A proper chimney cowl is an important piece of the puzzle. It keeps your stove running smoothly, prevents animals from nesting in your chimney, and maintains adequate chimney draft – all of which play significant roles in keeping your heating system efficient and safe.
But how to select the right chimney cowl? We’re answering this question in this helpful guide! Come along to learn all about chimney cowls for your stove!
Key Highlights
- A chimney cowl improves stove efficiency and safety by preventing downdraft, keeping out debris like leaves and rain and deterring birds from nesting in the chimney.
- Choose a chimney cowl based on fuel type (gas or solid fuel), desired function (e.g. anti-downdraft, bird guard) and chimney size and material.
- Consider professional installation due to the safety risks involved in working on chimneys.
What Is a Chimney Cowl?
A chimney cowl is a ventilated hood-shaped covering that is installed at the top of a chimney. Unlike some chimney cups, the whole purpose of a chimney cowl is to ensure proper ventilation while protecting the chimney’s top from the elements and animal nests. For this reason, chimney cowls are not going to completely seal off your chimney.
Chimney cowls are usually made out of stainless steel, a durable yet lightweight material that can be exposed to rain, snow, and moisture and still perform well for many years. But you will also find aluminum cowls that are only compatible with gas stoves.
You can find chimney cowls in various styles, sizes, and functions. For example, you might opt for a ‘spinning’ chimney cowl, which is built to generate considerable draw from the fire using wind and rotational movement. Solutions like this tend to be more costly, though, so it’s important to consider your needs and budget limitations when choosing the right chimney cowl for your stove.
What Does a Chimney Cowl Do?
We already talked a bit about the function chimney cowls have. But let’s explore what they do in more detail.
Here are some of the things chimney cowls can do.
Preventing Downdraught
As we’ve mentioned earlier in this article, downdraught (or downdraft) is not something you want to be careless about.
Downdraught occurs when the airflow in the chimney reverses direction, causing smoke and fumes to be pushed back down the flue and into the living space. For obvious reasons, you want to minimise the risk of downdraughts. For one, because they can create unpleasant odours in your home.
But more importantly, they can be dangerous, as downdrafts can cause sparks and embers to be pushed back down the chimney, which can ignite creosote buildup and lead to a chimney fire.
Moreover, downdraught can also prevent your stove from burning fuel efficiently, which can lead to higher heating costs.
The solution? Appropriate anti-downdraught chimney cowl that will be able to create sufficient airflow in your chimney and ensure that smoke is properly vented out of your home.
Keep Out Debris
Keeping your chimney clean and free from any type of blockage is crucial for the stove’s proper functioning. Chimney cowls can help to keep out rain, snow, leaves, and other debris from falling down the flue.
This is crucial for a few reasons. Prolonged exposure to moisture can have adverse effects on the condition of your chimney flue, especially in months when the stove and chimney are not being used.
Chimney damage can be costly to repair, so it’s best to be proactive and weather the chimney ahead of time.
Chimney cowl can help to prevent blockages caused by leaves and other debris, which impacts your safety and makes the chimney maintenance that much easier.
Deterring Animals
If you have that opportunity, you want to make sure no animal is building its nest on top of your chimney.
The main reason for that is, of course, safety concerns. Birds' nests can increase the risk of fires as well as contribute to chimney damage, which, again, means significant costs for your wallet.
It’s also crucial to keep in mind that, according to the UK’s Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is not permitted to remove or destroy an active wild bird’s nest. It’s in your best interest to take all the precautions to prevent birds from building their home on top of yours.
Installing a chimney cowl is an effective strategy to do just that.
In short, if you want to ensure the most optimal stove operation and avoid certain risks and damages to the chimney, installing a chimney cowl is not negotiable.
But how to select the right chimney cowl?
Best Chimney Cowl for a Stove – How To Pick?
The choice of chimney cowl for your stove will depend on a few factors, including the type of fuel you burn, the tasks the cowl needs to perform, and your budget.
For instance, you will require a different type of cowl for a chimney that is being actively used as opposed to a chimney that is not utilised. In the first case, it is necessary to install a cowl that allows proper ventilation.
On top of that, the type of fireplace you have will also play an important role in your choice. Some chimney cowls are designed specifically to be used with either gas systems or solid fuel since both of these solutions require different levels of ventilation. Double-check before purchasing if you’re buying the correct chimney cowl for the type of stove you own.
When making your decision, you need to consider those variables, as well as different chimney cowl uses.
Let’s break it down.
Types of Chimney Cowls
Anti-Downdraught Cowls
This type of cowl is designed specifically to prevent downdrafts. It is a good option if you have a problem with downdrafts or if you live in an area with strong winds.
Bird Guards
Bird guard cowls prevent birds from entering or nesting in the chimney. They can be recognised by their rounded mesh top and metal lid.
Gas Cowls
This is a specific type of chimney cowl recommended only for gas appliances. The choice of gas cowl will be determined by the type of gas fire and type of flue you are using. Gas cowls can be made from aluminium as opposed to solid fuel cowls, that need to be made out of more durable materials, like steel.
Wood Burners Cowls
Most wood burner cowls are made of durable materials like stainless steel to withstand harsh weather conditions and high temperatures.
Chimney Cowl Installation
The installation process for a chimney cowl is not overly complicated. However, we still recommend hiring a chimney technician. Any type of work done on a chimney introduces risks, so if you don’t have sufficient experience and equipment, you should not attempt to install a chimney cowl on your own.
The typical installation process will involve:
- Preparing the Chimney: The chimney flue should be checked to ensure it is clean and free of debris. To achieve this, a recent chimney sweep is recommended before installing the cowl.
- Assembling the Cowl (if required): Some cowls may require assembly according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Positioning the Cowl: Once assembled, the cowl must be carefully lifted and positioned on the chimney pot. The way it sits will depend on the specific cowl design. Some cowls may simply rest on top of the pot, while others may require some form of attachment.
- Securing the Cowl: Next step involves securing the cowl to the chimney pot. The method for this will depend on the design of the cowl itself. Here are some common methods:
- Screw-on cowls: For these cowls, holes must be pre-drilled into the chimney pot. The same needs to be done for the cowl itself. Then, both parts can be securely screwed together.
- Clamp-on cowls: These use clamps to secure the cowl to the flue pipe or chimney pot.
- Checking for a secure fit: Installation is concluded with testing if the cowl is firmly attached and won't detach in strong winds.
Here’s a simple video tutorial on how to perform chimney cowl installation!
Best Chimney Cowl for a Stove – Conclusion
With that, we’ve reached the end of our chimney cowl guide. Hopefully, now you have a much better understanding of why you should install a chimney cowl and how to select the right one for your stove or fireplace.
Be sure to check Flue Pipes’ selection of quality, durable chimney cowls suitable for gas and wood stoves. Find the perfect chimney cowl, stove pipes and chimney liners for your needs. Browse our selection now!
