Using a key damper ?s

Interesting, I hadn't seen them before.

I just use the metal chimney brush, and smack piping sides near damper.

 

They work gooder...and they do bends too, can clean bottom up through the stove.

 

With the new install (nc 30) and around a 25 ft flue plus the winds I feel I should install one. At this point I do not know how the steep roof , various trees and the wind will affect the draft. Last winter during a few of the snaw falls with high winds there were some pretty strange air flows. ( down drafts on the lee side of the wind Roof pitch is around 7/12 so it is very steep

 

They're cheap and easy install, if you don't use it, no big deal.

However, if you need it later, it's a messier install, and you need to break down the chimney.

I'd say install now, see where it leads.

 

I installed a damper at the tail end of the burning season, and wish I would have installed one right from the start 4 years ago. They might slow draft somewhat in the open position on a mild day, but with what little experience I did have running with it, they sure help simmer it down in high wind situations.

Edit to add: I had commented on a different post about my damper, and here's a more words version.

Recently installed a double wall stove pipe damper, it's been 10-12 days now. There is a noticeable difference in how it runs. A few highlights.

Very easy to run in high wind conditions, for controlling the burn, and actually being able to get the wood to catch, rather than the draft pulling so hard that it can't get going. My old cheat was throttle back primary air full, and open door slightly to create enough draft to fire up in high wind. But then with normal size wood, it would take off like a rocket eventually anyways. In 30 mph wind, I keep primary air wide open, damper at half, and it starts up like normal. Once it's established, you can open damper, let it get rolling quicker, then utilize the damper to moderate it again. Or just leave it and watch it walk up slowly.

More complete burn of wood in the stove when the weather is cold, by having a good fire, not a raging fire. The draft will end up being whatever you choose, within reason. A raging fire, a spirited fire, a relaxed fire, or a northern lights/ghost flames whisping in the air fire. It's up to you.

Much easier to keep a lower stack temp, as observed by the flue probe. I will say, with the damper in full open position, it seems to add a slight restriction or slow down (more easily noticed when restarting on coals for example) but not a crazy amount. To me, keeping the stack temp lower than normal while achieving the same temps on/in the stove is obviously a plus.