How to Stop Fireplace Drafts

Installing a chimney balloon is quite simple and seals out fireplace drafts

Fireplace drafts can cause a chill in your home as well as in your pocketbook. In addition to allowing cool air to infiltrate your living space, the source of the draft is likely to be sucking out the warm air you pay good money to ensure. Simple steps can be taken to locate and stop fireplace drafts and return your room's temperature, as well as your money, back to their rightful places.

Things You'll Need

• Chimney pillow or balloon
• Tape measure
• Bicycle tire pump
• Safety goggles

Instructions

1. Measure the inside of the chimney flue accurately. Wear safety goggles whenever working inside or looking up inside a chimney. Locate the area about 6 inches above the damper. Measure the overall width of the area at this height.

2. Bring these dimensions to a home and garden store like The Home Depot or Lowe's and speak to a sales person about purchasing a chimney pillow or chimney balloon. They will determine what size you need by the measurements you have provided.

3. Reach back up inside the chimney to the area where you took measurements. Hold the chimney balloon in place and begin inflating it by mouth, blowing just enough breaths into it to cause slight inflation. Adjusting the balloon as needed, continue inflating it using a tire pump or by mouth. The chimney balloon is properly inflated when it is firm, but not tight and stretched like the head of a drum.

4. Leave the inflation tube hanging below the chimney balloon. Be sure it isn't touching anything. The inflation tube will automatically begin deflating if a fire is accidentally set in the fireplace while the chimney balloon is in place, causing it to deflate and fall before it causes a serious backup of smoke. It is made of fireproof material.

5. Hang the safety card that comes with the chimney balloon in a safe place to remind people not to start fires in the the fireplace while the chimney balloon is in place. The chimney balloon creates a seal between the fireplace and the outside air, preventing drafts from entering your living space.

Resources

• EnergyFederation.org