- The Fireplace Draftstopper saves up to 30% on heat and air conditioning costs!
- The Fireplace Draftstopper stops uncomfortable cold chimney downdrafts!
- The Fireplace Draftstopper reduces the entry of odors and harmful toxins into the house!
- The Fireplace Draftstopper can pay for itself in heating cost savings in just one month!
- The Fireplace Draftstopper (Large) fits any masonry fireplace!
Product Description
Fireplaces are energy losers! Researchers have determined that an open damper on an unused fireplace in a well-insulated house can raise overall heating energy consumption by 30%! The Fireplace Draftstopper is an energy-saving device for the fireplace. Why Does a Home With a Fireplace Have Higher Heating Bills? Hot air rises! The fireplace is like a giant straw – sucking your heated air from your house. This is like leaving a large window open all winter long! The S… More >>
Fireplace Chimney Draft Stop Plug Balloon – Fits Any Masonry Fireplace.
This does work very well, perhaps only in the right chimneys, perhaps only when installed correctly. I have had this for four months and will adjust my review, later, if a problem develops (such as a puncture).
It stops so much cold air that I need to put my hand directly under it just to feel a difference in ambient temperature. This also means that it stops the fireplace odors that were entering the room. I’ve even tried it with the flue open and it still keeps the cold out.
It does not self-install: you have to take the time and be careful. I can now do it in about three minutes. Some words on installation:
- After you THINK you have installed it correctly, feel around all of the edges for leaks. When you feel a leak, simply push – or pull – that section of the balloon into the right spot to fully stop the leak.
- The balloon does give the impression of deflating, but this is a misnomer. In cold temperatures a balloon will shrink, not deflate, due to the air cooling in the balloon. This happened once, so far, to the point where cold air began infiltrating. All you need do is to inflate it a little, while the balloon is still in place (the long inflation tube makes it easy) and then check around the edges again as above.
Our room has been truly comfortable for the first winter in 15 years due to this. My only concern is it’s ruggedness. If it does not puncture, it will pay for itself in about 2 years. I have been somewhat intentionally rough with it to test this and, so far, am impressed that it hasn’t punctured.
UPDATE January 2010:
Have now been putting this in and out weekly for the second winter. Performs as well as new. Seems to be quite resistant to puncturing (and it’s been pushed to the limit). If it were to puncture at this point, I would buy another one.
Rating: 5 / 5
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3I7EKP480S4TX Fireplace Chimney Draft Stop Plug Balloon (Large Pillow) – Fits Any Masonry Fireplace.
Rating: 5 / 5
Overall, I achieved better results (and less messy!) using a blanket covering the opening. Perhaps it’s just my fireplace shape, but there is no significant improvement in draft stoppage. In the end, I’m still using the same old external cover to minimize downdrafts. The telescoping stick is too short for big fireplaces & the pillow fit is poor, plus it shifts if you have serious downdrafts. I will likely end up getting a new damper installed & the cost of this would have been better applied to that. Plus to remove it to actually make a fire is messy & a pain to get it back in place again. Save your money or get more creative with Home Depot materials & make one yourself.
Rating: 1 / 5
I just put this in my chimney, and I have noticed an immediate difference. I used to be able to feel a draft when I was near the fireplace, but now I feel nothing. I haven’t seen a utility bill since I put it in, but I’m sure that it is going to pay for itself pretty quickly. There is really no other option besides this or something like it to block the chimney off, so I highly recommend this.
Rating: 5 / 5
Our chimney draftstopper has now been in place for about 1 year with NO ISSUES. No concerns or leaks. I have not had to reinflate it or fuss with it in any manner.
Rating: 4 / 5