Hood Top insert – These are only to be used on disused chimneys to reduce rain entry, whilst allowing the chimney to ventilate. Not to be used with active chimneys.
H Cowl – These cowls are for reducing down draught, some of them come with a bird mesh attached, most don’t.
Pepper Pot insert or elephant foot – These cowls are called flue ventilators, and are only to be used on disused chimneys to keep out rain water whilst allowing then chimney to ventilate.
Gas Terminal – These cowls are only to be used on Gas or Oil fires, Not suitable for solid fuel fires/stoves.
Louvier Pot – These pots can be used on all fuel types, as long as they provide a sufficient surface area for the fire type. The Louvier is mainly decorative as well as providing some protection to down draught. These do not protect against rain and bird entry. It is possible to fit cowls on top of the louvier.
• To removing the build up of soot and tarry nodules, which are a common cause of chimney fires.
• Make sure that there is nothing blocking or partially blocking the flue (e.g. birds nests, wasps nest, loose lining material coming a away and blocking the flue).
• Carry out a smoke draw test, to make sure that the chimney is removing all of the harmful gasses from the fire.
• Check the condition of the chimney lining, and advise if safe for use.
• To check if the flue is tarry and a potential fire risk.
• This depends and how much you use the fire, and what you are burning.
• Active chimneys should be swept at least once a year for the reasons stated above.
• Fires burning traditional bitumen based house coal should be swept once a year for moderate use and twice a year for heavy use.
• Fires burning wood should be swept every 3 months when in use.
• Fires burning smokeless fuels need to be swept once a year.
• Gas & Oil fires should be swept once a year.
• Yes, gas fire flues still need to be swept to make sure that they have not been blocked and are drawing safely. Some gas fires need to be un-installed before they can be swept, this must be done by a gas safe engineer.
• Although burning gas does not deposit as much soot as burning solid fuel, the draw can still be affected by blockages such as cobwebs, nesting materials and loose lining materials… Poor draw can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning which can be fatal.