Cowls supplied and installed

Chimney cowls are metal ventilators that are attached to the top of a chimney. It’s not obligatory to have one, but they are recommended for protecting your home and helping you to get the best out of your wood burner, multi-fuel stove or open fire. At Black Stack Chimney Sweep, we supply high quality cowls and provide installation services for them. 

 

A cowl is a usually hood-shaped covering used to increase the draft of a chimney and prevent backflow. Some chimneys suffer from a lack of draw. In other words, when the fire is lit, it struggles to ignite and the gases do not flow up the chimney, instead the smoke stays down in the fireplace or stove. Certain cowls are designed so that you don't have this problem and ensure the chimney has sufficient draw. 

 

Chimney cowls also prevent downdraught which is caused by negative air pressure at the top of a chimney. It's hard to pinpoint the cause of this, but it causes air to be forced back down the chimney and out into the room through the fireplace. If you are using the stove or fire, this can result in smoke puffing back into the room which is dangerously prominent with carbon monoxide and very unpleasant for those in the room.

 

Chimney cowls also have the obvious advantage in that they reduce rain from pouring down into the chimney, reducing the risk of mould, damp and damage. They also act as obstacles for birds trying to enter the chimney to nest. 

 

Smoke evacuation test 

 

At Black Stack Chimney sweep, we perform a smoke evacuation test after every single sweep. We light smoke pellets that allow us to track the smoke's path, ensuring that it escapes through the appropriate chimney vents. This test fully ascertains the chimney's health in terms of its flue and integrity. We believe in giving you peace of mind in that your chimney is in working order and has been efficiently serviced.