Comments on: How to Stop Your Fireplace from Being an Energy Eater http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/09/22/how-to-stop-your-fireplace-from-being-an-energy-eater/ Reporting on Sustainably Built Environments from Bricks to Cities Thu, 24 May 2012 05:28:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: how to stop fire in fireplace http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/09/22/how-to-stop-your-fireplace-from-being-an-energy-eater/comment-page-1/#comment-123119 how to stop fire in fireplace Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:58:49 +0000 http://greenbuildingelements.com/?p=634#comment-123119 [...] 2-http://greenbuildingelements.com/ 3-http://www.ehow.com/ box [...] [...] 2-http://greenbuildingelements.com/ 3-http://www.ehow.com/ box [...]

]]> By: Hearth & Home: Fireplace Options | The House Designers http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/09/22/how-to-stop-your-fireplace-from-being-an-energy-eater/comment-page-1/#comment-13812 Hearth & Home: Fireplace Options | The House Designers Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:30:43 +0000 http://greenbuildingelements.com/?p=634#comment-13812 [...] warm fireplace that fits your specific lifestyle and personal preference. However, there’s a dark secret about your fireplace: you are making your house colder, and could be contributing significantly to pollution depending [...] [...] warm fireplace that fits your specific lifestyle and personal preference. However, there’s a dark secret about your fireplace: you are making your house colder, and could be contributing significantly to pollution depending [...]

]]> By: Chucky http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/09/22/how-to-stop-your-fireplace-from-being-an-energy-eater/comment-page-1/#comment-12376 Chucky Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:05:01 +0000 http://greenbuildingelements.com/?p=634#comment-12376 These things totally rock. A huge fireplace came with the existing home I purchased. I already knew that it was a net loser for heat, so for a few years I plugged up the flue with an ad hoc foam plug. Worked ok, but when I had a blower door test, we discovered it was far from perfect. Of course the flue door was just this metal flap which certainly did not fully seal either. Got a balloon last year and it sealed my flue completely. Like, hermetically sealed. To the commenter above, removing it is very easy, the valve hose hangs down so you can just turn the valve to deflate and remove. But like you, I never use the fireplace at all, so chances are the balloon will remain permanently. Mine has been in there for almost a full year and has not needed to be pumped up. Pretty amazing since I assumed it would slowly loose air over time. Now if only I could get a wood insert that fit my fireplace openings. Mine is very unique and cannot accept any that are currently available. A wood stove insert is a very viable method to actually get some use out of a typical fireplace. Quadra-Fire and others can be 80%+ efficient, use outside makeup air so they don't draw from the house, and even have nice big glass doors for the ambiance. These things totally rock. A huge fireplace came with the existing home I purchased. I already knew that it was a net loser for heat, so for a few years I plugged up the flue with an ad hoc foam plug. Worked ok, but when I had a blower door test, we discovered it was far from perfect. Of course the flue door was just this metal flap which certainly did not fully seal either.

Got a balloon last year and it sealed my flue completely. Like, hermetically sealed.

To the commenter above, removing it is very easy, the valve hose hangs down so you can just turn the valve to deflate and remove. But like you, I never use the fireplace at all, so chances are the balloon will remain permanently. Mine has been in there for almost a full year and has not needed to be pumped up. Pretty amazing since I assumed it would slowly loose air over time.

Now if only I could get a wood insert that fit my fireplace openings. Mine is very unique and cannot accept any that are currently available. A wood stove insert is a very viable method to actually get some use out of a typical fireplace. Quadra-Fire and others can be 80%+ efficient, use outside makeup air so they don’t draw from the house, and even have nice big glass doors for the ambiance.

]]> By: Chucky http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/09/22/how-to-stop-your-fireplace-from-being-an-energy-eater/comment-page-1/#comment-98285 Chucky Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:05:00 +0000 http://greenbuildingelements.com/?p=634#comment-98285 These things totally rock. A huge fireplace came with the existing home I purchased. I already knew that it was a net loser for heat, so for a few years I plugged up the flue with an ad hoc foam plug. Worked ok, but when I had a blower door test, we discovered it was far from perfect. Of course the flue door was just this metal flap which certainly did not fully seal either. Got a balloon last year and it sealed my flue completely. Like, hermetically sealed. To the commenter above, removing it is very easy, the valve hose hangs down so you can just turn the valve to deflate and remove. But like you, I never use the fireplace at all, so chances are the balloon will remain permanently. Mine has been in there for almost a full year and has not needed to be pumped up. Pretty amazing since I assumed it would slowly loose air over time. Now if only I could get a wood insert that fit my fireplace openings. Mine is very unique and cannot accept any that are currently available. A wood stove insert is a very viable method to actually get some use out of a typical fireplace. Quadra-Fire and others can be 80%+ efficient, use outside makeup air so they don't draw from the house, and even have nice big glass doors for the ambiance. These things totally rock. A huge fireplace came with the existing home I purchased. I already knew that it was a net loser for heat, so for a few years I plugged up the flue with an ad hoc foam plug. Worked ok, but when I had a blower door test, we discovered it was far from perfect. Of course the flue door was just this metal flap which certainly did not fully seal either.

Got a balloon last year and it sealed my flue completely. Like, hermetically sealed.

To the commenter above, removing it is very easy, the valve hose hangs down so you can just turn the valve to deflate and remove. But like you, I never use the fireplace at all, so chances are the balloon will remain permanently. Mine has been in there for almost a full year and has not needed to be pumped up. Pretty amazing since I assumed it would slowly loose air over time.

Now if only I could get a wood insert that fit my fireplace openings. Mine is very unique and cannot accept any that are currently available. A wood stove insert is a very viable method to actually get some use out of a typical fireplace. Quadra-Fire and others can be 80%+ efficient, use outside makeup air so they don’t draw from the house, and even have nice big glass doors for the ambiance.

]]> By: Halfhandy http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/09/22/how-to-stop-your-fireplace-from-being-an-energy-eater/comment-page-1/#comment-11049 Halfhandy Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:43:29 +0000 http://greenbuildingelements.com/?p=634#comment-11049 It makes sense. I know Chris Schille has written articles on here before about fireplaces and their inefficiencies. Im looking at these chimney balloons online and wondering how they are removable once they are inflated into place. I dont use my fireplace anyway, but it would be nice to know how to take it out. It makes sense. I know Chris Schille has written articles on here before about fireplaces and their inefficiencies.
Im looking at these chimney balloons online and wondering how they are removable once they are inflated into place. I dont use my fireplace anyway, but it would be nice to know how to take it out.

]]> By: Halfhandy http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/09/22/how-to-stop-your-fireplace-from-being-an-energy-eater/comment-page-1/#comment-98284 Halfhandy Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:43:00 +0000 http://greenbuildingelements.com/?p=634#comment-98284 It makes sense. I know Chris Schille has written articles on here before about fireplaces and their inefficiencies. Im looking at these chimney balloons online and wondering how they are removable once they are inflated into place. I dont use my fireplace anyway, but it would be nice to know how to take it out. It makes sense. I know Chris Schille has written articles on here before about fireplaces and their inefficiencies.
Im looking at these chimney balloons online and wondering how they are removable once they are inflated into place. I dont use my fireplace anyway, but it would be nice to know how to take it out.

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