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Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems circulate conditioned air through a network of ducts that run throughout a home or building. Residential HVAC systems send air to different zones or areas within a home. Depending on the HVAC system's design, manual or automatic controls make it possible to change the airflow direction within the duct work.
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Refer to your HVAC system's manual to determine the zone layout for the system. In older homes, duct lines that come off the main furnace unit deliver air to specific areas or zones within the home. Manual controls -- also known as dampers -- consist of small, hand-sized levers or valves that sit on the outside wall of a duct. Manual controls appear in the area where duct lines branch off from the main system.
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Change the direction of airflow within a duct line by turning the valve or lever on the manual control. The direction of the valve handle determines the amount of conditioned air each zone receives. Turning the handle to a position parallel with the duct line will open the damper completely. Turning the handle to a position that's perpendicular to the duct will close off the line and block any airflow. Handle positions that sit in between open and close deliver more or less conditioned air to specific zones.
