Something to stop the heat going out of our chimney

theanimallover

A few months ago, I saw on TV a plastic device that you stuck up the chimney (i think you blow it up) and it stops the heat escaping from the house. We don't use our open fire very often, and our heat bills are mammoth because we only have bottled gas. So I'm looking for one of these devices or something similar but don't know where to get one from. Any ideas? or alternatives?
thanks

geordie_joe

Do a search on google for "foil balloon"

They are meant to be inflated with helium but air would do as you don't want them to float away.

I've seen some quite big ones that I'm sure would block a chimney.

the_cat

When I was a kid, my dad made one of these.

He cut out a piece of wood to fit tightly inside the chimney breast and attached an old kitchen handle to it. We then just had to wedge it up the chimney (and remember to take it out when we put a fire on!)

welf_man

http://www.c20fires.co.uk/fireplace_accessories/chimney_balloon.htm

Read ALL the text carefully - trust me on this!

Mel.

geordie_joe

welf_man wrote: »

http://www.c20fires.co.uk/fireplace_accessories/chimney_balloon.htm

Read ALL the text carefully - trust me on this!

Mel.

Half of it sounded like tosh to me.

Blocking the chimney causes the bricks to get damp, but not if you block it with one of their balloons?

There are milions of homes in the Uk with the fireplaces blocked up, and they don't have damp bricks. All they have is a TV presenter tapping on them telling us that if the owner unblocks the fireplace and makes a "feature" of it they will sell the house for a great profit.

They also say that if you light the fire and accidentally leave their balloon in place it will shrivel up. They conveniently don't mention that this will mean it will fall into they fire. At best it will burn and you will have to buy a new one, at worst it will cause burning embers to fly out onto the carpet, and if you aren't in the room, cause a fire.

Ken68

I use old pillows, think they do the job and still breathe.
As long as you don't fill the balloons with Hindenburg gas.