It’s been blowing a stiff north-easterly wind over these past few days, cold and biting. It cuts through your jumper and chills to the bone.
North-easterlies are our typical winter wind up here on the island. I imagine it blowing from the snowy tundra of Europe, arriving here still laden with the scent and snow of Siberia.
So it’s been particularly frustrating that our trusty woodburner, our number one weapon in our arsenal of winter cosiness, has always refused to burn properly in an easterly wind.
For whatever strange reason when there’s an easterly it creates a down-draught which blows the smoke back into the burning chamber of the stove and smothers the flames. As you can imagine this has been particularly galling as it’s usually in the teeth of storm or a cold snap when you need it most.
After a bit of research online Hugh found a different chimney cowl called a fluecube (www.fluecube.co.uk), a devilishly clever little chimney pot designed for woodburning stoves.
Made of stainless steel, it stops down-draught and is robust enough to cope with the severe weather we get in these northerly climes. It also increases the working efficiency of the fire and helps to reduce carbon emissions.
We waited for a calm day so that installation wouldn’t be too perilous, and the opportunity eventually came on a day last week which dawned without wind and rain, a rare day in a Hebridean December!
Out came the big ladder.
The intrepid husband did the deed with me holding the ladder, removed the old chimney pot, and installed the new one. Here is sits in all its glory.
It looks deceptively simple, doesn’t it? But it’s revolutionised the working efficiency of the stove. Definitely recommended.
This is the woodburner now crackling away merrily in a full easterly wind. I am delighted. A winter of glorious fires awaits and I for one could not be happier.
Ravencroft Skye 
That indeed would have put a downer on life in the north!!!! Well done Hugh for braving heights, and goodness knows what else to get the correct cowling on.
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He’s an intrepid warrior 💪🏻
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I was wondering if you have a hill or cliff just to the East of your house. What happens is the wind hits the cliff and is forced upwards. It then curls over the top and creates a vortex behind the cliff creating a strong down draft. We had exactly the same problem and solved it by putting a wide flat aerodynamic shaped saucer about a foot above the chimney. The curved top stops the direct downdraft. Any horizontal air flowing over the saucer creates suction under the surface helping draw air out of the chimney. We can still get caught out on still foggy days where smoke just wants to sink. Good luck with your winter fires!
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It could well be that. We have a mountain rain range just to the east of us, the Knoydart peninsula. Biggest mountains in the direct vicinity – around 1000m
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When I read this, I was so excited to share it with my partner that I forgot to leave a comment, I had to come back to tell you. This is just what we are looking for to increase the efficiency of our stove and let it burn/smolder all night. Thank you for sharing.
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Excellent, I’m so glad that it’s helped. I’m sure that something similar must exist in Aus? ❤️
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I am looking for it now. It never occurred to me to look at the chimney cap to improve efficiency.
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Hugh says that the company here originally licensed this from a New Zealand company! So that should be more possible for you I hope
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That is useful. I found it. Thankyou.
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It’s expensive here (nearly £400 with VAT) but it’s really worked for us
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They are expensive here, too, $440. I think it is worth it, but we will see what Kev says.
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