Why Put A Cowl On A Chimney?

There are four main reasons why a chimney cowl is a good idea to add to the top of your chimney.

To improve draw

Certain chimney cowls are designed to allow fumes and hot air to be extracted efficiently by your flue pipe. Flue systems with a particularly weak draw, it is best to use a rotating chimney cowl. However if you do not have an issue with no draw then actually installing one of these cowls can be counterproductive and cause your stove to overfire. 

Anti-downdraught

The purpose of a chimney cowl is to prevent a downdraught, that while is a nuisance can actually be dangerous to you. As well as creating unpleasant smell the smoke can contain high amounts of carbon monoxide, that can cause death. If you do have a downdraught issue it is important you install an anti-downdraught cowl. 

 Animal-proofing

Bird guard chimney cowls are designed to prevent birds and other animals from nesting in your chimney, which is a problem that can cause a fire. These cowls can also stop animals getting stuck inside your chimney, becoming a dangerous obstruction or causing damage. If you choose to block your chimney, you should make sure to install a bird guard to protect you and animals. 

 Weather-proofing

Rain and snow cause issues for your chimney flue. A small amount of rain may not be a problem, but over time it can accumulate moisture which over a longer time can cause dampness. This will then cause damage to your chimney and then be costly to repair. A weather-proofing cowl helps to prevent moisture and evaporate said moisture.