In the past, houses were built to house only one system of conduits. Today, larger, more modern homes often have multiple duct systems.
Two-story houses may have cooler rooms on the lower level in winter and warmer rooms on the upper floor in summer. For this reason, achieving constant comfort can be difficult.
You can add shutters to existing pipes to increase the number of zones, even if you have an oven connected to a compressor, a single heat generator or a single air generator.
If you want to know more about the subject and how to install HVAC zone control dampers, read on.
What are HVAC Zone Control Damper?
Air duct dampers, generally known as duct dampers or HVAC dampers, are movable plates positioned in the ducts. Two critical activities are generally performed by an air duct damper:
- Diffuse centralized air conditioning in other rooms
- Temperature regulation in each room
- Due to the amount of energy consumed by the air conditioning and heating, all changes made here will be counted. This is why it is necessary to understand the importance of the position when installing the shutters in existing pipes.
There are 5 types of HVAC zone dampers
The shutters for HVAC applications are available in numerous variants and can be operated automatically, mechanically and manually. Here are five different types of shutters used in the HVAC system:
Specifically designed for greater efficiency and less maintenance, butterfly dampers use a blade on a hinge built to fill the conduit.
It limits the flow of air when it is precisely aligned and is very efficient in doing so. If necessary, these dampers can be equipped with several blades.
The blade shock absorbers are made with thin metal plates. These dampers are ideal for controlling the flow of air in air treatment equipment such as ducts, chimneys and HVAC systems.
This type of damper has blades that move in opposite directions and are designed for their exceptional control and dosage.
Guillotine dampers, named after the 18th century execution device, are known for their ability to seal the most sensitive areas.
These shock absorbers maintain a single point to completely block the flow of air. Furthermore, they can be used wherever adequate insulation is required for maintenance.
Slot shock absorbers are useful for their fast response times and strong air-locking properties.
These HVAC dampers feature flat blades and hinges that can fill ducts of any size.
Suction fan dampers are often used in fan suction applications that provide better control of material pressure and flow.
They are most often used in HVAC settings that require full control over ventilation.
What Do I Need To Install Zoning On My Existing System?
Before installing the HVAC zone control dampers it is necessary to make the following arrangements:
This central control panel controls communication between thermostats, dampers and the HVAC system. You can think of it as the brain of the general zoning application.
The zone control unit collects information on the preferred zone. The panel then directs the shutters to produce sufficient air flow for heating and cooling in each area.
They measure the air temperature in every area of the house.
The thermostat will send a signal to the zone control panel to bring cool or warm air to any zone if the temperature gets too high or too low.
You should install a thermostat in all of your zones / rooms to effectively monitor the temperature.
The ducts contain zone shutters that control the flow of air to certain rooms or areas of the house.
They are wired in a specific area on the control panel which is controlled by the thermostat. Depending on the thermostat, the zone dampers can open or close automatically.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, it is best to label all components of the ventilation zone for effective maintenance.
How To Install Dampers In Existing Pipes: Step-by-Step Instructions
Now that you have everything you need, let’s move on to installing a shock absorber!
As we all know, cold air goes down while hot air rises. You will notice a significant change in temperature in your home in the summer with the air conditioning on or in the winter with the heating on.
This can be balanced by using a manual or electric shock absorber. We will now deal with the basic installation. However, it is best to consult the manufacturer when installing the electric shock absorber.
It is best to clean the ducts before installing the control dampers in the HVAC area because there may be dust, hair or allergens trapped inside the ducts.
Look at your piping or furnace. You may also need it at the opposite end of the line if you intend to put a shutter upstairs.
Once the position of the shock absorber to be installed has been determined, measure its diameter. After the measurement, you will need a damper of the same size.
- Open the duct
- Drill two holes at opposite ends of the duct.
- Remove the fasteners from the shock absorber, connect through the new holes and tighten
- .Seal both sides using masking tape
- If you are installing an electric shutter, make sure it is not in line with splashes or water sources.
You can adjust the shutter according to the season, diverting the air to the various points of the house where it may be required.
Automatic Shock Absorbers VS Manual Shock Absorbers
Some HVAC systems are equipped with manual shutters to regulate the air. A control system of the manual shutters area uses a lever located outside the air intakes to regulate the flow. In addition, the manual shock absorbers are easy to maintain and operate.
However, suppose you want a precision control system and prefer air self-regulation. If so, you should opt for automatic shock absorbers. These dampers are controlled by thermostats and are located inside the air ducts.
Comparison of one-stage and two-stage zone systems:
Two-stage zone technology reduces the power of your HVAC system. It can work 65% on the bottom and 100% on the top.
The system will operate at a lower setting if there is a low demand for cooling or heating in different areas. This reduces energy consumption and costs.
Single stage systems cannot be zoned as they operate at 100% capacity. It is not possible to reduce energy even if only a single zone is used.
They operate at maximum capacity, so it is not uncommon for excessive heating or cooling to occur. This can lead to temperature changes and mechanical failures.