The plastic Chimney Balloons can be blown up manually and are inserted into the throat of the chimney. However, while they were easy to use, these widely-used inflatables don’t actually perform well in preventing air leaks and helping you maximise your home heating and cooling!
What is a chimney balloon used for?
The Chimney Balloon is designed to inflate and push against all four walls of the chimney, holding itself firmly in place. There is a small vent in the side of the product which allows some airflow, permitting your chimney to “breathe”.
How do I stop draughts down my chimney?
A fireplace draft stopper is an efficient way to prevent this from happening. Whether you use a chimney balloon, a fabric draft blocker, glass doors or even create your own decorative cover, a fireplace draft stopper will keep your home warm while lowering energy costs.
What is the best chimney draught excluder?
A Chimney Sheep® is a highly efficient, removable chimney draught excluder made from felted Herdwick sheep’s wool. Our original and best-selling product ensures your home is heated efficiently by keeping the heat in and the cold draughts out. We think a Chimney Sheep® is a no brainer!
How do you permanently close a chimney?
However, if you want to permanently close up your chimney, cutting out a foam insulation plug and placing it in the bottom of the chimney and caulking around it is the best method. You can also seal the edges with foam weatherstripping tape, too.
Should unused chimneys be capped?
Unused chimneys not only waste a lot of heat, they also pose a potential damp problem as well as being a cause of smoking fireplaces and stoves. You should cap any unused chimneys with a flue ventilator.
How much heat is lost up a chimney?
Putting a Damper on Your Energy Bills
What’s more, between 80 and 90 percent of the heat produced by wood burned in an open fireplace is lost up the chimney. This means that for every $100 you spend on firewood, you get only $10 to $20 worth of heat.
Do chimney balloons cause damp?
No, it does not. Chimney Sheep® are made from Herdwick wool which is naturally breathable and will allow moisture to permeate through. A Chimney Sheep® will stop 93% of the air getting through. That extra 7% is enough to allow for sufficient ventilation.
Can I put a pillow up my chimney?
Some people swear by wrapping a pillow in binbags or something else waterproof, and pushing it up the chimney. This comes with a lot of problems, however. Although it’s cheap, the pillow is prone to sucking up moisture, causing mold and blocking the chimney from breathing.
Which is better chimney sheep or chimney balloon?
If you light a fire with the Chimney Sheep in place, the fire will smoulder and not draw properly, and it’s fire retardant so it won’t burst into flames, which is fine with an open fire but to be honest the Chimney Balloon is a safer bet for gas fires.
Should I block up my chimney?
Sealing a Chimney Causes More Problems Than it Solves.
Plain and simple, DO NOT seal off a chimney or fireplace because you will get a flue full of condensation problems! Even when your fireplace is blocked off airtight you’ll still end up with “hidden” water issues.
Why is cold air coming down my chimney?
The throat damper is a standard fixture in most chimneys. But its location just above the fireplace allows cold air to flow down much of the chimney even when shut. And although the damper is closed, warping or rusting can break its airtight seal enabling cold air to enter the fireplace.
