What Are HVAC Dampers: All You Need to Know | Anderson Air

Regardless of the weather, hot or cold, most households have invested in an HVAC system. However, not many homeowners know what components make up the system. As long as the system is cooling or heating their place, they are good to go.

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Dampers are one of those crucial HVAC components that most of us don't even know they exist in our systems. And, those of us who know about them don't know how exactly they function.

So, what are dampers in HVAC systems? Are they important? And how do they work?

These are questions that most homeowners will have. Don't worry if you're not sure about this critical component. This guide will answer all these questions and more.

What are HVAC Dampers?

A damper is a component in charge of controlling the airflow in an HVAC system. It also helps in adjusting your room temperature. It could be compared to a dam, in that, when a damper is closed, it stops the air from going through it. This is the same mechanism that a dam on a river uses.

HVAC Dampers for air ducts are usually located between the main trunk line and the round supply duct. They are like valves, which play a vital role in your zoning system.

Usually, they are plate-like components that help close parts of your ducts system while keeping others open. This way, if you want to prevent airflow to a certain zone or room, you can easily use the dampers to do so.

How do they Work?

As mentioned above, HVAC dampers are like valves. They are tasked with deciding the amount of cooled or heated air that goes to different places in your ductwork. The ductwork will, in turn, raise or lower your zone's temperature to the required level.

By closing the dampers, you will be directing the airflow in another direction. This way, if you want a certain area cooled or heated, these components work to achieve that.

Unlike closing the vents, dampers are located relatively closer to the air source, meaning that they are more effective in redirecting the airflow.

Types of Air Conditioning Dampers

The types of dampers differ in terms of purposes, sizes, and shapes. The control methodology is also different, involving automatic or manual controls.

An automatic damper in an HVAC: These ones require a motor to open or close the plates and the valves, and you can control them remotely. Also, you don't need to worry about any changing weather as they can self-regulate themselves.

A manual damper in an HVAC: On the other hand, these ones are managed by the valves found outside the ducts. You only need to move them up and down when opening and closing a certain damper. When it comes to maintenance, they are low cost, as compared to their automatic counterparts.

Looking at the different types of dampers will help us further answer this question ' what are dampers in HVAC systems?

Butterfly Flat Dish

These types of dampers are made up of a round blade, a seal, and a central hinge. The blade takes care of the airflow when put in line with the ducts. The seal joins the circumference of the duct with the blade's edges. It prevents any material from gaining access into the ductwork.

This type of HVAC duct damper acts as a fire-preventive measure. It protects the backdraft by controlling any airflow in one direction.

For better functionality, blend this damper with the round ducts. Their sealing capability is commendable when compared to the others.

Additionally, they produce very little to no noise whatsoever.

Blade Dampers

The component to look out for in this damper is the metal plates. They control the airflow via the chimneys or ducts.

The dampers come in two types; parallel and opposed blade dampers. The parallel ones consist of blades that move in the same direction, while the opposed ones move in the opposite direction.

When it comes to maintaining the airflow, go for parallel blade dampers. The opposed ones take the medal when it comes to directing the airflow.

Guillotine Dampers

If you need positive isolation, look for this damper. This is because of its high-ranking sealing ability. However, you can only use them temporarily when maintaining your HVAC system to regulate airflow.

Louver Dampers

They are the most routinely used air conditioning dampers in HVAC systems. Users love them because of their high quality and ability to match with any duct size. Their powerful air blocking element has made them the best choice for many homeowners.

Inlet Vane Dampers

Vane dampers are also known as internal vane controls or variable inlet vanes. They are mostly used in equipment where volume control for regulating airflow and fan shut-off is necessary.

They are designed to modulate the relationship between airflow and pressure of the inlet side's blower.

Generally, these dampers use fan properties to affect the flow of air entering the fan, thus reducing the fan pressure while maintaining the speed.

If you want to better control airflow in your building, then this is the damper for air ducts that you need.

