The hood on the chimney pipe: designs, how to make with your own hands

The hood on the chimney pipe: how to choose a design or make it with your own hands

You often have to see beautiful and unusual hoods that house owners place over chimneys. At first glance, it seems that they perform only a decorative role, but they have functions that are very important when it comes to the safety of the chimney system. Let’s consider why a hood is needed for a chimney pipe, on what principle it is selected, what types of structures exist and how to make it with your own hands.

The hood on the chimney pipe gives the roof originality, and the chimney – completeness

What is the need for a hood on the chimney pipe

Caps on the chimney pipe are a fairly common phenomenon. Nevertheless, many people are mistaken about what they are needed for. There is an opinion that they protect the pipe from condensation. However, this is not quite true. Evaporation and collection of moisture occurs in the inner part of the pipe and the hood on the chimney pipe (photos on the Internet well demonstrate the principle of its operation) can not help much here.

Why do you really need a hood on the chimney pipe? Let’s consider a few of its main functions:

• protection of the inner part of the pipe from ingress of various foreign objects, dust and debris;
• extending the operational life of the pipe by protecting it from precipitation;
• some caps, due to their design, increase the draft in the pipe and do not allow strong winds to overturn it;
• they perform an aesthetic function, giving the pipe an attractive appearance.

The forged visor on the chimney gives an aesthetic appearance to the outer part of the pipe

It is worth admitting that most of the decorative weathervanes on the chimney pipe do not improve the functional characteristics of the pipe at all, but on the contrary, reduce these indicators. An exception to this rule can be considered only nozzles having the following types of construction:

The first option is much more effective than the second. The semi-cylindrical housing remains movable due to the bearing. It can rotate depending on weather conditions, and as a weather vane petal fixes it so that it is constantly turned to the wind by the back. As a result, the smoke draft increases due to the generated vacuum inside.

The principle of operation of the second mechanism is as follows: some vacuum appears inside the deflector itself, due to the fact that the air flow formed as a result of the wind load bends around the head on the brick chimney pipe. As a result, such an “umbrella” functions differently, depending on weather conditions: in windy weather, it increases traction, and in calm, on the contrary, it reduces.

Stainless steel flue weather vane

Pay attention! A weighty argument in favor of the first option is that the design of the smokebox on the chimney pipe completely eliminates the danger of blowing out the draft by the wind, which still sometimes happens in the case of using the second type of system.Types of chimney caps

In addition to the designs already considered, there are many others that are also widespread. All of them are united by a common principle of operation and devices are devices that serve to cover the pipe section, while leaving a small gap so that gorenje products can come out of the pipe. The shape of the deflector on the chimney pipe can be almost any, but according to the material of manufacture they can be divided into several groups:

• made of galvanized (roofing) steel;
• made of galvanized metal, on top of which a polyester powder coating is applied;
• made of stainless steel;
• copper;
• fused from titanium and zinc.

Copper hood for the chimney

If we talk about making a hood with our own hands, then for this purpose galvanized steel with a thickness of about 0.8 mm is most often used. This option is most preferable because of its availability, as well as a fairly long service life (about 20 years). To better understand the device of such a hood on the chimney, photos and diagrams will serve as an excellent guide for you.

Galvanized steel has only one serious drawback – it quickly loses its original appearance, tarnishes. She is exposed to various external factors that have a negative impact on her. Metal withstands such an impact much better, which additionally has a powder coating, but such a material is noticeably more expensive.

All other metals retain their appearance for a long time, but their cost is many times higher. However, the price is reflected not only in their appearance, but also in their service life. And although copper also tends to fade over time, here we are talking about decades rather than years.

Chimney caps made of galvanized (roofing) steel

How to choose and buy a hood for a chimney

Choosing a cap of the correct design is not an easy task. And first of all, it is worth considering the type of boiler room used and the type of fuel that is used. As an example, we can consider the fact that only nozzles in the form of nozzles are suitable for the chimneys of gas boilers. They have an open top and are the only ones suitable for use in this case.

Pay attention! The installation of nozzles on pipes that provide a chimney outlet from gas boilers is regulated by regulatory documents that prohibit the use of umbrella caps for this type of chimney.There is quite a logical justification for such a ban: in winter, when the temperature drops below zero, the chimney hood is subject to freezing and can be covered with ice.

Over time, ice can cover most of the opening reserved for the smoke to escape, which will lead to its accumulation inside the structure. In this case, there is a serious danger to the health of the residents of the house, as the smoke accumulating inside can cause serious poisoning.

Installation diagram of the chimney system

Freezing occurs as a result of the formation of condensate, which appears on the surface of a cold metal in contact with sufficiently warm gorenje products. The situation is different only with solid fuel boilers. Due to the fact that its efficiency almost never exceeds 70-80%, the gas temperature accordingly remains within 150-250 ° C. This is not dangerous and the use of the nozzle is quite acceptable.

Useful advice! Do not forget that in the case of using solid fuel, the hood will be covered with black soot very quickly. So do not choose too complex relief models that cannot be cleaned.What are the smokies, depending on the shape

The variety of forms of modern smokies is very large. Here you can find almost any options. Consider the most popular of them, which have an unusual geometric shape and are able to decorate any pipe:

• the weather vane has a standard shape: it looks like a house with a four-pitched roof;
• smokehouse in the Art Nouveau style: arranged according to the standard type, but additionally has a flat pommel;
• European-style smoker: has an unusual appearance due to the semicircular top;
• caps with a gable roof, which has four slopes (a very functional design that is well ventilated and at the same time protects the pipe from snow);

Hood with gable roof

• weather vane with a weather vane;
• a weather vane equipped with a detachable lid.

