Help with soot smell
I have just moved into a new home with a stove and we haven't used it yet but the previous owners did. However the room with stove and stairway connected via hall has constant soot smell.
I paid for a service and they said its all ok and they cleaned it out. The smell is a bit better but still very noticeable.
I bought a chimney sheep to plug it to see if it helps which I've done and will see how this goes. Whilst I was placing this I tried the front lever that I believe is the damper to check if it was left or right for close but I feel nothing moving at all.
Some pictures attached for reference. There is also a catalytic converter device that the service guy said was odd to see in such a stove?
Can anyone with expertise provide any help on what's going on with the smell? Is this due to missing/broken damper. Shouldn't this have been picked up by service?
Thanks!