How to protect your chimney from unwanted visitors (pots, cowls & birdguards)
Your chimney should basically aid the fumes and gases produced by fire to exit out of the house. This can sometimes be hindered by unwanted visitors, such as birds nesting in the chimney. If it is an open topped chimney pot, the nesting birds can block the exit path of the fumes and gases which will cause the poisonous combustion gasses to come back into the house.
The obvious harmful effects of the gases and fumes when inhaled warrants the a need to protect your chimney from such potential outcomes.
There are a variety of ways you can protect your chimney. The aim is to have the top of your chimney guarded but with sufficient clearance to allow the fumes to exit. Protection of your chimney is also necessary to prevent the effects of adverse weather conditions such as rain and wind that might affect your fire.
Some of the available options to protect your chimney that we offer are:
How To Protect Your Chimney Using Cowls
Cowls are manufactured using a variety of materials such as clay or stainless or galvanised steel mesh. They prevent birds or squirrels from nestling on your chimney which, as previously stated, can block the passage for fumes to escape.
Cowls come in various sizes to fit a variety of chimney pots. They can also be used for a variety of appliances such as those that use gas , oil or solid furels such coal, smokeless fuels and wood. They also easily fit on various sizes of chimney pots.
If you frequently use solid fuel, the stainless steel mesh chimney cowl is recommended.
How To Protect Your Chimney Using Bird Guards
Using bird guards to protect your chimney prevents birds and rodents from gaining entry into the chimney pot. There also are the capped bird guards that, as well as from preventing birds and squirrels, also protect the chimney against rain and hailstones. For these types, there is one suitable for a gas fuel system and the other is appropriate for a solid fuel system.
When selecting the above methods to protect your chimney, it is important to first have the chimney swept to create a clear pathway through the chimney pot. This will ensure that there are no barriers preventing the passage of fumes so that the cowl does not cause further blockage due to presence of barriers that may result in fumes going back into the house.
When you have to have your chimney swept, you are always advised to seek professional service providers rather than doing it yourself. There are special sweeping techniques such as sweeping using vacuum cleaners specifically made for sweeping chimneys that only professionals can provide.
When you are thinking about how to protect your chimney, it is important to remember that fires caused by chimneys are not covered by most insurance companies unless the chimney has been swept by professional chimney sweepers who issue a certificate of sweeping.
IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO CARRY OUT A FULL CHIMNEY SWEEP BEFORE FITTING ANY COWLS OR BIRDGUARDS TO THE CHIMNEY OUTLET WHETHER THE CHIMNEY IS ONE THAT IS BEING USED OR NOT.
Contact Apex Chimney Sweeps to book a professional chimney sweeping company!
