Chimney size table
The following table can be used as a guide to the size of chimney you
may have in your home. There is no substitute for getting your hands
dirty and actually
measuring
your chimney, but if you cannot do this for some reason
then find your house in the table and see what size of chimney is/was
most common. Remember with Chimney Balloons always to choose a
balloon that is bigger than your chimney in both width and depth, so
that it blocks the flue.
This table applies to houses in the UK and should only be used to
determine
approximate
chimney sizes. If none of the standard sized chimney balloons will suit
your chimney please
contact
us for a quote on a bespoke balloon.
Remember, this is an approximate guide only and
applies
to the date the chimneys
were built (we
have a 19th Century house that was rebuilt in the Second World War
following bomb damage so the chimney dates from 1945 and not 1880).
Regional variants tend to be smaller in the
northern or coal mining areas.
It is best to measure
(about a foot above the opening, inside the chimney)
to
make sure.
You can place the chimney balloon higher than your arm's length by
using a
handgrip
extension with a tap on the end, which adds 16" to
your reach. You can also use a 24 inch long
mouth
inflation hose to help you inflate the balloon in situ. The
hose can be used in combination with the handgrip extension if you wish.
Standard Chimney Balloon Sizes:
| Small |
Small Square/Lined flue(7" to 9" diameter) =
9"x9" or
Small Rectangular = 15"x9" |
| Medium |
Large Square/Lined flue = 12"x12" or
Medium Rectangular = 24"x12" |
| Large |
Large Rectangular = 36"x15" |
|
|
Some old chimneys deteriorate and may
have been lined recently to prevent leakage of fumes. The 9"x9" is
suitable for
these.
|
|
Chimneys originally built for a
kitchen range often narrow quickly to 12"x12". The 12"x12" chimney
balloon obviously fits here.
|
|
House
|
2-3 bed
|
2-3 bed
|
2-3 bed
|
2-4 bed
|
Large or tall terrace
|
Large
|
|
Description
|
Mid terrace
|
End terrace
|
Semi
|
Detached
|
Large Semi
|
Detached
|
|
Floor
|
ground
|
first
|
ground
|
first
|
ground
|
first
|
ground
|
first
|
ground
|
first
|
2nd
|
ground
|
first
|
2nd
|
|
Date Built
Up to 1800
|
Generally,
chimneys before 1800 are wider from front to back than later ones, so
they need to be measured and the chimney balloon made to size. Expect
common sizes such as 36"x24", 36"x18", 24"x16". See also Inglenooks
below.
|
|
1800-1850
|
M
|
S
|
L or M
|
S
|
L or M
|
S
|
L or M
|
M or S
|
L
|
L or M
|
S
|
L
|
L or M
|
S
|
|
1850-1900
|
M
|
M or S
|
L or M
|
M or S
|
L or M
|
M or S
|
L or M
|
M or S
|
L
|
M
|
S
|
L
|
M
|
S
|
|
circa 1900
|
M
|
S
|
L
|
M or S
|
*
|
S
|
*
|
S
|
L
|
M
|
S
|
L
|
M
|
S
|
|
1910-1935
|
*
|
S
|
M
|
S
|
*
|
S
|
*
|
S
|
L or M
|
M or S
|
S
|
*
|
M
|
S
|
|
1935-1960
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
#
|
S
|
#
|
S
|
M
|
M
|
S
|
M
|
M
|
S
|
|
1960-1965
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
S
|
M
|
S
|
M
|
S
|
M
|
M
|
S
|
M
|
M
|
S
|
|
1965 on
|
Chimneys
after 1965 have liners. There are two types, either 8" to 9" diameter
or 11" to 12" square. Some liners are too far up to reach, and instead
a Small, 18"x12", or Medium can be fitted in the space just above the
fireplace opening.
|
|
Canopies
|
Normally,
a chimney balloon can be fitted at the top. It will usually be
somewhere between
Small and Medium, but may be an odd size. Avoid any jagged edges of
metal or the sharp ends of screws.
|
|
Inglenooks
|
If
the chimney gathers (tapers) slowly, you can fit a chimney balloon in a
fairly
accessible position. Use the extra-long handgrips to reach.
Sometimes there are two metal bars in the chimney, just above is a good
place. 'Younger' Inglenooks (250 years) normally gather fairly quickly.
It is best not to put a chimney balloon in the gather - it will
probably fall out. Where the flue passes the
floor above is smaller and this is the best spot. Expect around 3 feet
x 2 feet.
|
|
*
|
Sometimes
a Medium chimney balloon, but some chimneys around this time were made
wide and
slim to keep the chimney breast from jutting into the room. They vary
around 30" x 10" and are tailor made (bespoke).
|
|
#
|
Usually small, but where a back boiler
was originally fitted (usually a back room), it will probably be a
Medium.
|
