In Northeastern Ohio’s continental climate, keeping your HVAC system highly efficient is a major component of controlling your energy bills. Your HVAC dampers, or the adjustable metal panels located inside your ducts, help your system work efficiently by directing heated or cooled air where you want it.
It’s not common for these dampers to fail, but damaged dampers should be replaced. If you currently have manually operated dampers and want to install an automated zoning system, consider adding electronically operated dampers for greater efficiency.
New HVAC Dampers: Why Professional Installation Matters
Before installing your new dampers, your heating and cooling technician will review your ductwork design to find the best location for each damper. For automated dampers, your technician will ascertain the best source of electricity to supply the system. To ensure safety and efficiency, wiring between the dampers, the zone control panel and the power supply require expert planning and installation.
Each damper is installed in four basic steps:
- After adding any necessary support to your ducts, your HVAC technician will open the cover and take out the old damper.
- To prepare the new damper, your technician will brush the damper’s crimped edge and duct with mastic to provide a seal that minimizes air leaks around the damper. The crimped edge of the damper will then be slid into place. This edge and, in the case of an automated damper, the motor actuator, must be precisely positioned to allow for correct airflow and prevent leaks. Next, the damper’s uncrimped edge will be slid into place.
- At this point, for electronically controlled dampers, the junction box will be installed and the damper wired to the power source.
- Finally, the duct will be replaced and secured with screws, then sealed with mastic and fiberglass mesh tape to prevent efficiency-reducing air leaks.
If you’re having issues with stuck or damaged HVAC dampers, or you’re considering a zoning system, contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning in the Lorain, Elyria and Oberlin area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about dampers and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area