Chimney Balloon fireplace damper

Are Chimney Balloons and Chimney Pillows the same thing?

Q: I have read about "Chimney Pillows" an inflatable fireplace draft stoppers in some government websites on energy. Is the chimney balloon what they are talking about? - TY

A: Hi TY, There are many different names for the Chimney Balloon. People call them Chimney bags, pillows, plugs, stoppers, seals, etc... So the reference you saw is probably talking about the Chimney Balloon. Here is a link to a page on the US Department of Energy website that talks of air sealing and the Chimney Balloon (see last bullet point): http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/air_leaks.html

The Chimney Balloon is often referred to as a "Chimney Pillow" so our company has trademarked that name as well. The unique feature of the Chimney Balloon is it is sized to fit your fireplace, it actually inserts into your chimney and inflates inside the chimney to seal it off with a tight wall to wall seal.

I have a chimney with no cap and the rain and snow comes in

Q: Jason, Can the Chimney Balloon still work if we don't have a chimney cap or damper on top? Will rain affect the balloon? We have a damper below. - MM

A: Hi MM, The Chimney Balloon will still work in a fireplace that does not have a cap or top damper on the chimney. The precipitation does not effect the balloon at all. As a matter of fact, an open chimney top is often the case with large older constructions buildings with fireplaces (especially pre 1900's).

However, there is something to be said about what a large amount of precipitation does to the inside of your chimney. Bricks are porous and absorb moisture, so when your chimney is getting wet on the inside and outside it can be a hard on the bricks and tuck pointing. Sealing off the flue with a chimney balloon will eliminate the air current that flows through the chimney that assists the chimney brick drying it out.

If this is a fireplace you use I would recommend you look into a metal screened cap for it. If this is a fireplace that you do not use at all and will not use in the foreseeable future, you may want to cover the chimney crown with some type of simple metal or wood weighted lid to keep the precipitation from having free access to the inside of the chimney. See the attached picture of a home made chimney cover made with plywood and a birch log screwed together. If you do cover the non-used chimney up-top on the chimney crown make sure to leave a large clear note down below in the fireplace that the chimney is plugged at the top. You don't want any unsuspecting person to start a fire in that fireplace with that cover on there. - Jason

My damper is 4 feet up the chimney and has a pull chain to open it and vents in the flue wall underneath.

Q: Jason, I have two issues. The website indicates that the chimney pillow should go above the damper. Our damper is about 4 feet up the chimney chute. It's attached to a chain and when open, the damper bisects the flue in an up and down position. Would we still position a pillow above the damper? How?

Also, We have a set of vents below the damper on all four sides. There are about 6 horizontal vents per side and they extend from right below the damper to about 8 inches below. Can I install over those? - SS

A: Dear SS, It sounds like you have a Heatelator brand fireplace. I have done many installs like this one you described. As a matter of fact there was a condo association in IL that had hundreds of these Heatelator fireplaces with butterfly dampers and vents underneath just as you described. See attached picture.

You will find a small ledge just above the firebrick lining the firebox. That ledge is a perfect spot to install a 36x15 Chimney Balloon. That area is trapezoid in shape but the 36x15 will have enough material to plug it anyway. See attached picture of balloon installed. - Jason

My fireplace is cold and it doesn't have a damper at all, should I convert it to a gas fireplace?

Q: Jason, My wife and I recently bought a fixer upper and are almost ready to move in. We knew that we had to do some work to our brick wood burning fireplace, and have been really swaying toward putting in a gas direct vent insert. When I looked up into the flu I was surprised to see that we don't have a damper AT ALL. The previous owners had removed it leaving us with a 1' x 2' opening going up into our flu. My question is, will the chimney balloon work for me if I want to convert my existing fire place into a direct vented gas log? -JD

A: Dear JD, Considering the outside temperature isn't getting any warmer at this time of year, I would suggest you get a Chimney Balloon in this fireplace very soon so you wont be loosing your interior heat up the flue.

It could be that the previous owner had a vented gas log in this fireplace when he lived there (he must have taken it with him) and that is why the damper was removed. Building code states that a vented gas log fireplace must have the metal damper removed or clipped open regardless if the fireplace is in use or not.

The reason for this code is to keep people with vented gas logs from accidentally asphyxiating the occupants of the home by burning the gas log with the damper closed. The side effect of this building code is wholesale heat and A/C loss 24/7 through the flue.

Many vented gas log owners opt to use a Chimney Balloon in the flue to stop the heat and A/C loss. If they accidentally light the gas log before manually removing the balloon it is designed to shrink and burst and still allow the fireplace gasses to escape. This saves the occupants of the home, but sacrifices the Chimney Balloon.

When you install a direct vent fireplace insert I suggest you have it vented through the wall and have the flue plugged with a Chimney Balloon. Even if you decide to wait on upgrading the fireplace get that balloon in right away. If you decide to vent the new direct vent gas fireplace up the chimney, you will still have to work out some way to plug the rest of the flue around the vent pipes. - Jason