Because the wrong chimney cowl is worse than none at all
Most people find us the same way: something has gone wrong with their chimney. Smoke is blowing back into the room every time the wind picks up. Jackdaws are nesting in the chimney pot again. Rain is running down the flue and staining the chimney breast. Or a disused chimney is letting damp and draughts into a bedroom.
A chimney cowl is a small product that solves a big problem, but only if it's the right one. Put a fine-mesh bird guard on a busy wood burner and it can clog with soot. Seal a disused flue completely and you can trap moisture inside the stack. Fit a cowl that isn't approved for your gas appliance and you could create a genuine safety risk.
We've spent two decades making sure UK customers get the right cowl first time, with honest advice and no upselling.
That's why Chimney Cowl Products exists. Since 2005 we've specialised in one thing: chimney cowls, disused chimney caps, flue liners and chimney accessories, delivered across the UK. We aren't a general DIY store with a chimney aisle. Chimneys are all we do.
Specialists, not generalists
A focused range of cowls, caps and liners we know inside out, from anti-downdraught cowls to crown pot bird guards.
Safety before sales
Every product is matched to your fuel type. If a question needs a qualified engineer, we'll tell you so.
Fast UK delivery
Orders are dispatched quickly from UK stock, so your chimney is protected before the next storm or nesting season.
What is your chimney telling you?
Answer three quick questions and we'll point you to the type of chimney cowl that fits your problem and your fuel.
Is your chimney in use?
This matters most. Active and disused chimneys need very different products.
What's the main problem?
Pick the one that bothers you most.
What fuel do you burn?
Fuel type decides which cowls are safe to fit.
From "my chimney's smoking" to sorted, in four steps
The same approach we've used for over twenty years: listen first, match carefully, dispatch quickly and stay on hand afterwards.
We start with your problem, not our products
Downdraught, birds, rain, wind noise and damp each have different causes. Before we recommend a chimney cowl we want to know:
- Is the chimney active or disused?
- What appliance and fuel does it serve?
- What is actually going wrong, and when?
- What shape and size is the chimney pot?
We match the cowl to the chimney
A gas fire, an oil boiler and a wood-burning stove each need different things from a cowl. We match every recommendation to your fuel type, your pot shape (round, square or crown) and the fixing method, whether that's strap fixing, push-fit or a pot-hanging cap.
Not sure? Send us a photo of your chimney pot and we'll help you choose. If you need a bigger fitting, ask us about bespoke and large-size cowls too.
We dispatch quickly across the UK
Orders are placed through our secure online shop and dispatched from UK stock. Over twenty-one years we've delivered chimney cowls across the UK, to terraced streets, coastal cottages and exposed farmhouses in the Scottish Highlands.
Order before the weather turns or the nesting season starts and you'll be ready in good time.
We're still here after you've ordered
Got a question about fitting, sizing or swapping? Just ask. Our Advice Centre answers the most common questions in plain English. If something needs a chimney sweep, HETAS installer or Gas Safe engineer, we'll tell you so rather than sell you something that won't fix it.
Steps advance automatically. Click any step to take control.
Chimney cowls: myth or fact?
Six things UK homeowners often get wrong. How many can you get right?
The five-point chimney pot checklist
Tick each item off as you go. When the ring is full, you're ready to order the right size first time.
Start ticking. Each one takes about a minute.
Need more detail? Read our guide to choosing and measuring a chimney cowl.
Chimney cowls, disused chimney caps and flue liners
Twenty years of choosing what to stock means we only list products we'd be happy to put on our own chimneys.
Anti-downdraught chimney cowls
Wind gusting across a roof can push smoke and fumes back down the flue. An anti-downdraught cowl uses a shaped top, baffles or a rotating head to help keep the flow moving upwards. It's the go-to fix for smoke blowing back into the room in exposed and coastal homes.
Persistent smoke or fume problems should always be checked by a competent professional.
Chimney bird guards and rain caps
A chimney bird guard stops jackdaws and pigeons nesting in the pot and keeps twigs out of the flue. A chimney rain cap stops water running straight down the chimney. Many of our cowls do both in one fitting, in round, square and crown-pot designs.
Disused chimney caps
When a fireplace is no longer used, the chimney still needs to breathe. A ventilated disused chimney cap keeps rain and birds out while letting air move through the flue. That helps prevent the damp, condensation and staining you get when a chimney is sealed completely.
Stainless steel flue liners
An unlined or damaged chimney can leak fumes and lose draw. A stainless steel flue liner gives your stove or appliance a sealed, efficient route to the top of the stack. We stock multi-fuel flue liners, solid fuel liners and complete flue liner kits.
Flue liners for solid fuel appliances should be installed by a HETAS-registered installer, and gas installations by a Gas Safe engineer.
What our customers say
Rated 4.9 out of 5 across more than 1,291 verified reviews.
"Great price, great service."
"Prompt delivery and help above and beyond the normal."
"First class service."
Chimney cowl questions, answered
Do I need a chimney cowl?
Not every chimney needs one. A cowl is worth fitting if you have downdraught or smoke blowing back, birds nesting, rain entering the flue, or a disused chimney that needs protecting while staying ventilated. If your chimney works well and has none of these problems, you may not need one.
What is the best chimney cowl for downdraught?
An anti-downdraught cowl such as the Colt Top 2 or the Brewer UFO Mark II is designed to help with wind-induced downdraught. The best choice depends on your fuel, your pot and how exposed your roof is. Use the chimney checker above or contact us with a photo.
How do I stop birds nesting in my chimney?
Fit a chimney bird guard or a combined bird and rain guard to the pot. If a nest is already there, have the chimney swept before fitting a guard and before lighting a fire. Choose a guard listed as suitable for your fuel, because fine mesh is not suitable for every appliance.
Should a disused chimney be capped?
Yes, but with a ventilated disused chimney cap rather than a solid seal. The cap keeps rain and birds out, while ventilation, ideally with an air vent at the bottom of the chimney breast too, lets moisture escape and helps prevent damp.
Can I fit a chimney cowl myself?
Many strap-fixing and push-fit cowls are simple to fit if you have safe access to the chimney pot. Working at height is dangerous, so if you don't have safe access, use a roofer or chimney sweep. Cowls on gas appliances should be checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Do I need a flue liner as well as a cowl?
If you're installing a wood burner or multi-fuel stove, or your chimney is unlined or damaged, a stainless steel flue liner is often recommended or required. Your HETAS installer will advise on what your installation needs under Building Regulations.
How long has Chimney Cowl Products been trading?
We've been selling chimney cowls, disused chimney caps, flue liners and chimney accessories since 2005, more than twenty years of specialist UK supply.