A chimney pot cowl is usually fitted to many chimneys all over the world. It is commonly used in Europe and the Northern Americas. They come in different colors, heights and prices. The hood-shaped covering is utilized to prevent backflow of smoke into homes. Most of the time chimney pot cowls are made out of galvanized iron. Since this is a sturdy material, it can be exposed to any kind of weather and temperature.
According to historians, the name of the said chimney fixture was named after the cowl garments of monks because of its resemblance to the clothing style.
Without a chimney pot cowl, strong winds will force the smoke back down to the room underneath the chimney. This backflow is a fire and health hazard and can even make the whole room dirty and full of soot. Centuries ago, raw coal was used, making the amount of soot and smoke pretty heavy. This is why preventing a backflow was of importance back then. Some homes used wooden cowls to stop the entrance of precipitation into kilns. Cowls on chimneys are still necessary in modern homes though even if coal is not used anymore because it also prevents small animals from nesting in that part of the house. Chimney cowls also protect the room underneath from rain but they are no longer made out of wood. Sometimes a metal mesh is also added to make sure that the chimney has a spark arrestor.
There are many different varieties for a chimney cowl; some homeowners however use the H-style cap. This chimney top is shaped like a letter H and works well in preventing downdraft or backpuffing. Even if the said chimney cowl design is extremely advantageous, it is not a favorite among homeowners because of the bulkiness of its design. It is however gaining its popularity again because of its ability to save more energy for the home.
