What do dampers do in HVAC?

An HVAC damper (also called a duct damper) is a movable plate, located in the ductwork, that regulates airflow and redirects it to specific areas of the home. Dampers are typically used in zoning or “zone control” systems.

How many types of dampers are there in HVAC?

There are two common types of HVAC dampers: manual and automatic. Each system brings unique benefits to HVAC applications.

What are the different types of dampers?

Some of the various types of dampers used in the HVAC system are mentioned below.

Butterfly Flat Dish Damper. Butterfly dish dampers are mainly designed for high efficiency with less maintenance.
Blade Dampers.
Guillotine Dampers.
Louver Dampers.
Inlet Vane Dampers.
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Where are the dampers on HVAC?

Typically in most homes, your HVAC dampers are located in the main supply trunks. The supply trunks are the parts of the ductwork that are blowing warm air or cold air depending on the season.

How do you tell if a damper is open or closed?

Before lighting a fire, you can tell if the damper is open by placing your hand into the fireplace. If you feel a draft coming down the chimney, it is a good indicator that the damper is open. If you don’t feel any cold air coming down the chimney, it means that the damper is closed.

How do I choose a damper?

Sizing a damper When beginning to size a damper, one needs to first calculate the kinetic energy at impact is generated by the load. This calculation depends upon a number of factors such as mass, impact speed, gravity, whether it’s free moving or driven, translational (linear) or rotational, and stroke of the shock.

How do you test HVAC dampers?

Put the damper into an open position and check the registers once again to see if the airflow starts. If the damper is closed and you are feeling low airflow, or none at all, it is most likely a bad damper. For the automatic control damper, turn your HVAC system on. Check for airflow in the registers.

Is closing vents bad for HVAC?

Closing the vents doesn’t do it any favors. In fact, instead of helping the air conditioner cool less, closed registers force the same amount of air through other ducts. This builds pressure in the system and makes your HVAC system work harder to distribute the air where you need it.

Should my HVAC damper be open or closed?

The air control plate in a manual damper is turned by a lever on the outside of your duct. If the damper handle is in a horizontal position, the damper plate has been set to open. If the damper handle is set vertically, the damper is closed to block air flow.

Is a flu and a damper the same thing?

A damper is located in the flue of your chimney. The flue is where the smoke escapes when the fire is going. Dampers are placed inside of the flue to help control ventilation. Your damper should have a chain or handle that you can access in order to open and close it.