Your air conditioning unit is an essential appliance for your indoor comfort. When it is working as it should, few people give a second thought to it until they see their energy bill. You might invest in the most energy efficient central air conditioner on the market but still, contend with high energy expenses if you do not have zoning.
This allows the division of your property into distinct zones whose temperatures can be controlled separately. True air conditioning zoning for your Knoxville, TN property involves a thermostat and damper for individual rooms or zones connected to a central control panel.
The zone damper is a valve or plate designed to stop or regulate the airflow in different zones based on your needs. It might thus cut off the air conditioning supply to unused rooms and adjust the temperature in occupied ones at different times of the day.
The following are the dampers that might be used for your HVAC unit’s zone control.
Butterfly Dampers
These feature a blade placed on a hinge. It is meant to fill the ducts when adequately aligned and thus restrict airflow. Butterfly dampers are available in several blade configurations and can completely restrict airflow if need be.
Moreover, they prevent the back drafting of air in your unit by only allowing airflow in a single direction. This way, butterfly dampers also play a crucial role in fire prevention in your heating applications.
Louver Dampers
These are meant for air conditioning units looking for strong airflow restriction properties and quick response times such as those in commercial settings. Louver dampers have flat blades connected to hinges.
These blades will fill ducts of multiple sizes to cut off airflow. Louver dampers are the commonly used ones in HVAC applications.
Guillotine Dampers
These dampers provide one of the best airflow seals for HVAC units. The dampers will have a seal that drops into place based on thermostat settings to entirely block airflow. Guillotine dampers are usually used during HVAC inspection and maintenance works. They are, however, also useful for zone control.
Inlet Vane Dampers
These are used in air conditioners that require a precise airflow control. To this end, they are generally used in industrial settings where tight temperature control is essential. Inlet vane dampers can also be used in facilities looking for full regulation of their ventilation.
Bypass Dampers
These are generally installed in the path of your air conditioner air supply and its return. When using bypass dampers, the static pressure of your ducts will increase as the zone closes and necessitate the restriction of airflow as required. Unfortunately, these dampers have a noisy operation.
If at some point you are only using one room in your house, why should your air conditioner cool or heat your entire property? The above dampers for your zone control will not only guarantee your indoor comfort by concentrating on occupied rooms but also lower your energy costs.
These dampers can be operated manually or mechanically or be automated. The choice your HVAC technician will recommend depends on the location, the ducting of your unit and its intended purpose.