The Merits of HVAC Dampers

The final crucial bit that we shall look at is what advantages HVAC dampers bring to the table. The most notable one is its ability to manage your general home temperature. This is extremely significant for families with several members and rooms that need conditioning.

For example, you can alter your kitchen's temperature without interfering with your home's entire temperature using an HVAC damper.

Secondly, HVAC dampers reduce the burden of paying high energy bills. Whenever you limit the airflow, the HVAC system is usually on low energy when operating. This way, you will minimize your expenditure on air conditioning as a long-term plan.

The bottom line is that you totally understand what are dampers in HVAC systems. Do not just settle for any damper that comes your way. Get to know its functions and the advantages it will bring when controlling your home's temperature.

It can be unfortunate if you invest in an HVAC system that is not functioning properly due to inadequate information. With this knowledge, you can make an informed decision when sourcing a good HVAC damper for your home.

Everything You Need To Know About Vibration Dampers

Often enough, we are not really aware of what is in our HVAC systems. Not a smart move as owners. After all, how can we avoid mishaps occurring from mishandling when we don't even know what a specific component is supposed to do? And vibration dampers are no different.

Here is the basic information about vibration dampers.

What Is A vibration damper?

You have a vibration dampener, and then you have a vibration damper. Although used in different places, they still have a lot of similarities.

Vibration dampeners are used on road bridges. They are automotive shock absorbers that absorb shock oscillations from vehicles, preventing excessive movement in the road bridge. Just like that, vibration dampers in the HVAC system absorb vibrations. But from where? There is no vehicle in there now, is it?

For more furnace vibration damperinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

The HVAC system does mechanical work, which produces a lot of vibrations. You can actually see this phenomenon occurring in simple plumbing pipes when water runs through them. Exposed pipes and vents are ok because there is no active transference of vibrations. But for the networks hidden in walls, ceilings, and floors, the result can be disastrous. The transfer of vibrations can make the building shake, no matter how subtle. Over time, this will weaken the interior and structural integrity, hence the need for a vibration damper. It will absorb the vibrations and transform them into heat, preventing them from transferring to walls or ceilings.

Definition Of Vibration Damper:

In the most simplistic terms, a vibration damper is a device that prevents the vibration from transferring to floors and walls. Additionally, it is a vibration isolator in more precise terms. Rather than transmitting the energy somewhere else, it will convert it into heat.

Where Are Vibration Dampers Used In HVAC?

Vibration dampers are used alongside a huge variety of machines. This includes power presses, compressors, conveyors, etc. Aside from that, their applications do not end there. It is also used for the protection of sensitive instruments during transportation from external vibrations.

How Do Vibration Dampers Work?

Vibration dampers are attached to the machine in question. When the vibratory movement of that specific machine exceeds the threshold, the damper does its job of absorbing shock. The device contains a viscoelastic substance (that has the property of both liquid and solid) like Sorbothane. These types of substances would absorb the energy from the vibration. Rather than transferring it somewhere else, it would be converted into heat energy, some of which would be stored. The process would continue until the pressure lessens and the machine is in the safe zone again.

Are HVAC Vibration Dampers Necessary?

Yes, it is. Again, HVAC does a lot of mechanical work, which can produce a lot of vibrations and noise. Even if you are not interested in the mechanics of it, as an owner, you will always want the quieter option. Thus, this is a necessary piece of equipment for your safety and peace of mind.

How Can SuperAir Help You?

Our business specializes in HVAC supplies and fabrication options. We can provide you with the best vibration dampers suitable for most brands.

Visit our website now to check out our catalog

Which Vibration Damper is Right for Your Needs?

Vibration damping is an important part of building machines or working factories. When you're talking about situations in which there are lots of moving parts and lots of friction, you definitely need to be able to control vibrations. Excess vibrations can create unnecessary noise, break a machine's moving parts down more quickly, or even cause the machine to come apart of stop working sooner rather than later.

