chimney balloon substitute??

Fredthebuilder

I've been using the Chimney Sheep for a while and I must say I do like it. Noticed its now available in the US as well as the UK. chimneysheep.com for the US and chimneysheep.co.uk for the UK - seems to be available on Amazon too

Fredthebuilder

Fredthebuilder wrote: »

I've been using the Chimney Sheep for a while and I must say I do like it. Noticed its now available in the US as well as the UK. chimneysheep.com for the US and chimneysheep.co.uk for the UK - seems to be available on Amazon too

I'm a newbie so cant make links link - any kind person able to do that so its easier to find the site to a clever money saving draft stopper thankyou.

keletkezes

What about blocking a 8" or so flue pipe? Well, it's a silver pipe thing that hangs down. There used to be a gas fire in-situ, which has since been completely removed and capped off. Rest of the chimney fits around this pipe it seems. Chimney balloon doesn't work: too big and the pipe's too fragile/weak-walled. Was thinking about stuffing it with bubble wrap and leaving a 2" draught hole. Thoughts?

Hurley

Sorry for bumping such an old thread, but this is relevant to my interests.

I am concerned about some people earlier in the thread mentioning carbon monoxide poisoning and DIY solutions to blocking up draughty chimeys.

Can we just clarify, this is only a bad idea for those actually using their chimneys for fires right? Ours are open purely for decoration and are never lit, so would it be ok to just stuff bin bags with loft insulation in them?

dominoman

Hurley wrote: »

Sorry for bumping such an old thread, but this is relevant to my interests.

I am concerned about some people earlier in the thread mentioning carbon monoxide poisoning and DIY solutions to blocking up draughty chimeys.

Can we just clarify, this is only a bad idea for those actually using their chimneys for fires right? Ours are open purely for decoration and are never lit, so would it be ok to just stuff bin bags with loft insulation in them?

Yes - of course. If you have not fire in yours then stuff it closed. I used a black bin liner stuffed with newspaper and it is still nice and tight after a year.

I don't understand the comments about people risking their lives with a DIY chimney balloon! Closing the chimney with a stuffed bin bag is no different from using a £30 chimney balloon.

It may be worth leaving a small gap at one edge (someone suggested a section of pipe) so there is a little ventilation to prevent humid air sitting in the chimney.

wrightk

mrs_baggins wrote: »

Hi everyone am hoping someone can help. I am convinced my house is haunted as its so bloomin cold!!! Mind you having laminate flooring all downstairs doesnt help! Got the man out to insulate the cavities and apparently I already had it!! I have a fireplace in the living room with a gas fire (flame effect) that I never use so am thinking of blocking the chimney on a temp basis as heat must be escaping up there. the chimney balloonsa re about £18 not a huge amount but could I do something myself? have tries shoving newspaper up but I can seem to get that right and jusy keep stuffing more and more up to no avail?

I have a house with no cavities, solid brick walls with only external insulation,2 chimneys (1 working) and laminate flooring throughout the whole house and the house is not cold, perhaps look at your heating system?

Get your fire taken out and decommissioned. Block up the hole after and fit a trickle vent

Do it properly

Hurley

dominoman wrote: »

Yes - of course. If you have not fire in yours then stuff it closed. I used a black bin liner stuffed with newspaper and it is still nice and tight after a year.

I don't understand the comments about people risking their lives with a DIY chimney balloon! Closing the chimney with a stuffed bin bag is no different from using a £30 chimney balloon.

It may be worth leaving a small gap at one edge (someone suggested a section of pipe) so there is a little ventilation to prevent humid air sitting in the chimney.

Thanks. This is what I intend to do, stuff it and leave a small gap for ventilation. I am guessing that leaving that small gap won't affect the draughtiness of the room that much? I am mainly doing it because I am putting a dehumidifer in the chimney rooms and don't want constant outside air being blown in otherwise the dehumidifer will always be on.

Also, does anyone think a loft insulation board laid flat in there could work, the celotex type ones?

Gloomendoom

wrightk wrote: »

Do it properly

You do realise that Mrs Baggins has probably moved on to a new burrow since she made her original post... 8 years ago!

Smiley_Dan

Hurley wrote: »

Thanks. This is what I intend to do, stuff it and leave a small gap for ventilation. I am guessing that leaving that small gap won't affect the draughtiness of the room that much? I am mainly doing it because I am putting a dehumidifer in the chimney rooms and don't want constant outside air being blown in otherwise the dehumidifer will always be on.

Also, does anyone think a loft insulation board laid flat in there could work, the celotex type ones?

In my view it should be totally sealed, with the chimney filled with an insulant such as vermiculite up to the thermal envelope, then install an air brick about this to allow a cross draught from the top of the chimney to the top of the insulation.

It's pointless allowing small amounts of air through a gap. Such "ventilation" is called "natural ventilation" and you're lucky if it works. Ventilation is too important to be left to chance.

http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12781

Hurley

Smiley_Dan wrote: »

In my view it should be totally sealed, with the chimney filled with an insulant such as vermiculite up to the thermal envelope, then install an air brick about this to allow a cross draught from the top of the chimney to the top of the insulation.

It's pointless allowing small amounts of air through a gap. Such "ventilation" is called "natural ventilation" and you're lucky if it works. Ventilation is too important to be left to chance.

http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12781

Not entirely sure what you mean. Do you mean fill up the entire chimney with an insulant?!