The cost of running your air conditioning isn’t cheap, so ensuring the temperature is consistent is crucial. Dampers help people control the temperature in their buildings and homes for maximum comfort. If you don’t have the proper dampers installed in your system, this can be difficult. Knowing if your dampers are working properly will make for a cool summer season as you prepare for the warmer weather.
What are AC Air Control Dampers?
Dampers are pieces of equipment attached to HVAC units, ducts, chimneys, and any other apparatus regulating the flow of air. For example, AC air control dampers can cut off the air conditioning to a room that isn’t being used or regulate the temperature of different rooms in the same building.
How AC Air Control Dampers Work
While the primary objective of these dampers is to control the air conditioning throughout the building, they also control airflow in and out of the building. Therefore, they are crucial in ensuring the air within the building is clean and free of any hazardous fumes, protecting everyone in the building.
If people are constantly complaining about the temperature in your building, adding or adjusting the building’s dampers will make a big difference. These adjustments will save you money by preventing your unit from going into overdrive to maintain ideal temperatures and allow you to control your building’s airflow.
Types of AC Air Control Dampers:
- Combo
- Round
- Rectangular
- Square
Lloyd Industries offers AC air control dampers in different sizes to ensure they will work for all types of systems. It is crucial to choose dampers that are made for your unit. The dampers are movable, and your system may use more than one type. Once you’ve chosen the right damper shape for your unit, you need to choose between a manual or automatic ac air control damper.
Manual Air Control Dampers
Manual dampers are located outside of air vents and are controlled by moving the external lever. They are not recommended for large commercial buildings because the HVAC systems are usually located in hard-to-reach places. Because of this, manual dampers are most commonly found in chimneys and smaller homes, where they are easily accessible to control manually.
Automatic Dampers
While manual dampers can save you money, many buildings believe automatic dampers are worth the price tag since the dampers can be controlled remotely and be programmed to self-regulate. Generally, larger buildings have several thermostats designated to each zone and can be programmed accordingly.
If you are unsure what dampers would fit your unit or if you should choose automatic vs. manual, reach out to one of the technicians at Lloyd Industries.
Other Types of Air Control Dampers by Lloyd Industries:
- Fire & smoke dampers
- Backdraft dampers
Fire & Smoke Dampers
Fire dampers are designed to protect buildings and homes from fires. In the event of a fire, installed dampers detect heat that reaches a certain temperature and close automatically, preventing the fire and smoke from spreading.
Other passive fire protection products include smoke dampers. Like fire dampers, they reduce the spread of smoke from one space to another in the event of a fire.
Backdraft Dampers
Backdraft dampers are another crucial piece for your ventilation system. They are essential to ensure your space has quality air by regulating the airflow throughout each room. They are designed to allow contaminated air to flow out while preventing it from coming back in.
In short, you can never have too many dampers. While each damper has a different function, they all work together to keep the building safe and your air clean.
AC Air Control Dampers and HVAC Maintenance
It’s essential to schedule routine maintenance to keep your unit running efficiently. Dampers have a long shelf life when properly cared for, so consistent maintenance will save you money.
Standard routine maintenance should be completed every six months. This includes inspecting dampers and other unit parts for any visible damage. For example, if airflow in the building has changed and is no longer being distributed evenly, it may be time to adjust your dampers.
Why is Balancing the Flow of Air Important?
Air balancing has many benefits not only for your home or business but also for your unit. Air balancing ensures all rooms in your building or home are at the correct temperature year-round, keeping everyone comfortable in the places they spend most of their time.
3 Benefits of Air Balancing:
- Air circulation
- Energy efficiency
- Performance
Improved Air Circulation
Air circulation is not just good for comfort; it is good for your health. Air circulation helps prevent the buildup of particles in the air throughout your building, which ensures everyone in your building is breathing in clean, healthy air at all times. If you work in a business that uses spray paints or other materials that have high fumes, air circulation helps reduce the odor and fumes that you may be in contact with.
Improved Energy Efficiency
Having an energy-efficient unit means your building uses less energy while still doing its job. This also helps to reduce your energy costs and reduce pollution. In addition, by balancing the flow of air in your building, you are ensuring your system doesn’t have to work overtime in certain areas to maintain the proper temperature, making your system work more efficiently.
Improved Overall Performance of HVAC Unit
Airflow is crucial to the performance of your HVAC unit. A well-performing unit will have a longer lifespan, saving you money over the years. On the other hand, when airflow is restricted in your building, it can create problems, push your system into overdrive to make up for the restricted areas, and can even cause a part to fail or malfunction due to being overworked.
Lloyd Industries AC Air Control Damper Products
Lloyd Industries AC air control dampers are available in parallel and opposed blades. The parallel blade option is used when greater control is needed towards the top end of the damper or in systems where the damper is required to be fully opened or closed. The opposed blade type is used where maintaining even air distribution is the priority.
Lloyd Industries’ customer service reps and local technicians will be able to answer any questions you may have and provide a quote if you already know what you need. If you are worried about poor airflow and a strain on your system, reach out to a Lloyd Industries technician. They can assist you and perform full maintenance on your unit to ensure it is working efficiently.
Many facets go with AC air control dampers, but the result is always the same. By keeping your air clean and safe, you can have peace of mind that your unit is working efficiently year-round.
