Chimney draught excluder recommendations please

[Thingsthatgo]

In our new house have an open chimney. We would like to stop the draughts, and have seen lots of different options online. What is the best thing to use? Can we just use a bit of board, or does it need to be something more specific? Do we need to allow some air flow, or is that no necessary?
Thank you!

[BeautifulBirds]

My mum used to shove an old duvet up the chimney, and had no issues. She's done the same again this year.

[mayblossominapril]

A bin liner (a thick one) stuffed with scrunched up newspapers if you haven’t got an old duvet x

[Scarby9]

I have chimney balloons up my living room and bedroom chimneys.
www.chimneyballoon.co.uk/

[Wingedharpy]

I am the proud owner of 2 chimney sheep.
//www.chimneysheep.co.uk
It made a huge difference in my draughty old terraced house.

[BruceAndNosh]

I've got a chimney sheep too!

[FedUpAtHomeTroels]

We use a thick bin bag with a pillow inside, squeeze all the air out, shove it up and poke a hole in the bag to let air in it. Make a very tight fit to stop draughts.

[womaninatightspot]

I popped a duvet up but ended up with a damp issue in that wall. I ended up taking off lathe and plaster and reinsulating. I put in a woodstove which we use more than a fire and doesn't cause draughts.

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

I used a plastic bag stuffed with other plastic bags. Back in the days when we had too many plastic bags.
I wouldn’t want to block airflow 100% just prevent the massive draught, so a bit getting through round the edges is fine.

[womaninatightspot]

@womaninatightspot

I popped a duvet up but ended up with a damp issue in that wall. I ended up taking off lathe and plaster and reinsulating. I put in a woodstove which we use more than a fire and doesn't cause draughts.

I would say mine is an old stone building walls that are 2.5 feet thick so might be less of a problem in houses of a different construction.

[LittleBearPad]

We have chimney balloons. They do the trick

[Asdf12345]

We use chimney sheep as they are quick and easy to remove to use the fire and then replace. They spend most of the time next to the fire though as we light them very often.

If you don’t use the fire just scrunch up some newspaper

[Allineedisyourlovetonight]

Depends on the age of your house OP.

Anything Victorian/older in particular I think you need to be a bit careful about maintaining airflow to avoid damp. I've had chimney sheep in two pre-1900 houses now and they've been great. Keep the draughts out but also allow the bricks to breathe. And support the local wool industry, avoid synthetic materials etc

Younger house you might be able to get away with more of a permanent seal if that's what you want.

[Thingsthatgo]

Thank you all. I think the chimney sheep sound ideal. Our chimney doesn’t have any covering at the top, so I think a little rain gets in (it’s only a small chimney).
Our house is around 100 years old, luckily it doesn’t seem to have any damp issues... probably because there is plenty of ventilation!

[JerkintheMerkin]

Chimney Sheep is the way to go. No random wildlife or spiders coming to say hi on your hearth while you're relaxing in the living room