There are many different ways to control vibration. One is to simply absorb it. This is a process known as vibration damping. Through the years, many different substances have evolved that can help to absorb and damp vibration from a variety of sources. Here are several options still available today:

Oil: This age-old substance is used to take some of the vibration out of a system by absorbing it. It can't isolate vibrations, but it can keep the overall vibration of the system a bit lower. It's easy to use, and it can be good for very limited applications, especially those in which friction is the main problem.

Springs: These aren't a true vibration damper, but they can help isolate vibration in a system. They basically absorb energy in one way and release it in another, making vibration easier to control. Before you try springs, though, consider that they have limited applications and may actually break down over time.

Rubber: This was really the next step up from springs. It also absorbs energy and releases it in a different format, so it can isolate vibration. It can damp vibration a little, but it really just works to isolate it and doesn't have true damping abilities.

Polyurethane: Newer substances like foam and foam-like polyurethane can be used to absorb some of the energy in a system. They are sometimes used for isolation, but they can also be used in order to damp the amount of vibration and energy in an entire system.

Sorbothane: This proprietary viscoelastic substance combines the properties of some of the older vibration dampers and adds a few new properties of its own. It absorbs energy, but it can also release it. Because of this, it can be used for isolation or damping purposes.

As a vibration damper, Sorbothane is top of the line and uses the absolute latest technology. Besides performing the roles of many previous dampers, it also lasts longer and is more versatile. This flexible substance can be formed into any number of pads, tiles, and other types of items that can be fitted into your machine or factory in a variety of ways. It's been used in applications as various as steadying camera mounts and making running shoes healthier for the runner.

This substance is clearly the winner for most vibration damping needs. It can be used in engines or in larger systems, such as HVAC systems. It's so versatile and lasts so long that engineers enjoy working with it.

Want to learn more about Sorbothane's vibration damping solutions? Contact us to learn more or request a quote.

The Importance of Vibration Dampeners

Are you a long-time reader of our blog posts? Then you've seen us share insight about the effects of first and second-mode vibrations. (Missed it? Read all about it here.)

You may be tempted to resort to radical measures in order to protect your new gorgeous light poles, but the local mayor or end customer likely won't approve of building-thick brick walls around each pole. Another effective option: vibration dampeners.

A vibration dampener is a device that attaches to the light pole that absorbs energy from the wind, disrupting the resonance of the pole. After enough collisions, your pole is considered 'effectively dampened,' which means that the dampener is successfully minimizing the intensity of each vibration.

Types of Vibration Dampeners

First-mode vibrations are caused by sudden, high-velocity gusts of wind. They cause poles to sway. Most poles are designed and built to handle such movement, but it can be alarming to see out in the field. A vibration dampener may be used to mitigate swaying. Second-mode (a.k.a. Aeolian) vibrations are caused by steady, low-velocity, high-frequency winds. These vibrations can be extremely damaging to a structure by leading to stress fractures, cracked lamps, and corrosion. They can even knock down a light pole. Vibration dampeners can also mitigate the destructive impacts of these types of movement.

Ball in a Box

A lead ball is epoxy-coated and placed inside a box attached at the top of the pole. Lead helps absorb some of the resonant energy from the wind through local deformations. Those deformations are small and believed to not significantly degrade the performance of a dampener over time. The more balls you place in the box, the better they absorb energy. This dampener is typically used to mitigate first-mode vibration and can be installed in the field.

Rod in a Canister

A rod in a canister is placed inside the light pole and can typically be recognized by two bolts protruding on the outside of the pole. This dampener counteracts the low amplitudes and higher frequencies associated with second-mode vibrations. These dampeners are usually factory installed.

Chain and Tube

A chain encased in a plastic tube is run two-thirds the length of the pole and disturbs the harmonic cycling of the shaft by randomly touching the inside surface of the pole. Any agitation caused by the wind transfers to the tube and chain. This style of dampener can be either factory or field installed. Learn more here.

Before installation, bring an electrician on-site to inspect your pole and ensure the chain will not interfere with any electrical components. Some items, like terminal blocks, may need to be temporarily removed for proper installation. See full installation instructions.

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