Elmira Stoves wood burning fireplace insert - can't keep fire lit

Hello all wise wood burners! We purchased a home with an Elmira Stoves wood burning insert in the fireplace. (Previous owners left no owners manual.)
We had the chimney cleaned. We can get the fire going, although it is a small firebox and requires a lot of tending.
Our problem is that unless we leave the insert right-side door open an inch or two, the fire goes out.
The chimney sweep told us that the fireplace flue is completely open (apparently the control for it does nothing) and that it should be working ok.
If we close the right side door, it pushes a kind of a long rod that almost completely closes the chimney access, then the fire goes out, seems to be smothered.
It seems as though when we leave the door slightly open, our heat is going right up the chimney.

Oh, one other item of note: on each side of the insert there are fan type units (?), the chimney sweeper said it is a "heatilator" but it does not work, could this be our problem? If we got that fixed, would it draw air in that way?

Or should we try to disable the rod so it can get air in from the chimney? Any suggestions are appreicated. Thank you!

Sounds like your engaging the bypass damper. Check the baffle and make sure it's not full of soot or something.

It is also very hard to keep a fire lit with green wood. Is your wood fully seasoned?

The wood is seasoned and burns well.

We're new at this but can't seem to find the baffle. Considering finding another person to come service it, wondering if our chimney sweep that was here did a full cleaning.

Thanks.

if your former sweep just brushed down the flue and let the debris fall down into your damper area. then It is quite possible that crap is impeeding its opperation. Good chance this could be your problem

Sounds like a likely scenario...we'll check it out. Thank you

Could that be a catalytic bypass that opens automatically when door is opened? If so, the catalytic combustor is probably plugged - it needs to be cleaned or replaced.