloon in and leave it, it will stay in good shape for 10-12 years. I would suggest once or twice a year you can top off the air, but other than that it is a long-term fixture if you leave it be. The fact of the matter is, if you are constantly inserting and removing your Chimney Balloon sooner or later you will wear it out. The more you move it around the more you wear on it.
The best example I can give is my own. I have a Chimney Balloon in my fireplace and I use my fireplace 6 times per year on average. My Chimney Balloon is going on 5 years now with no issues. I hope this answers your question. – Jason
by blogediter | Mar 23, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Christmas Chimney Balloon
Customer Service at Chimney Balloon USA received a phone call from old Saint Nick today. He was a bit concerned about all of the Chimney Balloons he has been seeing recently in fireplaces in Europe, Australia, and North America.
You see, the jolly-old-elf bounces when he runs into a Chimney Balloon in the flue, and all that bouncing slows him down. He has a lot of deliveries to make in just one night, so although the bouncing is fun he would rather be forewarned about a Chimney Balloon being present so he can slow his decent and not bounce.
So Santa asked us, to ask our customers to make sure you put the little red Chimney Balloon reminder card (it came with your Chimney Balloon) in the firebox tonight so he can see it from the top of the chimney and know he has to take it slow.
Remember, if you decide to play a trick on old Saint Nick and not put out the card, you may just find out what a bouncing Santa looks like. (But that is also a quick way to get on the naughty list.)
Merry Christmas!
from Santa
and the staff here at Chimney Balloon!
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
by blogediter | Jan 29, 2018 | Fireplaces
Large fireplace Frank Lloyd Wright home with pull chain damper
Large fireplace in Frank Lloyd Wright home with Chimney Balloon installed
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3/4″][vc_column_text el_class=”.underlinelink , .blackh3″]Hi Jason, This is an old fireplace that is brick and masonry. When I look up the chimney I see the long rectangular metal damper door that pivots in the middle, and two pull chains [or linked pull rods] on the left and right that open and close the damper door by flipping it from horizontal to vertical like a big carburetor choke. The area below the damper is 52″x17″. How can I size a Chimney Balloon for this type of fireplace? – AE
Hi AE, From looking at the photo it looks like the damper is set up about 12 inches vertically above the termination of the lintel. This will give you enough room to put a large Chimney Balloon under the damper. I see the walls taper some on the sides, but are reasonable straight up and down in the front and back.
I recommend we go with a custom size 52″x17″ Chimney Balloon below the damper. As you inflate the Chimney Balloon the chains will be pushed off to the side and the Chimney Balloon will seal around them.
BTW, you are going to want a pump to inflate this 52×17 Chimney Balloon. It takes a lot of air to fill a Chimney Balloon of this size. – Jason
***three weeks later***
Hi Jason, I got the 52×17 Chimney Balloon in the mail a few days ago and Saturday I got it installed. Attached is a photo of the floor looking up at it.
After I inflated it I noticed that about 2 inches of the belly of the Chimney Balloon are still visible below the lintel, but since the Chimney Balloon is clear it is not very noticeable. Especially since I keep the chain spark screen closed anyway. This isn’t going to negatively affect the seal the Chimney Balloon offers, is it? – AE
Hi AE, This large of a custom Chimney Balloon will be about 12 inches tall when inflated, so it is not too surprising is protrudes below the lintel a bit. However, the Chimney Balloon is clear and the fireplace is dark so you won’t notice it.
And, no the seal will not be affected by the Chimney Balloon hanging down below the lintel a few inches. The contact seal will be on the upper side of the Chimney Balloon anyway. If you use a strong flashlight to look through the Chimney Balloon, you will see how the Chimney Balloon sealed to the walls.
Good Job BTW with the measurements and the install. You handled that application like a pro! – Jason
by blogediter | Jan 26, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
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
