Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) dampers are a type of valve that close off heating and air conditioning in rooms that are unoccupied, producing savings for all types of home and office-based businesses. Lowering overhead is an obvious concern for all businesses, from home-based businesses to international corporations. By reducing the cost of utilities, business owners and operators can save money, creating higher future profits.

In today’s world of soaring energy costs, home and industrial HVAC dampers are lucrative to people wanting to slash their utility bills in order increase their profits or even make sure businesses stay viable. The high demand for central air dampers makes careers in HVAC damper installation and repair a profitable career or contracting business. Consider the following suggestions to get a start in the business:

1. Become a technician certified in installing and repairing HVAC dampers.

2. Find a job to get hands-on experience with dampers.

3. Begin a contracting business specializing in HVAC dampers.

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Find HVAC damper education and training

Once you have set your mind on a career of installing and maintaining HVAC damper systems, the next step is to enroll in a suitable HVAC training and education program. You can complete programs in as little as six months or less.

I recommend: Top Colleges finds courses in things like HVAC motorized dampers and industrial HVAC damper systems. Input your zip code to the website’s search engine to find schools near you. Ashworth Education offers 100% self-paced programs in HVAC damper installation and repair.

Get hands-on HVAC damper training

Before you start running your own contracting business, it is a good idea to get your feet wet by working for another company. Going to job fairs and searching through the want ads are two ways to look for jobs, but these are not always a very efficient way to spend your time. By searching for jobs online, you can apply to more postings in a faster manner, increasing your chances of success.

I recommend: HVAC Agent links HVAC-certified technicians who specialize in heating and air conditioning dampers with high-paying jobs all over the country. At CareerBuilder, HVAC technicians cannot only apply for jobs but also post resumes for HVAC repair service centers and damper manufacturers to browse.

Educate yourself on starting your own HVAC damper business

One of the most satisfying steps you can make in any career is making the decision to work for yourself instead of for someone else. As an HVAC damper technician, you can set your own hours, and 100% of the profits are yours. Before you make the decision to become your own boss, you need to learn what you are getting yourself into.

I recommend: Check out this Eng-Tips tutorial about tackling problems with HVAC dampers when you are on your own. ATouchofBusiness.com offers information about specific needs of an HVAC damper system business owner.

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Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In addition to working at homes and office buildings, HVAC damper technicians can routinely find high-paying jobs at places like airports and large manufacturing plants.

HVAC motorized dampers are not very sexy but are very useful. For example, when installed in a building's ventilation system, air conditioning dampers help to cool down occupied areas while shutting off airflow to unconditioned spaces. This type of HVAC damper system keeps people comfortable while lowering energy bills.

Damper manufacturers have upgraded HVAC damper parts in recent years to incorporate sophisticated circuitry that allows workers to control HVAC dampers remotely, reducing the need for "on-site" temperature adjustments.

In the past, HVAC damper systems were found primarily in commercial and industrial applications. Industrial HVAC dampers were necessary to control temperatures in sensitive locations such as computer rooms while ventilating large areas at the same time, such as warehouse areas. But now HVAC damper technology is becoming very popular in residential applications-for the following reasons:

1. Fully-automated HVAC motorized dampers leave the "thinking" to a specialized control system.

2. Building occupants don't have to continually adjust thermostats to maintain comfortable temperature and humidity levels.

3. The cost of installing a system of central air dampers, for example, will pay for itself in money saved from lower air conditioning electrical usage.

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Turn to professionals for expert HVAC damper installation

Professional installation of HVAC dampers using proper HVAC damper parts is critical. Many qualified professionals list dampers for HVAC systems as part of their services.

I recommend: You can't discuss dampers without discussing zoning systems. Whether you need an air conditioning damper for your home or industrial HVAC damper for your business, find the professionals who can help you with all of your needs. Professional organizations like the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) can recommend residential HVAC contractors and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA) can recommend commercial and industrial HVAC mechanical contractors.

Realize that a damper manufacturer and zoning equipment manufacturer are two of a kind

The very 'guts' of a residential or commercial zoning system are the HVAC dampers. You can't discuss the dampers without discussing zoning and vice-versa.

I recommend: Visit websites of companies such as Jackson Systems and Arzel Zoning to find out about the latest HVAC damper system technology. These are the two leading dampers/zone system manufacturers in the HVAC trade.

Get useful tips on HVAC damper installation if you plan to do it yourself

Although HVAC damper installation, such as central air dampers and air conditioning dampers should be handled by trained professionals, there are outlets for do-it-yourselfers who want to tackle the job head-on and save labor costs.

