by blogediter | Oct 19, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
PVC Tube
Q: Jason, The opening immediately above my fireplace damper is large, but it tapers down to a 12″ oval flue. The round flue is 40″ from the top of the damper. Problem is that your extender is only 16″ long. Can you put two of the extenders together, or make a custom long extender? -TJ
A: TJ, Working in your fireplace can be a messy business. So don’t forget those safety glasses.
That said, there are “unofficial” ways to get a 16″ extender to reach further. Keep in mind what I am about to share is not manufacturer approved modifications for your Chimney Balloon or extender.
Some people daisy chain two extenders together, and this is perfectly acceptable.
Other customers have been known to disassemble their extender and reassemble it with a longer PVC tube section (see image at left) since the extender tube section is the same ID as a standard 5/8″ ID PVC pipe often used in electrical conduit. Sometimes these tricks work and sometimes they don’t. The image here was sent to us from a customer, and it was about 4.5 feet long. It was difficult to get in the fireplace opening. If you do decide to modify your own extender don’t make it more than 32″ long. But again this is a non-approved modification. – Jason
by blogediter | Jul 25, 2018 | Chimney Plugs, Save Energy
Energy audit
Q: Jason, You say that a Chimney Balloon fireplace damper can save you 14% on home heating. This number seems unreal. Where do you get such a figure? What does a Chimney Balloon do that a metal fireplace damper cannot do? – SH
A: Dear SH, I am really glad you challenge us on this. All marketing claims should be challenged! And I will be happy to explain our figures. First of all the US Department of Energy says that the fireplace accounts for 14% of a homes heat loss. It stands to reason that if you seal your fireplace uptight and efficiently you will not be losing this heat.
Now, there are average ways to stop that heat loss, like standard metal fireplace chimney dampers, or metal chimney top dampers. And, there are superior ways to stop that heat loss that will seal the flue off efficiently and not allow air to pass.
We hired a third party certified energy rater to put the Chimney Balloon on a head to head test against a metal damper and glass doors. The energy rater used a 1200 square foot ranch style home that was reasonably tight and energy efficient already. In this test, he tested the home with the 9″ round fireplace damper open (as if the fireplace had no damper). He tested the fireplace with the metal damper closed. He tested it with the fireplace glass doors closed, He tested it with the damper and the glass fireplace doors closed, And then he tested it with the Chimney Balloon installed.
The results of this test were as follows:
- The home was 27% more efficient with a Chimney Balloon than if it had no damper.
- The home was 16% more efficient with a Chimney Balloon than if the metal damper was closed.
- The home was 6% more efficient with a Chimney Balloon than if it the glass doors were closed
If you would like to see the entire results of this test of the fireplace damper vs Chimney Balloon please visit this link?: http://www.chimneyballoon.us/fireplacedampertest.html
To read more information about energy efficiency and how to tighten your home energy envelope visit: http://eere.typepad.com/energysavers/2008/10/reduce-your-hea.html
– Jason
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 | Jun 13, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Beth yellow fireplace
Q: Jason, I’m trying to measure my fireplace for a Chimney Balloon, but what part of the flue do I measure? When I open the glass doors on the front of the hearth I look up and see the damper. When that damper is open (it opens downward) I see more of an open amount (Seems like the width of the fireplace) and then it slowly decreases in size to the main tunnel way up to the damper on the top of the chimney. This picture is taken just above the fireplace damper.
This main tunnel is approx 6 -9 inches by 12-15 inches. Did I measure correctly?
A: The expanded location (smoke chamber) just above the damper is the more convenient location for your Chimney Balloon to be installed, but that will probubly require a larger Chimney Balloon. You are looking for an area in your Chimney that is close enough to touch with your hand and has roughly parallel walls. Since the tapering starts after the damper opening the spot right above the damper is a perfect spot for the Chimney Balloon. Both gravety and the firepalce flues taper will hold the balloon down close to the damper and help it seal well. Here is a link to the Chimney Balloon sizing page that will help you see the best way to measure your flue. http://www.chimneyballoon.us/Chimneyballoonsizing.html
If odor is the main issue I usually suggest that the Chimney Balloon be installed as low in the chimney as possible to seal off more of the odorous chimney surfaces. – Jason
by blogediter | Apr 6, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Q: Hi Jason, my fireplace is a sort of rectangular shape (more like a trapezoid) measuring 26 x 14. It goes straight up at those dimensions, then changes to slanted pieces of sheet metal up to the damper that is a circular opening 8″ in diameter. I’ve attached my attempt at a drawing. I’m not really sure what size Chimney Balloon I need. Can you advise, please? – CC
A: Dear CC, The diagram helps quite a bit. Thank you for sending that. In this particular case, I would install the Chimney Balloon just above the damper. A 9×9 Chimney Balloon with an HEK extender attached will give you the length of handle you will need to get it installed in the proper place. I would assume from your circular flue that you have either a butterfly damper (one that picots in the middle) or a drop-down damper (hinged on one side and it drops down like a trap door). The 9×9 and HEK combination will work well with either configuration. – Jason
