Stuff coming down the chimney!!

tagz

Hello

We have a room with two fireplaces and both of them could be used, however we prefer not to. One of them has something blocking the chimney but the other one hasn't and I've just come home to find a huge pile of dirt and stuff on the floor. I want to block the chimney on this fireplace too but I don't know what I need to do/get. A friend mentioned something like a balloon that you inflate when it is in position so that it completely seals up the chimney but I have no idea what it is called. Can anyone please help?

Mr_Warren_2

It is called a "chimney balloon" and is up for sale on Ebay. The balloon will not block the opening completely in order to allow a constant flow of air up the conduct (otherwise you might end up with mould growth on your internal walls). To do the job properly, I would get the chimney swept (yellow pages) and buy a ballon or two from Ebay.

I don't know why you don't want to use the 2 existing chimneys...!?! An open fire even on a chilly summer night is lovely and I like the after smell in the room. Anyway, its a matter of preference.

MrT_5

You could fit hoods on the chimneys. This allows airflow to stop rain getting in and you can still have fires if you change your mind later. Agree that they should be swept first. Balloons?? Is someone having a laugh? Reminds me of condoms in drains. They used to blow up and block them. Stay clear of this if you ask me. If you have no intention of using your fires at all (think selling your house later though), get them capped, i.e. Pots removed, sealed off with an air brick in the side of the stack but you need vents in the chimney breasts in house to keep the airflow and no damp.

Balloons!

never_enough

I have heard of chimney balloons too!
I opened up a fire in an old flat in the middle of winter. Before I froze to death, as all the heat from the rads whooshed up the chimney, I filled a bin bag with bubble wrap & shoved it up there. Prob not ideal as a permanent situation, but I was about to sell & didn't want to block it off as open fires are a definite selling point.

Agree, get your chimney swept before you do anything else, but if your chimney is open at the top you will always get a little rain (or condensation) that will bring small amounts of sooty dribbles every so often.

peat

http://www.chimney-balloon.co.uk/

Comments?

Mr_Warren_2

That's the one up for sale on Ebay. I think its a good idea. The balloon will not block the whole chimney area and therefore still allow a small flow of air up the conduct, keeping it nicely ventilated. MrT !!! laugh as much as you want but those balloons are only set 30cm up the conduct, if they were to blow up (how would they to start with), it would be a simple matter to fish it back with your hand. Give it a go and report.

MrT_5

Mr_Warren wrote:

That's the one up for sale on Ebay. I think its a good idea. The balloon will not block the whole chimney area and therefore still allow a small flow of air up the conduct, keeping it nicely ventilated. MrT !!! laugh as much as you want but those balloons are only set 30cm up the conduct, if they were to blow up (how would they to start with), it would be a simple matter to fish it back with your hand. Give it a go and report.

Well I don't know what a cm is having been at school when they taught feet and inches but either way it sounds very silly. The first poster had a problem with stuff falling down the chimney. Stick anything up the flue and falling stuff will block the chimney eventually. Fire or not, could be a carbon monoxide problem waiting to happen. As I said, put a hood on it and the problem will be solved. I have fitted hundreds in the past. I can't stress enough that airflow is vital in houses. People often block up air bricks and in the end get dry rot which can cost thousands. I digress!

abbecer

We had same problem with dirt and debris falling down the chimney. Had it swept and put chimney balloon up it. Had it for about 4 years with no probs. Stops a lot of draught too. Hope this helps.

Rebecca x:rotfl:

Mr_Warren_2

What a b@#*^$ing polemic for some debris coming down the chimney. Short of a well aimed object or heavy hailstone fall, the only bit and pieces falling down the chimney will come from the inside of the said chimney conduct. Get it swept first. The ballon will stop too much hot air getting wasted up the conduct and your proposed capping system will stop dead seagulls and their likes dropping in it unannounced.

susank

Would check that there is not a bird nesting in the chimney first of all before you block it - would need to get it swept to get rid of anyway. Should not be anything coming down other than soot! if no birds!

scottishlizzie

We have had chimney balloons in a few of our chimneys and they work very well although one did get burst by a sharp object falling down it. I'm sure most people with open fires have had the odd bird down the chimney too - we have had pigeons down on three occasions - once we had to go to work and leave one in the dining room all day (new job, pigeon running very fast round dining table, gave up) and the mess was awful when we got home! A chimney balloon won't stop birds falling down so it might also be a good idea to have the chimney capped too ( a cap on it's own won't stop all debris).