Pepperpot chimney cowls

[info_45]

I am looking to get a cowl to fit on top of a disused chimney on a Victorian terrace. Something to let a draft in but keep water out.

I've seen lots of these pepperpot-style ones, both new (more expensive) and secondhand (currently not anywhere that I can easily get to) - image below:



Alternatively, I've spotted a couple of slightly different pepperpots that I could get locally secondhand. They have little 'handles' on the top but to me as a layperson they would seemingly perform the same function. Is there any reason I couldn't just buy this style and it would do the same job? I'm not so worried about matching aesthetics or anything.

 

[Cubist]

Assuming the dimensions are right I'd go with the one with the most vent holes or the cheapest. Few people actually look up to inspect chimney pots nor do I think those handles add any value.

 

[alexander]

the pepper pot also known as an elephants foot cowl leak , china mans hat is one of the best or a c cap just because a chimney cowl has lots of holes does not mean its the best for air flow lots of holes can also mean lots of places to allow water in, al you need is air flow from the room through to the outside to prevent damp.

 

[Stevers]

It doesn't matter too much exactly what they look as once up on the chimney they're small and a long way away. Just make sure that the lids don't lift and separate as two of ours did in high winds, so definitely not even the hint of a crack round them..

We have six bought at the same time, and all cracked around the lid to the point where most could be lifted off. One blew ajar, so that the fire service had to retrieve it - as it 'might' have gone in the road. Another one blew straight off landing unbroken in about the only bit of soft ground nearby. All now epoxied back on with stainless steel pins to make sure they stay on.

 

[info_45]

Assuming the dimensions are right I'd go with the one with the most vent holes or the cheapest. Few people actually look up to inspect chimney pots nor do I think those handles add any value.

The option 2 photo above would likely be cheapest option as its secondhand and local to me. The price is comparable to a new metal one. If I got a metal one, I'd need the one with the anti-bird caging as otherwise the metal lid would sit flush on the top of the pots and ventilation would be poor. But this would seem to let more water in as well - so more air but more water.
I don't really mind whether the handles are there or not - its just that the new pepperpot cowls don't seem to have them, so I wondered if they had some specific function.

It doesn't matter too much exactly what they look as once up on the chimney they're small and a long way away. Just make sure that the lids don't lift and separate as two of ours did in high winds, so definitely not even the hint of a crack round them..

We have six bought at the same time, and all cracked around the lid to the point where most could be lifted off. One blew ajar, so that the fire service had to retrieve it - as it 'might' have gone in the road. Another one blew straight off landing unbroken in about the only bit of soft ground nearby. All now epoxied back on with stainless steel pins to make sure they stay on.

Do you mean that the handle part could come away from the main body of the cowl?

 

[Stevers]

Do you mean that the handle part could come away from the main body of the cowl?

The whole lid 'flew' 3m horizontally from a 10m drop clearing porch and paving below leaving the body of the cowl open to the weather. I couldn't believe it when I found it and realised what had happened - could have been so much worse!

This is it embedded in the ground after a safe landing.

 

[a twig]

the pepper pot also known as an elephants foot cowl leak , china mans hat is one of the best or a c cap just because a chimney cowl has lots of holes does not mean its the best for air flow lots of holes can also mean lots of places to allow water in, al you need is air flow from the room through to the outside to prevent damp.

I’ve fitted 4 elephant’s foot cowls over the years with no leaks?

 

[alexander]

I’ve fitted 4 elephant’s foot cowls over the years with no leaks?

I have fitted hundred of them over the years, also stood out side in the pissing rain in Boston lincs watching the rain running down of the top of the pot and in through the holes on the side that's when i stopped using them, I did phone up Redland the manufacturer to let them know there was an issues suggesting they put some type of stoppage around the holes to prevent this & was told they would get back to me its early days yet that was only about 20yrs ago changed that cowl for a mushroom cowl end of water ingress problem