What are your thoughts on a single AC setup with a damper systems with 2 zones?

What are your thoughts on dampers?

Please reply ASAP.

Rob

They work, but sometimes two systems are more economical.

A bypass damper generally has to be installed unless it is some Carrier systems which will vary fan speed based on static pressure.

Remember too,that you can use register dampers too. You can also do weird things such as what I've been planning to do. Put a register damper in the laundry room, but not make it part of the zoning system. It would just allow heat or ccol air in that rrom only if the system is on. It will not try to maintaiint he setpoint. Good for kitchens and laundry rooms.

I'm more in favor of two returns in the rooms that have returns to save energy. Upper returns are used in the summer and lower ones are opened in the winter.

A bypass damper generally has to be installed unless it is some Carrier systems which will vary fan speed based on static pressure.

This is a Ruud system.

Do you find that dampers often fail, break, need repair?

They generally are such a simple design. A motor and one or two limit switches. They can be spring to open, spring to close or open/close.

Normally closed dampers are adventagious for managing smoke. If a fire starts in one area of the house, then smoke won't spread though the heating ducts.

AC synchronous motors are very reliable. That motor type has been used in clocks for a long time.

Other systems are out there that use bladders.

Commercial systems use air motors. Even one of my cars used an vacuum actuator in the AC system to operate 1/2 of the outside air damper.

Remember too, the house has to support it. Inthehouse I'm living in, it would be somewhat difficult to zone as an up and downstairs, because of a dampers in the main duct for the downstairs.

There is one at the furnace that supplies a recreation room and another in the main duct for the same room and then one further down in another room which is a second kitchen. And then there is one in the bath downstairs, again on the main duct. The zoning systems usually are not that complex to handle this situation.

If you have a two story house with up and downstairs, then there is likely a duct that supplies the upstairs only.

Dampers don't come cheap.

Bypass dampers are a thing of the past. Fanhandler has a speed reducer that will slow the motor automatically.

Look under PRODUCTS
Then to ZONEHANDLER

FanHandler.com (http://www.fanhandler.com/)

They do not sell retail but only sell to the approved trades person. There stuff works GREAT.