Everything about Cowl Chimney totally explained
A
cowl is a usually hood-shaped covering used to increase the draft of a
chimney and prevent back flow. The cowl, usually made of
galvanized iron, is fitted to the chimney pot to prevent wind blowing the
smoke back down into the room beneath. No doubt named for the resemblance of many designs to the
cowl garment worn by monks. They have been in use for centuries.
When using an open fire to heat a room the smoke rises via a
flue to a chimney pot on the roof. Under normal conditions the warm air from the fire will rise up the chimney taking the smoke with it and dispersing it at rooftop level where it's less of a nuisance.
In strong winds the force of the wind may overwhelm the up draught and push the airflow in reverse down the flue. Smoke will then fill the room it's intended to heat posing a health and fire risk, causing discomfort and dirtying furnishings.
When raw
coal, rather than smokeless fuel is burnt, which was the case for centuries before
clean air legislation, then the amount of smoke is considerable and measures to prevent back flow occurring are a necessity.
Another secondary function is to keep birds and squirrels from nesting in the chimney. They often also act as a rain guard to keep rain from going down the chimney. A metal wire mesh is sometimes added as a spark arrestor. Wooden
cowls were used on
oasts to prevent the ingress of rain into kilns, and create a flow of air through the kiln.
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