Chimney Balloon FAQs
What is a Chimney Balloon® ?
A Chimney Balloon is the original chimney draught excluder – the first one that ever came to market. It’s an inflatable chimney stopper that has been carefully designed to expand and mould to the walls of the chimney. It then grips the inside of the chimney, forming a physical barrier – preventing warm air from rising up out of the home and cold air from seeping in, as if you’d popped a bit of double glazing up your chimney.
Does the Chimney Balloon® work?
We can say a resounding yes to this question! Not only is the product tried and tested, but various iterations of the Chimney Balloon have also been available since the 1980s. Meaning we have produced thousands upon thousands of balloons and reached many thousands of customers too. We receive lots of great feedback about the product every day.
Is the Chimney Balloon® safe?
Yes!
When it’s exposed to direct heat or naked flames it simply shrivels away. Meaning if you were to accidentally light a fire, your balloon would simply pop and unblock the chimney.
How much money can a Chimney Balloon® save?
A Chimney Balloon® will save in the region of 4% off your heating bill.
Can a Chimney Balloon® chimney draught excluder stop wind noise?
It can indeed help with wind noise depending on the circumstances. Just be careful because if it’s really windy, the Chimney Balloon® can get sucked up the chimney. It’s best to tether it to something heavy in the hearth when it’s windy. To be honest, the Chimney Sheep® is probably your best bet if you are bothered by wind noise as it’s more robust and is a thick layer of felt that will deaden the sound better. But a Chimney Balloon® will definitely help.
Can a Chimney Balloon® chimney draught stopper prevent debris?
Yes, the balloon acts as a physical barrier, blockading the entrance to the chimney off, so if you’ve got chunks of chimney debris falling down, instead of dropping into the fireplace they will accumulate on top of the product instead. If you have a chimney that’s prone to dropping a lot of material, we recommend taking the Chimney Balloon out every few months just to make sure you haven’t got too much debris accumulating in there.
Can a Chimney Balloon® help stop insects in my chimney?
A balloon can certainly act as a deterrent to nesting bees and wasps if they’re entering your chimney. By inserting a Chimney Balloon® you’re putting a physical blockade in place which can help prevent insects from nesting inside the chimney – this is just because its more difficult for them to get inside. We can’t guarantee 100% effectiveness when you’re using the balloon for this method, but we’ve had plenty of positive feedback suggesting it can help!
Can I light a fire when my Chimney Balloon® is in place?
Please don’t do that! The Chimney Balloon is not designed to stay in place with a lit fire. Simply remove it when you want to light the fire, and put it back in when the fire’s gone out.
Can I fit a Chimney Balloon® chimney plug into a gas fire flue?
Gas Safe™ – the UK’s gas safety network – states that you should never permanently block a gas fire flue, that is linked to a live gas fire.
However, it is perfectly safe to fit a chimney draught excluder in the flue of a disconnected gas fire.
Our magnetic fireplace draught excluders are intended for use with gas fires. Just make sure there isn’t a lit pilot light if you use one of these.
Will a Chimney Balloon® cause damp?
No. The balloon’s design means that a small amount of air can still flow past the product – meaning you still get a little bit of ventilation in your chimney, just enough to ensure no damp forms, but that you don’t notice the airflow. All homes need ventilation, but chimneys provide uncontrolled ventilation. Fitting a Chimney Balloon® means taking back control of ventilation in the home.
How do I know what size balloon to purchase?
You will need to measure your chimney – front to back and side to side. We just have four sizes of Chimney Balloon to keep it simple. Each one will fit a wide range of flues.
Why is the Chimney Balloon® not one size fits all?
Chimneys vary so much, some are smaller than a letterbox, and others larger than a door. Unfortunately, it just isn’t possible to cover this huge size range, with the materials available to make balloons. Which is why we have different sizes of balloons. It’s important that you measure your chimney to get an idea of how big it is that way we can ensure you get the right size balloon for your chimney.
But, I've seen a universal inflatable chimney draught excluder?
This will only disappoint! You might get lucky but there’s a good chance it won’t fit properly. Take the time to measure your chimney, then you will be sure of getting a Chimney Balloon® that does an efficient job for you.
Ordering, Shipping, Returns and General FAQs
Can I place an order over the phone?
Absolutely! Just give us a ring on 01900 817109 between 8:30am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, and we can process your order.
Can I shop in other currencies on your store?
Yes! Just send us an email with what you would like, how many, and your delivery address to info@chimneyballoon.co.uk and we will get back to you with a quote.
Once I have placed my order, can I amend it?
If you need to amend your order, please contact us as soon as possible via email on info@chimneyballoon.co.uk or by calling us on 01900 817109.
Our warehouse team works very hard to pick, pack and ship orders as soon as possible. If your order is being processed by the team, we cannot promise that we will be able to amend your order before it leaves. However, we will always do our best to help where we can. Please be sure to check your details and order contents before you checkout.
Is it possible to cancel my order?
If you need to cancel your order, please contact us as soon as possible via email on info@chimneyballoon.co.uk or by calling us on 01900 817109.
Our warehouse team works very hard to pick, pack and ship orders as soon as possible. If your order is already being processed by the team, we cannot promise that we will be able to amend your order before it leaves. However, we will always do our best to help where we can.
Where is my order?
Please refer to our shipping policy for all information on dispatch and delivery timeframes.
Do you ship outside of the UK?
WE sell them on Amazon so that’s the easiest way of getting them shipped outside the UK. If you’re in the USA then you can buy them from our friendly distributor, Jason Raddenbach, at www.cleverlysolved.com.
Has my order been dispatched?
You should receive an email notification informing you of when your order has been dispatched. Please ensure you check your Junk mailbox.
We try to dispatch orders the next working day, however in busier times it may take slightly longer. Please refer to our shipping policy for more information.
How long will my order take to be delivered?
Please refer to our shipping policy for shipping options and timeframes.
What is your refund policy?
Our refund policy can be found here.
I want to return an item. How do I do this?
Please refer to our returns policy here.
I want to exchange an item. How do I do this?
The quickest way to get the correct item is by returning the incorrect item for a refund and making a new order to buy the replacement item online. Our returns policy can be found here.
My item has arrived damaged/faulty. What do I do?
We are very sorry this has happened. Please get in touch with us to discuss the issue and we can either send you out a new one or give you a refund.
I have ordered one of your products through Amazon and there is an issue with it. Who do I contact?
For all Amazon orders, you will need to make contact through Amazon.
Do I need to obtain a tracking number for my purchase if I am returning it?
If possible, yes. At the very least, please retain your proof of postage until the item has arrived back at our warehouse and a refund has been given.
Where is Chimney Balloon Co based?
We are based in Workington, Cumbria.