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!
The balloon's design means that a small amount of air can still flow past the product – meaning you still get a little bit of ventilation in your chimney, just enough to ensure no damp forms, but that you don't notice the airflow. All homes need ventilation, but chimneys provide uncontrolled ventilation.
Chimneys are a massive source of uncontrolled ventilation and cause a lot more air movement than is necessary within the home. You shouldn't find blocking your chimney with a chimney balloon causes any issues with dampness. If you find it does you may have a bigger ventilation issue at hand that needs addressing.
On the wear-out question… There are a number of variables to this question, but I will try to answer it generally. If you are installing a Chimney Balloon and taking it out every day you could expect your Chimney Balloon to last a few months before it wears out.
A cap is a simple device that blocks your chimney at the top rather than through the fireplace to prevent air leaks. They are a plastic or metal covers that go over the chimney pot to seal it, capping it off more permanently than hearth covers, inflatable and felted wool flue blockers.
The chimney sheep works on the same principle as the chimney balloon, blocking up the chimney. Where the chimney sheep has an advantage over the ballon is what it's made out of and how it's designed. The chimney sheep is a flat-ish draught excluder made from 100% sheeps wool and a recycled plastic handle.
In addition, the home's interior could be affected by moisture damage. A retired chimney should be sealed only at the top or bottom. This will allow air to pass through the chimney and help prevent problems caused by moisture. If your damper is near the firebox, you can use insulation to seal the chimney.
The Chimney Balloon is designed to fill the whole chimney void, and be left in place for long periods of time. It can be taken out and reinserted, but this needs to be done carefully so as not to damage it, and it can take a bit of effort to inflate and deflate.
The Chimney Balloon® is the original inflatable chimney draught excluder. Now it's even more durable. The Chimney Balloon remains the most effective and safest inflatable chimney draught excluder on the market and here's why: Reduces energy bills.
Another option to stop a drafty fireplace is to use a chimney draft stopper. A chimney draft stopper is a foam or silicone plug that is inserted into the chimney to block air from escaping. To use a chimney draft stopper, simply insert it into the chimney and adjust it as needed until it is snug against the sides.
"The estimated cost to remove a decorative fireplace and prepare the wall for mounting a TV, can range from a minimum of £350 to £700 for a basic removal with minimal wall repairs to a maximum of £3,500 to £7,000 or more for a more complex project, which may involve structural modifications, high-end wall finishes, ...
Chimney Crown: This a large metal, concrete, or stone slab that covers the entire opening and extends about 2 – 2.5 inches over the chimney structure. When rain or snow falls, the crown directs the water onto the roof where it can flow down without damaging the chimney.
Heating the cans causes an increase in heat in a chimney which can help prevent creosote from building up on a clean chimney. However, aluminum oxides are very stable and do not react to high temperature. This means that there will not be much of an impact on built-up creosote.
Benefits From Chimney Sweeping
This will help to keep you and your family safe and reduce the risk of a fire. Additionally, regular chimney sweeping can help to improve the efficiency of your fireplace by keeping it from leaking air in or out, allowing you to potentially save money on heating costs.
Ensuring the safety of the chimney and the heating appliance should be the number one priority in any home. Combustion gases can be very harmful if leakage occurs in your home. Installing a stainless steel liner in a chimney flue that is in good condition is going to increase the longevity of the flue significantly.
They Don't Last Long
Re-inflating them every three months can become tiresome and even messy. Unless you don't mind getting in your hands and knees to re-inflate or re-install your balloon every 12 weeks, we recommend that you get a Chimney Draught Stopper.
Quick takeaways: Chimney balloons are an affective way to prevent draughts and warm air being lost via your chimney. We recommend a chimney sheep if you have a non-gas fire, like this one found on Amazon. If you have a gas fire a chimney balloon is advised.
At least once a year is the recommended minimum. You may require more frequent sweeping depending on what you burn and how often. If you burn a lot of wood then it is recommended to have your chimney swept around Aug/Sept before burning season and half way through the winter, around Dec/Jan time.
Chimney capping is one of the ways you can deal with the challenges of an unused chimney. You can block the top of your chimney using a flue ventilator or chimney cap with mesh, leaving space for chimney ventilation.
Just because a chimney was designed to breathe doesn't mean it has to breathe, and I have blocked off all of my unused chimneys without any issues. If you insist on letting it breathe then let it breathe using outside (unheated) air only.
Chimney Sealing
Sealing a chimney costs between $150 and $500. This is also known as chimney waterproofing. During this process, cracks are sealed with mortar, and a waterproofing agent is sprayed onto the chimney to protect it against water damage.
It's best to keep the flue closed when the fireplace is not in use. Should it stay open for too long cold air, debris, rain, and even animals can make their way inside your home.