Hello, experts:
On the two chimney stacks of our house are three aluminium gas cowls (one on one stack, and two on the other). They were fitted many years ago by builders, when roofing and pointing work was done. (Gas fires had been installed much earlier, and I seem to remember that the stainless steel duct up the chimneys led simply to the old chimney pots, though I could be mistaken about that. Alternatively, it may be that the cowls were fitted when the fires were installed, then the builders built up the concrete capping on the stacks, to a height that did harm to the cowls. I cannot remember clearly, now.) To me, it seems that the people that fitted the gas cowls (or, alternatively, that capped the stacks), did a poor job of it, in that around the cylinder of these fairly small cowls are vertical flutes (where fumes are emitted). These flutes don't end a few inches above the cement capping on top of the chimney, and therefore allow the flute edges to drain onto the cement capping, then run off the slope of it. Instead, they are sunk right into the cement of the capping, so that in heavy rain, the rain can run down these edges and into the chimney. In the night, during heavy rain, a dripping sound can be heard in the bedroom. Sometimes, this carries on for over an hour, and, if I put my ear to the vent in the chimney breast, I can tell that the dripping is inside the chimney. Of course, this is very unsatisfactory, and I should like to have something done about the situation — perhaps have new cowls, properly fitted, or perhaps have covering-plates fitted to the tops of the cowls, to provide a broad, rain-proof shield for them.
Now, here is the problem: Whatever needs to be done, I don't know who I ought to ask to do this work. If a builder were asked, he may not have the required knowledge of the right kind of cowls to fit (and fit them badly anyway). If I ask a heating engineer, he may not be happy to go up on a roof to do work, while, if I ask a roofer, it is outside his remit. So, if I am to be sure of having appropriate work done, the right kind of cowls (if these need to be replaced) or remedial covers fitted, what kind of firm ought I to consult?
Please advise if you can.
With thanks in anticipation,
A.W.
On the two chimney stacks of our house are three aluminium gas cowls (one on one stack, and two on the other). They were fitted many years ago by builders, when roofing and pointing work was done. (Gas fires had been installed much earlier, and I seem to remember that the stainless steel duct up the chimneys led simply to the old chimney pots, though I could be mistaken about that. Alternatively, it may be that the cowls were fitted when the fires were installed, then the builders built up the concrete capping on the stacks, to a height that did harm to the cowls. I cannot remember clearly, now.) To me, it seems that the people that fitted the gas cowls (or, alternatively, that capped the stacks), did a poor job of it, in that around the cylinder of these fairly small cowls are vertical flutes (where fumes are emitted). These flutes don't end a few inches above the cement capping on top of the chimney, and therefore allow the flute edges to drain onto the cement capping, then run off the slope of it. Instead, they are sunk right into the cement of the capping, so that in heavy rain, the rain can run down these edges and into the chimney. In the night, during heavy rain, a dripping sound can be heard in the bedroom. Sometimes, this carries on for over an hour, and, if I put my ear to the vent in the chimney breast, I can tell that the dripping is inside the chimney. Of course, this is very unsatisfactory, and I should like to have something done about the situation — perhaps have new cowls, properly fitted, or perhaps have covering-plates fitted to the tops of the cowls, to provide a broad, rain-proof shield for them.
Now, here is the problem: Whatever needs to be done, I don't know who I ought to ask to do this work. If a builder were asked, he may not have the required knowledge of the right kind of cowls to fit (and fit them badly anyway). If I ask a heating engineer, he may not be happy to go up on a roof to do work, while, if I ask a roofer, it is outside his remit. So, if I am to be sure of having appropriate work done, the right kind of cowls (if these need to be replaced) or remedial covers fitted, what kind of firm ought I to consult?
Please advise if you can.
With thanks in anticipation,
A.W.
