Stove pipe damper

[boatwork]

Hi Everone, Installed a Fisher Mama Bear stove with back flue connection(had a baffle made), is it recommended to use a damper in the single wall stove pipe? What are the benefits? Where would it go in the pipe? Picked up 2 Mamas for $100.00. The one not installed seems to be made of one sheet of steel around. It has a screen and chrome bits! Please help re damper, Thanks

 

[coaly]

Yes, a damper should be installed as close to the stove as possible in the pipe.

The stove with bent corners is a later stove built after 1980. It could be a II, III, IV or later. Pictures may be able to identify it. They were definately UL listed, and those with shield back and bottom usually had UL tag on rear shield.

There was no screen used or available for a Mama Bear. Screens were only used on double door stoves with a wider doorway to view fire. That's what makes them the "Fireplace Series". Viewing the fire with screen and open doors in fireplace mode also lowers efficiency and isn't considered a "radiant heater" as used with doors closed.
If you have a double door stove, during open door burning, the damper is closed until smoke starts to roll in at the top. Open slightly to avoid smoke spillage and maintain as much heat as possible in stove.
You will notice as soon as you light the stove, closing the damper partially slows the fire and retains more heat in the stove while getting the fire established. Closed or just cracked overnight usually works well with intakes cracked to half open or more, depending on chimney draft and heat required for overnight burn. The hole size in damper is another factor. Many newer cast dampers have smaller holes along the shaft that plug up quickly. You should have a damper with the larger metered size holes shown below.



That's nickel plating, which gets harder with heat, unlike chrome that will peel when heated.

 

[boatwork]

Yes, a damper should be installed as close to the stove as possible in the pipe.

The stove with bent corners is a later stove built after 1980. It could be a II, III, IV or later. Pictures may be able to identify it. They were definately UL listed, and those with shield back and bottom usually had UL tag on rear shield.

There was no screen used or available for a Mama Bear. Screens were only used on double door stoves with a wider doorway to view fire. That's what makes them the "Fireplace Series". Viewing the fire with screen and open doors in fireplace mode also lowers efficiency and isn't considered a "radiant heater" as used with doors closed.
If you have a double door stove, during open door burning, the damper is closed until smoke starts to roll in at the top. Open slightly to avoid smoke spillage and maintain as much heat as possible in stove.
You will notice as soon as you light the stove, closing the damper partially slows the fire and retains more heat in the stove while getting the fire established. Closed or just cracked overnight usually works well with intakes cracked to half open or more, depending on chimney draft and heat required for overnight burn. The hole size in damper is another factor. Many newer cast dampers have smaller holes along the shaft that plug up quickly. You should have a damper with the larger metered size holes shown below.

View attachment 88537

That's nickel plating, which gets harder with heat, unlike chrome that will peel when heated.

Thanks,
Thanks Coaly, I'll see if I can find a damper as you discribed. The stove is used in my shop, so an over night burn is not required, but if a damper saves wood and retains heat in the shop that's good. The Mama Bear with ball feet and bent corners has a single door size screen that must have been custom made. I offer the stove to anyone that wants it, but it is in BC Canada and I see that most members are in the USA.
So if the damper is used, the drafts are opened more for the same burn rate, but with more heat staying below, in the room? Is that correct?

 

[coaly]

Yes, it slows the velocity up the stack. That stove should sell for 300 to 500 easy.

 

[boatwork]

Yes, it slows the velocity up the stack. That stove should sell for 300 to 500 easy.

Coaly, you are welcome to the Mama Bear with chrome feet, if you want it. No idea what shipping would cost. Dave