How to Fix a Manual Pipe Damper in a Wood Stove

Close the stove doors and wait for the fire to burn out if the stove has been in use. Wait for the vent pipe to cool to room temperature.

Loosen and remove the screws around the perimeter of the stove pipe where the damper control is located. Use spray lubricant, if needed, to loosen the screws and separate the pipe.

Turn on and shine a flashlight into the pipe to inspect the circular damper plate inside. Often, the problem will be visible and obvious, such as a disconnected damper rod or bent damper plate.

Loosen the wing nut on the rod that extends outside of the pipe and apply spray lubricant to loosen and adjust the pull rod that opens and shuts the damper. A rusted or broken pull rod should be removed and replaced. The new rod connects to the damper hinge with a screw and screwdriver.

Straighten a bent damper with a pair of pliers. If the damper is rusted out or there are missing pieces, unscrew and remove the pull rod and extract the hinge screws to take out the damper. Insert the new damper into the pipe and connect it at the hinge with screws.

Slide the pull rod to extend it from the pipe at a position that allows the damper to open and close yet not fall open when you release the rod. Hold the rod at this position and tighten the wing nut on the rod against the outside of the pipe to hold the rod in place.

Push together the two sections of pipe and twist them gently to align the screw holes. Secure the pipe connection with the screws removed in Step 2.