Smobot needs cleaning — normal?

Hi all. A couple times per year, my Smobot damper is so coated with soot that it can start sticking. So, i take it apart and scrub it clean (Dawn Powerwash). I smoke mostly with oak, mostly low & slow and 2-3 times per month. (Even when grilling steaks, i like to hit them with smoke for an hour and reverse sear). I love my BGE/Smobot combo. But just checking: do you other Smobot users have the same experience (need to clean the damper every 4-6 months or it gets stuck) or am i doing something wrong?