There are numerous reasons for fitting Cowls, Caps or a Bird Guards to the chimney pot, and a large variety of products available. Oxford Chimney Sweeps are happy to advise you on your need for Cowls, a Caps or a Bird Guards and the correct type required. If you have just moved into a new property that has a Cowl fitted, or if you wish to change the use of the fire place, Oxford Chimney Sweeps of Oxfordshire can advise the suitability of the cowl for your purpose. Our advice is usually free within the local area.
Disused chimneys can cause problems over time and capping them should be seriously considered. This prevents rain entering the chimney void, mitigating deterioration of the interior of the chimney and stopping draughts. However, it is also important to consider what ventilation you require in the room below. We can fit a simple cap with a mesh venting space; this has several advantages – it serves the purpose of keeping out damp and draughts at the same time allowing the chimney to breath, preventing damp being trapped in the unused chimney. It also has the benefit of being easily removable, should you, or subsequent owners, wish to change the use back to a fire place.
Types of Cowls, Caps and Bird Guards
Most Cowls are designed to keep out the rain with some kind of hood. In addition, there may be a mesh to keep out birds. There are different cowls for different fuel types; smokeless fuels require a stainless steel cowl, while coal and wood require a Cowl with a wider mesh to prevent blockages. There are also Cowls designed specifically to prevent or reduce down drafts, where this is a problem. Oxford Chimney Sweeps are happy to supply and fit the right product for you – and our advice costs you nothing. See below for a very small selection of the available Cowls and their uses.
Birdguards
Designed to prevent once and for all the ingress of birds, small mammals and leaves into used or unused chimney flues. For use with appliances fired by oil or solid fuel.
- Also suitable for disused chimneys
- Fits chimney pots with outside diameters from 230mm-290mm
- Adaptor plates available for use with smaller diameter pots
- Brown painted finish
- Strap fixing
- 25mm paint finished steel mesh
Rotorvent or Aspirator Chimney Cowls
Rotorvent or Aspirator is chimney Cowls are made of stainless steel and driven by the wind. The Rotorvent or Aspirator Cowls fit chimney pots with a 150-225mm (6-9 inch). These Cowls are good at limiting downdrafts and can help to increase the draw on a sluggish chimney when it is windy. In some situations Rotorvent or Aspirator Cowls are the only answer to poor chimneys. These Rotorvents or Aspirator Cowls are not generally suitable for an inefficient stove or a fireplace as the Cowls are likely to become tarred up. To optimise these Cowls use on efficient stoves that will not be run slowly or overnight. The Rotorvent or Aspirator Cowls should be checked and cleaned every year to make sure it is free from tar and check that it can spin freely. We recommend that you avoid the use of aspirators on oil fired stoves, the reason is that in high wind conditions they can create excessive draft and damage the stove as a result.
Anti downdraft cowl
All purpose anti-downdraught chimney cowl, rain and birdguard with strap fixing,Due to their rounded shape Colt Tops are found to be more efficient at creating lift whichever direction the wind is blowing, eliminating downdraught. It also channels rain away from the flue protecting your chimney from water entry which can result in messy soot falls and stained walls.
Decorative Bird Guard
Ornate birdguards made from steel. Hardwearing M10 steel. Painted finish. An ornate painted chimey birdguard is a simple and cost effective way to keep birds and debris out of your chimney. This bird guard is made from M10 steel and adjusts to fit flues from 150-225mm internal diamater.
Chimney capping
Chimney caps are vented and used to cap off unused chimneys to stop bird and rain ingress also prevents heat loss from your home.
Terracotta powder coat finish.
