If you’re feeling a persistent cold draft from your fireplace in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, or Essex, you’re not alone. Unused chimneys are notorious for allowing cold air to flow freely into your home, increasing heating costs and creating uncomfortable living spaces. While some homeowners consider permanent solutions like bricking up fireplaces, there are excellent temporary alternatives that preserve your chimney’s functionality without the commitment or potential problems of permanent modifications.
At Ablewight Chimney Services, we often recommend chimney balloons and chimney sheep as effective, affordable solutions for eliminating drafts. This comprehensive guide will help you understand the benefits of each option and determine which is right for your specific situation.
Why Temporary Solutions Beat Permanent Alterations
Before exploring the specific options, it’s important to understand why temporary draft excluders are often preferable to permanent alterations like bricking up a fireplace.
The Problems with Permanent Modifications
Bricking up a fireplace might seem like a definitive solution to drafts, but this approach comes with several significant drawbacks:
- Ventilation issues: Chimneys provide essential ventilation for your home. Permanently sealing them can lead to dampness and condensation problems.
- Heritage implications: For period properties across Cambridge, Saffron Walden, and other historic areas, permanent alterations may affect the building’s character and potentially its value.
- Future flexibility: Tastes and needs change. A permanent modification eliminates the option to use your fireplace in the future.
- Professional costs: Proper bricking up requires professional installation to avoid moisture problems, making it considerably more expensive than temporary solutions.
- Potential for hidden problems: Improperly sealed fireplaces can create hidden moisture traps, leading to mold growth and potential structural issues that are difficult to detect until significant damage has occurred.
The Benefits of Temporary Solutions
Chimney balloons and chimney sheep offer compelling advantages:
- Fully reversible: Both can be removed in minutes if you decide to use your fireplace again.
- Cost-effective: Fraction of the cost of permanent modifications.
- DIY-friendly: Most homeowners can install these themselves without professional help.
- Effective performance: Both options can significantly reduce drafts while allowing minimal ventilation to prevent dampness.
- Maintains chimney health: The slight airflow they permit helps keep your chimney in good condition, preventing the stagnant air issues that can occur with complete sealing.
Chimney Balloons: How They Work
A chimney balloon (also called a chimney pillow or draught excluder) is an inflatable device designed to fit inside your chimney flue while it’s not in use, creating an air block that prevents drafts while still allowing minimal ventilation.
Key Benefits of Chimney Balloons
- Universal fit: Available in multiple sizes to fit virtually any chimney flue shape and dimension.
- Completely invisible: Once installed, the balloon sits out of sight up the chimney.
- Excellent insulation: The air-filled design provides superior thermal insulation properties.
- Safety features: Quality balloons are designed to deflate automatically if accidentally exposed to heat (if someone lights a fire forgetting the balloon is installed).
- Simple removal: Can be quickly deflated and removed when you want to use your fireplace.
Perfect Scenarios for Chimney Balloons
Chimney balloons are particularly well-suited for:
- Irregularly shaped flues: The flexible nature of balloons allows them to conform to unusual chimney shapes.
- Seasonal users: If you occasionally use your fireplace in winter but want to block drafts the rest of the year.
- Rental properties: Their completely removable nature makes them ideal for tenants (with landlord permission).
- Victorian terraced homes: Common throughout Cambridge, Royston, and Huntingdon, these properties often have multiple fireplaces that create significant drafts.
- Holiday homes: Particularly useful in Suffolk and Essex coastal properties where winter protection is needed when the property is vacant.
Installation and Maintenance Tips
Installing a chimney balloon is straightforward:
- Measure your flue dimensions carefully.
- Partially inflate the balloon before inserting it into the flue, typically positioning it just out of sight above the fireplace.
- Continue inflating until the balloon is firmly in place but not over-inflated.
- Leave the inflation tube hanging down as a reminder that the balloon is installed.
For maintenance, we recommend:
- Checking the balloon every 3-6 months for proper inflation
- Removing and cleaning once yearly
- Replacing every 3-5 years depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations
Chimney Sheep: The Wool Alternative
A chimney sheep is made from thick, felted Herdwick wool attached to a handle. This sustainable alternative to plastic balloons offers excellent draft-excluding properties with some unique advantages.
Key Benefits of Chimney Sheep
- Sustainable materials: Made from natural, renewable wool rather than plastic.
- Breathability: The wool naturally allows minimal airflow while blocking drafts, helping to prevent condensation issues.
- Durability: Typically lasts longer than balloon alternatives with proper care.
- No risk of accidental deflation: Unlike balloons, sheep won’t lose effectiveness over time due to slow air leaks.
- Easy insertion and removal: The rigid handle makes positioning and removing the sheep straightforward.
- Fire resistance: Wool is naturally fire-resistant (though still must be removed before lighting a fire).
Perfect Scenarios for Chimney Sheep
Chimney sheep work particularly well for:
- Standard-sized, square or rectangular flues: Their more rigid structure makes them ideal for conventional flue shapes.
- Environmentally conscious homeowners: The natural materials appeal to those seeking eco-friendly solutions.
- Long-term draft exclusion: Their durability makes them excellent for chimneys that are rarely or never used.
- Homes with children: No risk of puncture or deflation from curious little hands.
- Older properties with significant drafts: Common in villages across Hertfordshire and Essex, where traditional chimney designs can create substantial air movement.
