| If your home has any chimneys, you simply can't | | | | * You may find that throughout the year, your |
| afford not to install a chimney balloon. These simple | | | | chimney allows soot, debris, twigs, leaves, bits of |
| DIY items have many benefits, and are well worth | | | | birds nest and perhaps even flying insects into your |
| the modest cost of purchase at any time of the | | | | room! Chimney pillows have an extra benefit here, in |
| year. Our guide here gives you key facts about their | | | | preventing these from coming down the chimney - |
| the year round benefits and a simple overview of | | | | meaning you have to spend less time cleaning the |
| how to fit one. You may sometimes hear a chimney | | | | hearth. |
| balloon referred to as a chimney pillow, so we're | | | | Fitting A Chimney Balloon Is Easy |
| going to use the terms interchangeably throughout | | | | The installation is genuinely a DIY project, and the |
| our guide. | | | | only equipment required is a mouth inflation tube or |
| In The Colder Months | | | | an everyday pump. You can use an air bed pump or |
| * A chimney pillow keeps the heat inside the room | | | | a pump you'd normally use to blow up poolside |
| by preventing heated air escaping out into the sky. | | | | inflatables. You'll find that bicycle pumps will also work |
| You may be using the fireplace itself, or another | | | | well, except those for certain types of 'racing bikes'. |
| source of heating, but either way, your chimney is | | | | Another option is the type of portable pump you'd |
| effectively a giant tube which opens to the outside | | | | keep in the car to keep your tyres inflated. |
| of your home. | | | | You simply fit the chimney balloon ideally 12 to 24 |
| * A chimney balloon seals the chimney more | | | | inches inside the chimney, preferably at the |
| effectively than glass doors or dampers - especially | | | | narrowest part of the flue. Don't worry - there's no |
| important if you're using other heating sources. It is | | | | fumbling about trying to wrestle the chimney pillow |
| frustrating to pay good money for a conventional | | | | into the space - you only inflate it fully once it's in the |
| radiator, for example, only to find that you're simply | | | | correct position. The whole operation can take a |
| heating the sky. | | | | matter of minutes rather than hours. |
| * Chimney balloons also stop draughts blowing in | | | | Annual maintenance consists of checking the chimney |
| down the chimney. This can be especially noticeable in | | | | pillow each season, and perhaps topping the air up a |
| the autumn, before its cold enough to put the | | | | little. You do need to remove it before you light a |
| heating on or light a fire. You'll notice the rooms feel | | | | fire, but should you forget, this will not pose a danger |
| less chilly immediately after installing a chimney pillow. | | | | to you as it will simply shrivel. Leaving a reminder tag |
| All Year Round | | | | (supplied with chimney balloons like those from My |
| * A chimney balloon offers protection against outside | | | | Greener Home) somewhere on your fireplace will help |
| noise levels disturbing your peace and quiet. By | | | | you avoid wasting your investment here. It's also |
| literally blocking your chimney's 'open ear' to the | | | | simple to deflate and then re-install the chimney |
| world outside, you should experience less noise in the | | | | balloon when you're ready to use it again. |
| room. | | | | |