News
Why Unblocked Chimneys Are Costing UK Homes Energy and Comfort
Why Unblocked Chimneys Are Costing UK Homes Energy and Comfort
|Sally Phillips
Why Unsealed Chimneys Are Costing UK Homes Energy and Comfort Across the UK, many older homes still feature traditional chimneys—once symbols of warmth and domestic life. But today, these unused... Read more...
The Stack Effect in Domestic Dwellings: Energy, Cost, and Pollution Impacts of Chimney Ventilation
The Stack Effect in Domestic Dwellings: Energy, Cost, and Pollution Impacts of Chimney Ventilation
|Sally Phillips
A recent visit to a tin mine in Cornwall illustrated to me the effectiveness of the stack effect. The stack effect, a natural ventilation phenomenon driven by differences in air... Read more...
Buy Land Plant Trees
Buy Land Plant Trees
|Sally Phillips
20% of the profits made from all purchases with Chimney Balloon Co goes towards our Community Interest Company (CIC), Buy Land Plant Trees. This is a tree planting initiative run... Read more...
Can a Chimney Balloon help reduce heat loss?
|Sally Phillips
One of the biggest causes of draughts in the home is the chimney. Not only can cold air bluster down your chimney flue, but it could be the leading cause of draughts throughout your home too.  A phenomenon called the Stack Effect causes warm air to rise up and out of the top of the house (almost always via the chimney). Unfortunately this lovely warm air then needs to be replaced, this leads to cold air being pulled into the home from the outside. This cold air is what you... Read more...
Why is the Chimney Balloon a plastic product?
Why is the Chimney Balloon a plastic product?
|Sally Phillips
What's the problem with plastic? Here at Chimney Balloon, we're very aware that plastic consumption and discarding is one of the biggest contributors to environmental pollution around the world. As... Read more...
Does the Chimney Balloon cause damp?
Does the Chimney Balloon cause damp?
|Sally Phillips
As the years have gone by, we've talked to many different people: customers, trade representatives, engineers, and housing associations - all about chimneys and chimney draught excluders. But, despite their... Read more...
New years resolution? Why not save energy?
New years resolution? Why not save energy?
|Sally Phillips
New year, new habits. With 2023 just around the corner you'll be thinking about new year's resolution for the coming 12 months. Instead of the usual, eat less chocolate, give... Read more...
Five cheap ways to save money on your energy bills
Five cheap ways to save money on your energy bills
|Sally Phillips
Efficient homes and energy saving in general is often viewed as an expensive hobby. With ever-advancing technology, reams of building work and fancy products to boot, the energy savings market... Read more...
How to reduce chimney wind noise
How to reduce chimney wind noise
|Sally Phillips
Questions around chimney wind noise are some of the most common queries our customer assistants get. We're asked, often multiple times a day, how to stop, prevent and reduce chimney... Read more...
Get ready for winter by draught proofing your home
Get ready for winter by draught proofing your home
|Sally Phillips
Winter. We’ve said it. You might not want to hear it but it will be on its way soon which means it is definitely time to start thinking about ways... Read more...
Intelligent Draught Proofing
Intelligent Draught Proofing
|Sally Phillips
When draught-proofing our homes we need to be strategic. Air-flow in a building is complicated, with multiple ways in for cold air and routes out for warm air. It is... Read more...
Introducing: Watford Workshop
Introducing: Watford Workshop
|Sally Phillips
As I've mentioned before, the Chimney Balloon is made by the charity Watford Workshop. The charity, which is now over 50 years old, gives work experience, skills training and employment... Read more...
Should we leave the heating on for our pets?
Should we leave the heating on for our pets?
|Sally Phillips
A recent survey by the Energy Savings Trust found that half of pet owners leave the heating on for their dog or cat while they are out for the day.... Read more...
Thermostat wars - are you a tinkerer or a control freak?
Thermostat wars - are you a tinkerer or a control freak?
|Sally Phillips
New Thermo-profiling splits homeowners into six different types by their relationship with their central heating. New research from Gocompare.com Energy reveals that Britain is a nation of "Thermostat Tinkerers" -... Read more...
Can a Chimney Balloon stop wind noise down the chimney?
Can a Chimney Balloon stop wind noise down the chimney?
|Sally Phillips
We often say that fitting a Chimney Balloon is like fitting double glazing in your chimney. If you have an open chimney it’s like leaving a window open all the... Read more...
Can I stop my cat from climbing the chimney?
Can I stop my cat from climbing the chimney?
|Sally Phillips
The Chimney Balloon®  is terrifically multi-purpose. Not only does it stop warm air from escaping up the chimney, it reduces your electricity bill as well as saving heat and money.... Read more...
The Smoke Pencil Draught Detector
The Smoke Pencil Draught Detector
|Sally Phillips
It's easy enough to identify the flow of air up the chimney - just put your arm in and you will notice it! Once you've blocked the chimney you will... Read more...
Where and how is the Chimney Balloon made?
Where and how is the Chimney Balloon made?
|Sally Phillips
How is the Chimney Balloon made? The Chimney Balloon is a deceptively complicated product to make. Like all good design, it is simple for the end user, but there are... Read more...
What is the most cost effective insulation measure?
What is the most cost effective insulation measure?
|Sally Phillips
Homes in the UK are notoriously draughty. It takes a lot of effort and money to retrofit them to be better insulated, and it can be confusing to work out... Read more...
Is a Chimney Balloon the same as a Chimsoc?
Is a Chimney Balloon the same as a Chimsoc?
|Derek George
Is a Chimney Balloon the same as a Chimsoc? “Most emphatically not!” sputtered Chimney Balloon inventor David Woodman indignantly, when I phoned him up to ask him. It seems I... Read more...