Chimney Cowls & Bird Guards
Birds nesting in the pot, rain dripping onto the stove or smoke blowing back into the room on windy days. We check the flue properly, then fit the right cowl, cap or guard for your chimney. Rated 5.0 from 95 Google reviews.
The small fitting on top that protects the whole chimney
A cowl, cap or bird guard sits on top of your chimney pot. Depending on the type, it keeps jackdaws and other birds from nesting in the flue, stops rain running straight down onto your stove or fire, and helps stop wind pushing smoke back into the room. On a chimney you no longer use, a ventilated cap keeps the weather out while still letting the flue breathe.
We are Adele and Sian, sisters and HETAS-certified sweeps, and we fit cowls and guards ourselves. We usually do it alongside a sweep, because we want to see the condition of the flue, the pot and your appliance first. A cowl only works if it suits the chimney it goes on, so we check before we recommend anything.
Cowls, caps and guards we fit
Different problems need different fittings. These are the ones we are asked about most, and what each one is actually good for.
Bird guards
A mesh guard fitted over the pot. It stops jackdaws dropping sticks down the flue and building a nest, which can block the chimney completely. Smoke and fumes still get out freely.
Anti-downdraught cowls
For chimneys where smoke puffs back into the room on windy days. The cowl shields the top of the flue so gusts can't push down into it, which is common on exposed roofs or near taller buildings and trees.
Rain caps and hoods
An open pot lets rain fall straight down the flue. Over time that soaks the soot, rusts stove parts and can stain the chimney breast. A cap or hood keeps the rain out without restricting the draw.
Spinning and rotating cowls
These turn with the wind and can help a sluggish flue draw better. They are not a cure-all though. If the real problem is a blockage, a damaged liner or poor ventilation in the room, a spinning cowl won't fix it, so we find the cause first.
Capping unused flues
If you no longer use a fireplace, we fit a ventilated cap. It keeps rain and birds out but still lets air move through the flue, which is what stops damp building up inside the chimney breast.
Replacing damaged pots and cowls
Cracked pots, loose cowls and old guards that have rusted through are all things we spot from the inspection. We will tell you what we've found and replace or refit what needs doing.
Signs you need a cowl or bird guard
If any of these sound familiar, it's worth getting the chimney looked at before you next light the fire.
- Twigs, straw or debris turning up in the grate or stove
- Birds on the pot or scratching noises in the chimney in spring
- Smoke puffing back into the room when it's windy
- Damp patches or staining on the chimney breast
- Rain dripping into the stove or onto the fire
- A sooty smell in the room when the fire isn't even lit
- A flue or fireplace you no longer use and haven't capped
- A chimney pot that looks cracked, loose or missing
How fitting works
We don't just bolt a cowl on and leave. Here's what happens when we come out.
We check the chimney first
We sweep the flue and inspect it, then carry out a smoke test to make sure it's drawing properly and not leaking. If we need a closer look at the inside of the flue, we can add a CCTV inspection.
We recommend the right fitting
The cowl has to suit your appliance and the fuel you burn. Wood burners, multi-fuel stoves and open fires need a solid-fuel-rated cowl or guard. Gas appliances need a Gas Safe registered engineer, and we don't work on gas.
We fit it safely
We work safely at height and fit the cowl or guard securely to the pot, so it stays put through winter winds.
We test and certify
Once it's on, we smoke test again to confirm the flue is drawing as it should, tidy up and give you a certificate for your records.
Nesting season Wild birds and their active nests are protected by law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. If birds are nesting in your chimney, the nest generally can't be disturbed until they have left. That's why autumn and winter, outside nesting season, is the best time to fit a bird guard. Read our guide on how to prevent birds nesting in your chimney and the signs of a bird's nest in your chimney.
In our customers’ own words
Real reviews from homeowners we have swept for.
“Done the job and left the rooms spotless. You wouldn’t have known they’d been to clean our open fire and multi fuel stove.”
Steve R.
“Very professional, friendly, knowledgeable and made absolutely no mess.”
Nina W.
“The log burner is performing better than it ever did.”
John E.
“Checked my CO2 alarm, tightened the door handle on my burner and cleaned it all.”
Sally M.
“I was shocked at how much came out of my chimney yet my house was left all clean and tidy.”
Jackie D.
“Arrived early. Cleaning chimney and wood burner. Quick, clean, efficient and friendly.”
Jon K.
5.0 from 95 Google reviews
Here is what homeowners across Essex and Hertfordshire say about Sweep Sisters.
Cowl and bird guard prices
Most cowls and guards are fitted during a sweep, so you get the flue cleaned, checked and protected in one visit.
Standard chimney or stove sweep
From £95Full sweep, inspection, smoke test, clean-up and a certificate for your records.
CCTV flue inspection
From £75Added to a sweep. A camera run up the flue to check the liner and spot cracks, blockages or damage.
Bird guards and cowls
QuotedPriced once we've seen the pot and flue, as size and type vary. We confirm the price with you before any work starts.
Nest removal
QuotedPriced depending on the size of the nest and how far down the flue it goes. Only carried out once the nest is no longer in use.
Prices are for a single flue. No hidden call-out fees. See all our chimney services or read our chimney sweep cost guide for Essex & Hertfordshire.
Where we work
We cover most of Essex and Hertfordshire. Not sure about your postcode? Send us a message.
Essex
- Chimney sweep Essex
- Chelmsford
- Brentwood
- Harlow
- Epping
- Hutton
- Loughton
- Theydon Bois
Hertfordshire
- Chimney sweep Hertfordshire
- Hertford
- St Albans
- Bishop’s Stortford
- Sawbridgeworth
- Little Hadham
- Saffron Walden
Cowl and bird guard questions
Do I need a chimney cowl?
Not every chimney needs one. A cowl or guard is worth fitting if birds have nested before, rain gets into the flue, smoke blows back on windy days or the chimney is no longer used. We'll tell you honestly after the sweep and inspection whether it's worth it for yours.
Will a cowl stop smoke blowing back into the room?
If the smoke is caused by wind pushing down the flue, an anti-downdraught cowl usually helps. Smoke coming back can also be down to a blocked flue, a damaged liner or not enough air in the room, and a cowl won't fix those. That's why we sweep and smoke test first to find the actual cause.
Can you remove a bird's nest from my chimney?
Yes, once the birds have gone. Active nests are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so we can't disturb one while it's in use. Once nesting has finished we remove the nest, sweep the flue, smoke test it and can fit a bird guard so it doesn't happen again.
When is the best time to fit a bird guard?
Autumn and winter, outside nesting season. Fitting a guard before spring stops birds getting in at all, rather than waiting until a nest has already blocked the flue. Mesh guards should be checked at your annual sweep, because soot can build up on the mesh and restrict the flue.
Should I cap a chimney I don't use?
Usually, yes. An open, unused chimney lets in rain and birds. We fit a ventilated cap rather than sealing it shut, because the flue still needs some airflow to stop damp building up inside the chimney breast.
Do you fit cowls on gas fires?
No. Any work on a chimney serving a gas appliance needs a Gas Safe registered engineer. We fit cowls and guards on chimneys used for wood burners, multi-fuel stoves and open fires.
Chimney advice from Sweep Sisters
Guides, prices and seasonal tips, pulled live from our blog.
Book a cowl or bird guard fitting
Tell us your town, what you burn and when suits you, and we will confirm a date and price.
- Phone0330 133 2121
- Areas coveredEssex and Hertfordshire
- HoursMon–Sun 8am–6pm · 24/7 emergency cover
Prefer to talk? Call 0330 133 2121 or email contact@sweepsisters.co.uk.