Installation and Maintenance Tips
Installing a chimney sheep requires:
- Accurate measurement of your flue size (width and depth).
- Selection of the appropriate sized sheep (slightly oversized is better than undersized).
- Compressing the wool slightly and inserting it into the chimney throat, typically just above the damper area.
- Ensuring the handle remains accessible for easy removal.
For maintenance:
- Remove and shake the sheep outside occasionally to remove any accumulated soot or debris
- Store flat when not in use to maintain shape
- With proper care, a quality chimney sheep can last 10+ years
Comparing Performance: Balloon vs. Sheep
When deciding between these options, consider these performance factors:
Draft Prevention Effectiveness
Both products effectively reduce drafts by 90-95% when properly installed and sized. Balloons may have a slight edge in irregular flues due to their ability to conform to unusual shapes.
Longevity
- Chimney Balloons: Typically last 3-5 years before needing replacement
- Chimney Sheep: Often last 8-10+ years with proper care
Price Comparison
- Chimney Balloons: Generally range from £15-£35 depending on size
- Chimney Sheep: Typically cost £25-£60 depending on size
The higher initial cost of the sheep is often offset by its longer lifespan, making the lifetime value comparable.
Environmental Impact
The chimney sheep has a clear advantage here, being made from sustainable, biodegradable wool rather than plastic. For environmentally conscious homeowners in Cambridge and surrounding areas, this factor alone often determines their choice.
Installation Considerations
Whichever option you choose, proper installation is crucial for effectiveness and safety.
Measuring Your Chimney Correctly
The most common reason for draft excluder failure is incorrect sizing. Manufacturers typically provide detailed measuring instructions, but here’s a general guide to help you measure your chimney correctly:
- Width and depth measurements: Measure the narrowest part of your chimney throat (typically just above the fireplace). For rectangular flues, measure both the width and depth.
- Irregular shapes: For non-rectangular flues, measure the widest points in different directions or follow the specific manufacturer’s guide for irregular shapes.
- Allow for overlap: Most manufacturers recommend purchasing a size slightly larger than your measurements to ensure a proper seal. Typically, add 1-2cm to your measurements when selecting a size.
- Check height clearance: Ensure there’s sufficient height in the flue for the product to sit comfortably without being visible from the room.
Position in the Flue
For maximum effectiveness, both devices should be positioned in the chimney throat – the narrowest part of the flue just above the fireplace. This location provides the best seal while remaining accessible.
Safety Reminders
Both products must be completely removed before lighting a fire. We recommend:
- Leaving a visible reminder that a draft excluder is installed
- Adding a note to any fireplace tools or matches
- For holiday homes or properties with occasional visitors, consider attaching a prominent notice near the fireplace
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use these in a chimney that occasionally has fires?
Yes, both options are designed to be removable when you want to use your fireplace. Just ensure you completely remove the balloon or sheep before lighting any fire.
Will these solutions affect my chimney’s condition?
Unlike permanent sealing, these temporary solutions allow minimal airflow, which actually helps maintain chimney health by preventing the complete stagnation of air that can lead to dampness problems.
How do I know which size to buy?
Most manufacturers provide detailed measurement guides with their products. Follow these instructions carefully, measuring the throat of your chimney at its narrowest point. Remember that it’s better to choose a slightly oversized product than an undersized one. If you’re uncertain, many manufacturers offer guidance via phone or email to help you select the correct size.
Are these solutions compatible with lined chimneys?
Yes, both chimney balloons and sheep can be used with lined chimneys. For metal-lined flues, we typically recommend chimney sheep as they adapt better to the smooth surface.
Will they completely eliminate drafts?
While both products significantly reduce drafts (typically 90-95%), they intentionally allow some minimal airflow for chimney health. For complete elimination of drafts, only permanent sealing would suffice, but this comes with the significant drawbacks discussed earlier.
Can I install these myself or do I need a professional?
Most homeowners can successfully install either option without professional help. However, if you’re uncertain about measurements or placement, we’re happy to assist during a regular chimney maintenance visit.
How Ablewight Chimney Services Can Help
At Ablewight Chimney Services, we provide expert guidance on chimney health and maintenance across Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk, and Essex. While chimney balloons and sheep are typically self-install products, our services include:
- Professional advice on maintaining good chimney health and ventilation
- Regular sweeping to ensure your chimney remains in optimal condition
- Unbiased recommendations based on your specific chimney type and condition
Our team of fully qualified chimney specialists brings decades of experience to every job. As the authors of the City & Guilds Chimney Sweeping Qualification and certified Guild Sweeps, we apply industry-leading expertise to help you maintain a comfortable, energy-efficient home while preserving your chimney’s long-term health.
The Smart Alternative to Permanent Changes
Chimney balloons and chimney sheep represent intelligent, cost-effective solutions to chimney drafts without the commitment or potential problems of permanent modifications. By maintaining the option to return your fireplace to full use while significantly reducing uncomfortable drafts and energy waste, these products offer the best of both worlds.
Whether you choose the conforming fit of a balloon or the sustainable wool of a sheep will depend on your specific chimney characteristics and personal preferences. Either way, you’ll be making a smart investment in your home’s comfort and energy efficiency while preserving its architectural integrity and future flexibility.
For advice on maintaining your chimney’s health while using draft prevention solutions, contact Ablewight Chimney Services today at 01223 627012.
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