Weather vanes with a weather vane are distinguished by the fact that a special flap is located inside the structure, allowing combustion products to safely exit the pipe even in the windiest weather. And an additional opening lid provides easy access to the flue ducts to clean them.

Depending on the shape, the roofs of smokies are divided into the following categories:

• tent;
• gable;
• four – pitched;
• semi-cylindrical (or vaulted);
• flat;
• spire – like;
• four-pinched.

However, in most cases, this parameter does not affect the functionality of the device and serves exclusively for aesthetic purposes, providing the chimney with a unique appearance.

The smoker is an important element of the smoke removal system in the house

What kind of hood for the chimney pipe to buy, given the structure of the pipe

Another parameter to focus on when choosing a hood is the structure of the chimney. The ideal option is considered to be a three-layer structure of modular sandwich panels. In this case, there is simply no need to protect the chimney from precipitation. All the moisture that gets inside does not have a negative effect on the pipe, but on the contrary, it benefits by cleaning the pipe and collecting in the condensate collector.

If we are talking about a gas boiler, then there are no other options except for the nozzle. But if you are dealing with a solid fuel system, then there are many options, although the most popular and functionally justified is considered to be a deflector-weather vane. Demonstrate the beauty of such smokies on the tube photos, in large numbers offered on the Internet.

A lot of questions arise when it comes to the arrangement of a brick pipe. There are no contraindications here if you are dealing with a solid fuel system. In this case, you can choose any cap you like. But if a gas system is used, then the installation of an umbrella on the chimney pipe is prohibited in this case.

But here a quite natural question arises: what about the destructive power of moisture that eventually gets inside? For this case, special structures are provided that can completely overlap the brick base of the pipe.

A brick chimney is a reliable and inexpensive solution

Deflector on the chimney with your own hands: drawings and photos

A visor on the chimney pipe with your own hands is not uncommon and many people are trying to make it. If you have a sheet of galvanized metal and improvised tools, you can save a lot of money on buying and installing a deflector. To do this, you will need the following:

• a drawing set, a fairly long ruler, as well as a tape measure and a marker;
• metal shears, fasteners (drill-end screws with a 15 mm press washer or rivet);
• drill with various drills;
• material for the hood (galvanized, aluminum or stainless steel) 0.3-0.5 mm thick;
• additional metal parts for the manufacture of rigid fasteners.

In order to make a smoker on the chimney pipe with your own hands, you need to make the appropriate measurements, and then, guided by the drawing, you can get to work.

Using metal scissors, you can make a smoky weather vane with your own hands. To do this, you need to cut out the parts of the required size. Then roll up the diffuser housing and drill holes in the upper and lower parts so that after the rivets are fixed, a solid structure is obtained. Drawings of the hood on the chimney with your own hands will help to assemble correctly.

Diagram of the deflector-weather vane device: D = 108 mm; B = 210 mm; H = 80 mm; R = 200 mm; H1 = 530 mm

After that, you can start making the upper cone. You can attach the paws directly to it (usually they need about 6 pcs).

Before you completely assemble the weather vane on the pipe with your own hands, do not forget to fix the fasteners with which the diffuser will be connected to the lower cone of the structure. The same rivets can be used as fasteners. In order to install the cap on the pipe, it is best to remove its upper part to put the cap on the studs or legs, and then install the entire structure back.

Useful advice! Do not neglect the quality of installing the deflector on the pipe. Being under constant wind load, poor-quality fasteners will very soon lose their characteristics and the structure will disintegrate.Of course, there is no decorative value, the fungus on the chimney pipe made with your own hands does not have.

Its design is primitive, but it is able to increase traction by 20-25%, as well as protect the roof from accidental sparks. Using drawings, you can make a hood on the chimney pipe with your own hands quite simply and at the same time spending a minimum of resources.

Diagram-pattern for the manufacture of a chimney for a pipe

Smokers for brick pipes and forged chimney caps: features and prices

On the Internet you can find a lot of tips on how to make a visor for a chimney with your own hands. However, not everyone wants to bother about it, and many prefer the opportunity to purchase a ready-made product.

Prices for chimney caps are very diverse, and you can buy a smoker for a chimney pipe starting from 700 rubles. At the same time, the simplest umbrella for a chimney pipe will cost 300-400 rubles to buy.

If you want to buy a deflector for a chimney pipe that can truly become a roof decoration, you will have to spend a lot of money. Forged smokies cost from 7000 rubles and above. The price of a smoker for brick pipes largely depends on its size, material of manufacture, as well as the complexity of forged elements, which are very diverse. Photos of forged smokies can be viewed on specialized websites.

The forged hood on the chimney will never deteriorate and will be a reliable protection for many years

Another rather expensive, but very beautiful option is the smoky weather vane. It comes in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and at the same time perfectly replaces a simple umbrella with a chimney pipe. Many craftsmen believe that using drawings, it is quite possible to make a weather vane on the chimney with their own hands. However, this requires considerable skill. The cost of the finished version will cost from 5000 rubles.

Depending on your preferences, you can buy a ready-made visor for the chimney pipe or make an independent hood for the chimney. In any case, it would be useful to look at photos of smokies that are on sale to get a general idea of their diversity and purpose.