A home with a central air conditioning system uses ductwork to feed cold air into rooms through vents, as opposed to an individual wall or window-mounted air conditioner. Zone control systems regulate the amount of cold air that flows into a room using mechanical components called dampers. Here’s a quick overview of how these systems work.
How Dampers Work
A damper is a plate or valve mounted on an electronically controlled axle and works similar to a faucet. When you set your room’s temperature to lower than the central air conditioner’s output, it partially blocks the duct that leads into your room, reducing the amount of cold air without affecting the other areas of the home. Since zone control systems are controlled electronically, you can set the room temperature like a typical thermostat and it calculates how wide the damper should be open.
Custom Temperatures
Being able to customize individual room temperatures is important, but can be difficult if there is only one air conditioner cooling the entire interior. This is an important feature if you’re living with elderly family members because comfortable temperatures can be beneficial to their health. Or, if everyone else’s preferred indoor temperature makes you uncomfortable, having dampers in your ductwork eliminates fighting for the AC controls.
Energy Savings
A practical benefit of dampers and zone control systems is the potential energy savings. The central air conditioner would be pushing cold air only where it’s needed, redistributing the rest to other areas. With a lower required output, your AC consumes less energy, leading to lower energy bills. You can even completely shut off air conditioning to unused rooms.
The overall cost to install and operate a central air conditioning unit and zone control system is significantly less than individual split AC units. It’s ideal for large homes with existing ductwork. Make sure you work with NATE-certified technicians to see whether this kind of air conditioning system is right for your home.
Learn More at Hader Solutions
To learn more about how dampers work with zone control systems and central air conditioners, call Hader Solutions today at (513) 612-9201. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.
