An HVAC damper is a component of a heating and cooling system that controls airflow. Having control over the airflow in your home allows you to control the temperature in your rooms to a greater degree than simply adjusting your thermostat.
While you can set your thermostat to maintain a temperature of, for example, 72 degrees Fahrenheit throughout your home, your HVAC dampers can be adjusted to suit your preferences in various rooms. Your HVAC dampers offer a more precise way to control airflow. If you work from home during summer, for instance, you’d probably prefer it if you get more cold air in your office instead of your bedroom or kitchen (provided, of course, that you have a separate office space!).
Design of an HVAC Damper
HVAC dampers are available in a variety of designs. Some are made for homes, while others are suitable for use in large buildings.
One of the most widely used HVAC dampers takes the form of a metal sleeve with a round metal plate inside it. The plate, the actual component known as a damper, can be adjusted to open or close. In other words, the damper can either block the airflow completely or allow air through. A lever on the exterior of the metal sleeve makes it easy to adjust the damper’s position.
Another HVAC damper design features a metal frame with three or more parallel, horizontal blades. The blades can be adjusted to fit securely together in order to close the damper, preventing air from flowing into a room. Alternatively, the blades can be opened to the direct airflow into a room.
The design and size of an HVAC damper depends on the dimensions and needs of your system. It’s a good idea to enlist the help of an expert to help you determine what type of dampers your home needs, how and where to install them, or if your home needs dampers at all.
How Do HVAC Dampers Work?
Maybe you have a room in your home that always feels a little bit cold in the wintertime. Adjusting your HVAC damper can help! Opening the damper to allow more warm air to flow into the room is going to raise the temperature.
Alternatively, if you have a room that’s getting too much warm air in the wintertime, adjust or close the HVAC damper to lower the temperature.
Do you have a room that receives a lot of sunlight in the wintertime? If so, that room doesn’t need as much warm air than your other rooms. Adjusting the dampers gives you the option of decreasing or increasing the warm or cool flow of air into a room.
As you see, HVAC dampers give you even more control over the amount of energy your HVAC system expends to keep your home comfortable.
How Do HVAC Dampers Help with Energy Efficiency?
When you have control over the airflow and temperature in your home, you’re able to increase the energy efficiency of an HVAC system. For example, if you’ve a room that’s rarely occupied, you can adjust or close the HVAC damper to avoid heating and cooling an empty space.
If one family member enjoys having a cooler bedroom in the wintertime, then the damper can be adjusted to suit the person’s comfort level. At the same time, your furnace isn’t expending a large amount of energy delivering heat to a room where it’s not wanted. Think of HVAC dampers as a midpoint between central air and multizone systems (which use separate HVAC systems to heat and cool areas of a building individually).
Benefits of Having an HVAC Damper
- Increased energy efficiency
- Savings on heating and cooling bills
- Control over room temperatures
- Avoid continual thermostat adjustment
At O'Brien Heating & Air Conditioning in Drexel Hill, we are pleased to offer professional HVAC repair, maintenance, and installation services. In addition, our technicians handle duct cleaning and air purifier installation as well as water heater installation. Need a more energy-efficient water heater? Let us tell you about tankless water heaters and evaluate the heater currently in your home. We’re a BBB accredited business and proud to have earned the award for Best HVAC Professionals in Philadelphia 2021. Contact O'Brien Heating & Air Conditioning to schedule an appointment today!
