possible issue with draft door on old vc resolute

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Herodotus

New Member
Nov 28, 2021
20
Minnesota
I have a 40 year old Vermont Castings Resolute with double glass doors and when I close the damper down on. the back of the stove smoke puffs out the front of the stove-I did feel some resistance when closing the damper shut wo wondering. g if some ash etc got into damper on back of the stove and how to clean out damper > thanx
 
You may need to disassemble part of the stove to really clean it out.

It seems odd that not being able to shut down the air all the way would cause smoke to puff out the front though.
 
Could be a puffback causing this. How strongly is the wood burning when the bypass is closed? How well seasoned is the wood?
 
2 potential issues:. The smoke chamber needs cleaning, and 2nd;. the cement in the joints has deteriorated.

Ideally, it should be completely rebuilt. For now, remove the right insert and snake a vacuum hose in behind the fireback. Then remove the pipe and send it down through the flue collar with the damper in the closed position. This will remove 90per cent of the accumulated debris and smoke should once again journey up the chimney.
 
Could be a puffback causing this. How strongly is the wood burning when the bypass is closed? How well seasoned is the wood?
wood burned is well seasoned oak and fire burns strongly with damper. on back of stove open when damper closed smoke comes out front of stove
 
2 potential issues:. The smoke chamber needs cleaning, and 2nd;. the cement in the joints has deteriorated.

Ideally, it should be completely rebuilt. For now, remove the right insert and snake a vacuum hose in behind the fireback. Then remove the pipe and send it down through the flue collar with the damper in the closed position. This will remove 90per cent of the accumulated debris and smoke should once again journey up the chimney.
thanx for the info-how does one remove the right insert? thanx
 
There is a #3 phillips head screw in the center of the right insert below the weird shaped opening. Remove screw, use claw hammer to pry out the insert. SOUNDS easy...