Expert: Dale Hoherz - 8/29/2007

Question
I have a 30 year old house and have removed a wood stove which vented into the fireplace.  The fireplace damper is in place, but the damper plate is missing.  I have purchased a replacement lid (Vestal) but try as I may, I cannot seem to get it into place.  The flue starts to neck down just above the damper, so I cannot get it above the cast-iron damper body.  Is there any trick in the trade to getting a replacement lid in place?

Answer
Paul
1st, the plate must match the casing. A vestal will not fit a Donnelly, etc.  If the old one came out, the replacement should go in.  Are you sure that the old one is not up there on the smoke shelf.?
Usually you slide it thru the casing to one side til the plate is behind the casing.  Then you can seat it in the casing.  Some I encounter simply will not come out because of the way the mason built the fireplace.
You could always go with a Lock-Top top sealing damper that installs on the top flue liner.  A cable goes down the chimney and attaches in the firebox for easy operation.  These are a little more expensive, but the preferred answer to replacement..(More energy efficient because it seals the chimney when closed.
Dale