I recommend: Visit the websites of some of leading damper manufacturers such as RetroZone Inc., which publish instructional guides for zone installations. Honeywell Zone Controls is a leading name in indoor comfort and is also another good source of information.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Zoning systems with automated HVAC dampers are becoming a necessity today with issues over indoor air quality, HVAC system efficiency, comfort, and energy costs. Take the time to research the products you need for your home or business.
• •  The best method of installing industrial HVAC dampers or simple residential air conditioning dampers is to call a professional, licensed HVAC contractor. If you are intent on doing it yourself, learn as much as you can from damper manufacturers.

HVAC dampers are a simple, yet essential, part of the HVAC system. Much like the damper in your chimney, HVAC dampers serve to either shut off or allow air flow as it is desired and help to maintain comfortable temperatures for people and, in some cases, equipment. Office buildings may have a building-wide HVAC system or smaller climate-controlled areas for each office client. Make sure you understand your landlord's jargon — or the HVAC repairman's working vocabulary — by studying the following key terms.

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HVAC

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. HVAC is basically the climate-control system in a building or part of a building. Some offices buildings, for example, offer separate HVAC controls in each office.

I recommend: Green Ideas provides a definition of HVAC.

Damper

HVAC dampers are small discs that fit into the ducts of the HVAC system and can be rotated to either allow or impede air flow through any specific duct and, thus, to any specific part of the HVAC-services area.

I recommend: Engineers Edge gives an explanation of how HVAC dampers work and illustrations of what they look like.

Zoning

When used in the context of HVAC, zoning refers to the division of a building into more than one separately climate-controlled area or zone. HVAC dampers usually are used to separate and control each of these zones.

I recommend: High Performance HVAC gives an explanation of how zoning systems work.

Thermostat

The thermostat is the most basic 'brain unit' of your HVAC unit. It's the thermostat that activates the unit to either heat or cool at appropriate temperatures, and the thermostat may also control the HVAC dampers.

I recommend: DW Optimum HVAC Services explains how the thermostat activates your HVAC unit.

SEER, or seasonal efficiency energy ratio

The SEER, or seasonal efficiency energy ratio, is a measure of how effectively your HVAC damper system heats or cools the service area per dollar spent.

I recommend: The Anytyme heating and HVAC glossary gives detailed information on the SEER.

Ductless system

Most HVAC systems force warm or cool air through a series of ducts in the ceiling. Ductless systems, however, use a ceiling or wall-mounted blower to control local temperature. Dampers are still used to control airflow, much as the damper in a residential chimney.

I recommend: The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute offers a detailed explanation of how a ductless HVAC system works.

HVAC damper installation and placement is a calculated choice. Where and when to install a damper depends on air flow and vent size. Since the purpose of central air dampers is to create even air cooling throughout the building, it is important to decipher the sizes and air flow accurately.

HVAC technicians learn how to calculate these determinations at a technical school. Apprentices can opt to attend training or to learn on the job. Installing dampers is one of the steps to installing an entire HVAC system.

1. Consider the placement of the thermostat and central air dampers.

2. Pick zones for the HVAC damper system and install the dampers.

3. Install the damper components.

4. Have the work checked by a certified technician.

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Calculate the necessary settings for industrial HVAC dampers installation

Proper calculations are essential for the optimal workings of the dampers for HVAC. In order to place the dampers, you must have an understanding of air pressure. As part of this figuring, a factor in the outcome is whether the systems are electric or pneumatic. Pneumatic, however, are mostly used for large, commercial systems.

I recommend: Calculations are easily figured with assistance from charts like this one at Engineers Edge. View High Performance HVAC for more information on things to be considered when figuring dampers.

Refer to written instructions to install air conditioning dampers

For those who learn better by reading first-hand, instructions are available. Most of the time, these instructions come from the damper manufacturer, often included with an owner's manual.

I recommend: Beaux-Artes walks you through the installation process. Manufacturer of parts and equipment, Aarkays Air Equipment Private Limited is a resource for HVAC damper installation and maintenance information.

Be an expert with industrial HVAC damper maintenance

Such temperamental parts to a crucial heating and cooling system should be inspected and cleaned yearly. If dampers are clean, they will work better. An important step in the maintenance part of the process is quality assurance. Be sure to test the equipment after any time you work on it to ensure it runs properly. Maintenance on the dampers and the rest of the HVAC system helps to keep the machine running efficiently. By staying clean inside, the machine pulls less energy and uses less power.

I recommend: BBJ Environmental Solutions has a section on their website that talks about cleaning and maintenance. Industrial dampers in HVAC systems require a little different thinking than small-scale systems. Read information about maintaining commercial systems at Advanced Energy. Trade Press shows the correlation between machine maintenance and cleaning compared with the benefits of energy savings.