What we do
We are Chimney Balloon and we are the original creators of the Chimney Balloon draught excluder. Made in the UK, our Chimney Balloon is still the highest quality, most effective and safest inflatable chimney draught excluder on the market. We are very passionate about chimney draught excluders!
The Chimney Balloon has been tested by BSRIA and was found to block 87% of airflow up the chimney. The Buildings Research Establishment state that 80 cubic metres of air travel up the chimney per hour so fitting a Balloon is one of the quickest and cost-effective means of draught proofing your home.
After listening to feedback and thorough testing, we launched a new and improved design of our Chimney Balloon in 2023. As materials and manufacturing methods have improved over the years, the Chimney Balloon has undergone a total revamp. There are fewer components, and more durable parts making the final balloon more reliable, longer lasting and more effective. Available in four sizes to ensure a good fit for most chimneys, this is currently the best inflatable Chimney Balloon on the market.
Made in the UK
The Chimney Balloon is made by Watford Workshop, a charity which provides supported employment, work and life skills training to adults with disabilities. They provide a job for adults with disabilities. This not only provides them with financial security but also a purpose, social skills and helps them to develop a social circle that builds long term friendships. This makes a huge difference to their employees’ inclusion in society, mental health and well-being. Over 60 attend the Workshop with a variety of support needs, including individuals with physical and/or learning disabilities, those with sight or hearing difficulties and mental health conditions every week.
Watford Workshop not only provides professional training but also Life Skills training to help their people to be as independent as they can be outside of the workplace. This enhances not only their lives but those of their support network who get comfort in knowing they have been given the ability to take care of themselves when they are no longer around.
Watford Workshop have made hundreds of thousands of Chimney Balloons with strict quality control at each stage of production. The product that Watford Workshop provides us with is of the highest quality and we couldn’t be prouder to use their services.
Company History
The Chimney Balloon was created by engineer and inventor David Woodman in the late 1980’s. He and his wife Irene developed the Chimney Balloon Co, and back in the days when there was no internet, grew it into an international business. When the patent expired in 2012 there was a flurry of cheap copies that appeared on the market. These were made by attempting to reverse engineer the Balloon but failed to appreciate some of the finer details. The Chimney Balloon remains the most effective and safest of the inflatable chimney draught excluders.
When David and Irene retired in 2017 The Chimney Balloon Co was sold to Chimney Sheep Ltd.
Our sister company
Our sister company is Chimney Sheep Ltd.They are the creators of the Chimney Sheep wool chimney draught excluder. The company also creates a whole host of other sustainable solutions for your home and garden. There is a synergy between the Chimney Balloon chimney draught excluder and the Chimney Sheep. Our friendly team are happy to advise on which product is most suitable for your chimney and circumstance. If your chimney falls outside the Chimney Balloon size range, we can offer to make you a bespoke Chimney Sheep.
Buy Land Plant Trees
For every purchase you made with us and Chimney Sheep Ltd, 20% of the profit goes towards our Community Interest Company (CIC), Buy Land Plant Trees. This facilitates the planting of trees on agriculturally poor land in Cumbria. We set up BLPT in 2019 as a ‘boots on the ground’ tree planting initiative that is run and operated by us.