Cleaning chimney with top butterfly damper

[willkil]

The installation instructions for a drop-in top damper says:

The minimal space between the outer damper ring and your existing flue wall exists for thermal expansion. It can be caulked air tight with a bead of hi-temp red siliconeas illustrated.

But it also says,

Caulking is optional. Do not caulk if [the damper] is going to be removed for periodic cleaning purposes. [emphasis added]

I'm actually leaning toward getting (broken link removed to http://www.woodlanddirect.com/Seal-Tight-Chimney-Top-Damper) that looks like it will seal better, but the caulking instructions and caveats for the above damper leads to a question that applies to any butterfly style damper.

Is removing a butterfly damper really necessary for cleaning a chimney?

 

[bholler]

The installation instructions for a drop-in top damper says: But it also says,

I'm actually leaning toward getting (broken link removed to http://www.woodlanddirect.com/Seal-Tight-Chimney-Top-Damper) that looks like it will seal better, but the caulking instructions and caveats for the above damper leads to a question that applies to any butterfly style damper.

Is removing a butterfly damper really necessary for cleaning a chimney?

Yes i always remove them. It probably isnt nessecary but i feel i can do a better job if i pull it