If you’re looking for a new space to live in, odds are you’re shopping around and making comparisons between various homes. One thing that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves but is nevertheless one of the aspects of your home that can significantly impact your day-to-day experience is the HVAC system.
The HVAC system includes various parts that work together to keep your home comfortable, like ducts, vents, and electrical equipment. One aspect of an HVAC system that can easily overlook is dampers. They provide an essential role in your system, and when you’re shopping for homes to buy or rent, it’s good to know what they do! So, what are dampers? And how do they work?
What an HVAC damper Is
An HVAC damper is a device used to control the airflow or temperature in a building. The mechanism works by adjusting the opening in an air duct so that either cool or heated air can be released. An HVAC damper is primarily used to maintain constant temperatures and regulate room airflow throughout a home or commercial space. Damper valves are also available for use with heat systems, allowing users to regulate room temperatures with only minimal energy expenditures.
The presence of an HVAC damper can help avoid the need for additional ventilation and cooling. For example, in a room where fresh air is only needed from time to time, the damper can be opened, allowing a limited amount of fresh air through, and then closed to prevent any more fresh air from entering.
HVAC dampers can prevent the spread of fire through a building. For example, in many modern office buildings, HVAC dampers are installed between floors within the air conditioning system so that if a fire breaks out on one floor, the damper will close and prevent the spread of smoke and flames to other floors, allowing the occupants enough time to evacuate the building.
Types of Dampers
The types of dampers differ in terms of purpose, size, and shape. The control methods are also different, including automatic and manual controls. An automatic one is the most used type mainly because of its ease and flexibility.
Automatic dampers are controlled by a motor to open and close the valves and plates and can be controlled remotely. You also don’t need to worry about changing weather as they regulate themselves.
The damper is controlled by a valve outside the duct in manual controls. You need to move the valve up or down to open or close a certain damper. Their maintenance is low compared to automatic dampers.
Butterfly Flat Dish Damper
They are made of a central hinge, seal, and a round blade and provide a simple and cost-effective method of control and isolation. The blade takes care of the airflow while the seal joins the circumference of the duct to the blade’s edges, thus preventing any object from gaining access to the ductwork.
They are used as a preventive fire measure. Additionally, they provide little to no noise. They are useful in balancing systems, control air systems, stack isolation, scrubber systems, and incinerators.
Blade Dampers
They control airflow via ducts and chimneys. They also come in two types parallel and opposed blade dampers. The opposed ones have blades that move in the opposite direction, while the parallel ones move in the same direction. The parallel blade damper is good at maintaining airflow, while the opposed one is good at directing airflow.
Guillotine Dampers
They are single-bladed dampers raised and lowered to cut off the venting system’s flow completely. They are suitable for positive isolation because of their strong sealing ability. However, they can temporarily regulate airflow when maintaining your HVAC system. They are used in situations where complete isolation is needed.
Inlet Vane Dampers
They are also known as variable inlet vanes or internal vane controls and are used mostly in equipment where volume control for regulating airflow and fan shut-off is necessary. They are also designed to modulate the relationship between the pressure of the inlet side’s blower and airflow. If you need better control of airflow in your building, this is the right choice. They use fan properties to affect the flow of air entering a fan, reducing the fan pressure while maintaining speed.
Louver Dampers
Louver dampers are primarily used in the exhaust side of ductwork systems. They have slats that open and close to control the strength and duration of airflow. They are redundant types, and their primary purpose is to provide a control system for air conditioning systems. They are the perfect choice for homeowners because of their high quality and ability to match any duct size. They also have a powerful air-blocking element.
Benefits of HVAC Dampers
HVAC dampers are used in heating, ventilation, and cooling systems to control the amount of airflow between different parts of the ductwork. They play a big part in HVAC systems because they let you control the air circulation. By opening or closing the damper, you can control how much air is entering the room and where it will go.
In zoning systems they’re used to control the temperature between different areas of a home. They’re also crucial in multi-zone systems to regulate other rooms’ heat or cool air. The thermostat controls these systems.
HVAC dampers are also used to control sound. Many HVAC dampers are made from an acoustical material called mass-loaded vinyl, a type of heavy rubber. This helps reduce the amount of sound that travels through the ductwork by blocking outside noise. This can be very helpful when you live in a noisy area or want your home to be as quiet as possible at night.
They offer a reduction in energy consumption and cost savings. They can be used in any system to control air circulation in supply and exhaust ducts. They are very efficient and easy to use. Properly designed, they can help lower energy bills by reducing the amount of heat or air conditioning wasted. It’s also good to consider how HVAC dampers can help your health because they can help lower any carbon monoxide build-up, a hazard found in poorly ventilated homes.
Call on the Professionals
Maintenance of HVAC dampers includes cleaning, inspection, and replacement. To ensure your HVAC dampers are working properly, you’ll need to look for any signs of wear. You’ll want to know if the damper’s blades are bent or damaged because that may be enough to cause your damper not to open or close properly. Damper seals are likely to get worn over time, so you’ll want to replace these as well. At Beyer Air Conditioning & Heating in San Antonio, TX, we install and maintain dampers for you.
We also offer air conditioning and heating installation, repair, and maintenance as well as AC duct repair and cleaning, ductless AC systems, humidifiers, VRF systems, and new construction. We also provide a variety of indoor air quality solutions, including humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air purifiers, ventilators, and UV lights. Contact Beyer Air Conditioning & Heating today for more information about our services.
