When draught-proofing our homes we need to be strategic. Air-flow in a building is complicated, with multiple ways in for cold air and routes out for warm air. It is the passage of warm air out of a building that creates the pull of cold air into the building that we notice. However the locations …
As I’ve mentioned before, the Chimney Balloon is made by the charity Watford Workshop. The charity, which is now over 50 years old, gives work experience, skills training and employment to disabled and disadvantaged people, working to up-skill and build their confidence. Working with Watford Workshop has been a fundamental part of our business over …
A recent survey by the Energy Savings Trust found that half of pet owners leave the heating on for their dog or cat while they are out for the day. Nationally this amounts to around £78 million in additional heating costs. While this is costing each pet owner around £140 per year, a single visit …
New Thermo-profiling splits homeowners into six different types by their relationship with their central heating. New research from Gocompare.com Energy reveals that Britain is a nation of “Thermostat Tinkerers” – constantly tweaking the thermostat to get the heating just right. However, 3% of homeowners admit to being “Tropical Hotties” with the temperature cranked up to …
We often say that fitting a Chimney Balloon is like fitting double glazing in your chimney. If you have an open chimney it’s like leaving a window open all the time. The Chimney Balloon effectively closes the opening. What causes wind noise in a chimney? There’s usually a constant flow of air up a chimney. …
It’s easy enough to identify the flow of air up the chimney – just put your arm in and you will notice it! Once you’ve blocked the chimney you will find that a lot of the other draughts around the home are significantly reduced. Having an open chimney is like leaving a window open all …
How is the Chimney Balloon made? The Chimney Balloon is a deceptively complicated product to make. Like all good design, it is simple for the end user, but there are no less than 16 components in it and 38 procedures in the construction of it. Each stage has to be conducted meticulously, so that there …
Homes in the UK are notoriously draughty. It takes a lot of effort and money to retrofit them to be better insulated, and it can be confusing to work out which measures offer the best value for money. What are the most cost effective insulation measures? We had a look at the measures recommended by the …
“Most emphatically not!” sputtered Chimney Balloon inventor David Woodman indignantly, when I phoned him up to ask him. It seems I had stumbled upon a story of betrayal, subterfuge and rivalry in the little-known world of chimney draught excluders. Innovative design David Woodman invented the Chimney Balloon back in 1989. He was an engineer and …
