Assessment of retrofit automatic vent dampers for residential heating systems

Technical Report · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:6520770

Richardson, D L; Wilson, Jr, R P; Ashley, L E; Butterfield, J F

Automatic vent dampers are devices installed in the exhaust vent of a central heating system which prohibit the chimney flow of warm air from the dwelling space and from within the furnace when the heating system is not operating. An investigation of the effect of thermally actuated or electrically actuated dampers on home energy conservation, their cost, and safety is described. Eleven heating system types in 2 geographic regions were used in this study. It was determined that good quality, safe electrically actuated dampers are available in the U.S. and that thermally actuated units will be available soon; an average savings of approximately 8% in home heating cost could be achieved by using automatic dampers with suitable furnace systems in regions with a heating season of more than 4000 degree-days; the cost of the automatic dampers is from $65 to $140 with a payback period of 3 to 4 1/2 y; and, with the average heating system, vent damper retrofit alone is not as an attractive energy conservation option as combined vent damper, intermittent ignition device retrofit, and reduced gas orifice. (LCL)

• Research Organization: Little (Arthur D.), Inc., Cambridge, MA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6520770
• Report Number(s): TID-29340
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320101* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Residential Buildings-- (-1987)
BUILDINGS
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
COST
DRAFT CONTROL SYSTEMS
ENERGY
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FLOW REGULATORS
FLUE GAS
FURNACES
GASEOUS WASTES
HEAT
HEATING SYSTEMS
HOUSES
PERFORMANCE
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SAFETY
WASTE HEAT
WASTES