does open fire chimney need a cowl?

littlerock

I am having some work done on my roof at present and the roofer reported that the chimney pot over the living room in my Victorian house is falling to bits. He showed me on some photos and then removed it and brought it down and it is clearly falling to bits.

He is replacing it with a tall brick chimney pot. As we have a smokeless fuel fire in the living room in the winter, he says the chimney pot does not need any sort of cowl. The previous chimney pot did not have a cowl but seemed to have a narrower top with a lip at the inside edge.

Is the lack of a cowl going to let in the rain or be draughty?

FreeBear

littlerock wrote: »

He is replacing it with a tall brick chimney pot. As we have a smokeless fuel fire in the living room in the winter, he says the chimney pot does not need any sort of cowl. The previous chimney pot did not have a cowl but seemed to have a narrower top with a lip at the inside edge.

Is the lack of a cowl going to let in the rain or be draughty?

Is this an open fire or an enclosed stove ?

Whilst a cowl isn't generally necessary, it will stop birds and rain from coming down the chimney. Not having one won't make the house any draughtier, but having one fitted may reduce any down-draughts.