If your home has zoned air conditioning, your ducts may have automatic dampers. Each zone has a thermostat that controls the dampers to the ducts for the zone. This allows you to customize the temperature in different parts of your home, such as an upstairs with bedrooms that no one uses and the downstairs living space and master bedroom. Here's a look at three things that can go wrong with the automatic dampers and how an AC repair technician might fix the problems.

1. The Thermostat Doesn't Control A Damper

A damper regulates how much air is allowed in the zone. The damper can be completely closed off, partially open, or fully open. The movement is controlled by the thermostat. When a damper malfunctions, the thermostat could be to blame. The problem might be low batteries or loose wiring.

Before calling an AC repair company, check the batteries in the thermostat and verify it is on the correct setting. The repair technician might need to clean the thermostat or tighten the connections. You might even need a new thermostat at some point if your current one is old.

2. The Control Panel Malfunctions

The control panel is the electronic brain behind the AC zone system. Your zoned system might have just two zones, but it can also have several depending on your needs. The control panel sends and receives information from the thermostat and dampers to control the climate in your home exactly as you have programmed.

If the control panel malfunctions, the dampers may fail. If there's a problem with the panel, the panel may display an error code that helps the repair technician diagnose the problem and make the necessary repairs. If necessary, a new control panel can be installed.

3. A Damper Motor Fails

The effectiveness of a zoned air conditioning system rests on the ability of the dampers to control how the cool air is distributed through your home. This requires adjusting the position of the dampers to increase or decrease the amount of air in a specific zone. The movement of the dampers is automatic thanks to a small motor on the side of each damper.

If the motor fails, the damper gets stuck in one position and a zone may become too hot or too cold. When this happens, the AC repair technician may replace the entire motor to get the dampers moving as they should.

Automatic dampers can work for a long time without problems, but when there's a malfunction, you'll probably need the help of an AC service technician to make repairs. Signs there could be problems with a damper include reduced airflow in a particular room and the inability to control the temperature as programmed on the thermostat.

For more information, contact an air conditioning repair service today.

Share