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  FIRE DAMPERS in DUCTWORK
  FLOOD DAMAGE in DUCT WORK
  GOODMAN GRAY FLEXDUCT
  INCREASING RETURN AIR
  LEAKY DUCT CONNECTIONS
  LOCATION OF REGISTERS & DUCTS
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More Information

Photograph of the vibration damper of an air conditioning and heating air handler blower unit Vibration Dampeners & Asbestos at the Air Handler
InspectAPedia®  -      

  • Vibration dampeners (vibration dampers) at air handlers - what are they?
  • Definition of vibration dampener - is a "vibration damper" the same thing?
  • How to identify asbestos cloth at HVAC vibration dampeners and air ducts
  • Asbestos textile used as HVAC vibration dampener - photos
  • Air Conditioning (or Heating) Duct Defects

Duct vibration dampeners or "vibration dampers": This article, part of our series "How to Inspect the Central Air Conditioning or Cooling System" describes the vibration damper (vibration dampener or vibration isolator) connecting the air handler unit supply plenum to the building supply duct and cites cases of asbestos-containing air conditioning or heating duct work that could send asbestos fibers into building air.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.

Asbestos in or on HVAC ducts (air ducts or heating and cooling ductwork) is a possible hazard for which we provide links to a separate document - see Asbestos Air Ducts and for a more general guide to recognizing asbestos in buildings, see IDENTIFICATION of ASBESTOS in buildings.

Also see NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE.

© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website.

What is the Vibration Dampener Found on Air Handlers for Heating and Air Conditioning Systems?

Photograph of the vibration damper of an air conditioning and heating air handler blower unit

The "vibration damper" [properly called "vibration dampener"] shown in this photograph and at the top of this page is a fabric or rubberized fabric flexible connection used to join the supply air plenum to supply ducts in a building.

On a vertical air handler with conditioned air leaving at the top of the unit, you may see this fabric joint at the supply plenum to which the building supply ducts are connected.

The purpose of the vibration dampener is simple: by providing a flexible link between the air handler itself (a possible source of noisy vibrations) and the building duct work, the installer is reducing the transmission of noise through metal ductwork into the rest of the building when the blower, furnace, or air conditioner are running.

Thanks to reader Kenneth Meichtry, Building Maintenance Superintendent at General Services Agency, San Luis Obispo County, CA,for pointing out that the correct term for the HVAC component we illustrate here is vibration dampener.

Definition of vibration dampener: A vibration dampener is a device designed to absorb rather than transmit vibration. In the case of heating furnaces and air conditioners, mechanical vibrations that occur in the air handler would be transmitted as annoying sounds throughout the building if a vibration dampener were not installed between the air handler unit itself and the metal ductwork to which it is connected. It would be equally accurate and more descriptive to refer to this device as a vibration isolator since what it's doing is isolating vibration in the vibrating part to avoid transmitting the vibration and thus annoying noise to other parts of the HVAC system or into the building.

On an air handler system or "blower unit", a fabric, currently often made of rubberized material, is installed as the vibration dampener. Vibrations in the air handler move the fabric without being transmitted into the metal ductwork.

In these articles we may include the less correct term "vibration damper" because it is very widely used among HVAC trades workers and because we want online searches for this noise-reducing component to enable our article to be found using either term: vibration damper or vibration dampener.

Damaged Vibration Dampeners

Inspect the vibration dampener to see that it is intact, not torn or damaged. If the blower is running you may feel air leakage around the damper if it is damaged or not properly installed.

Asbestos Textile Fabric in HVAC Ducts as Vibration Dampener Material

Photograph of asbestos fabric on an air conditioning and heating blower vibration damper Photograph of asbestos fabric on an air conditioning and heating blower vibration damper

Photograph of asbestos fabric on an air conditioning and heating blower vibration damperOn older furnaces and some air conditioning systems you may see a white woven fabric used for the vibration damper material. It is possible that this material was made of asbestos fabric [better photos wanted].

Colors of asbestos vibration dampener cloth: If the vibration damper fabric is white or white-gray (un-coated asbestos fabric) or possibly silver (aluminized coated asbestos fabric) and woven of a coarse-woven fabric it may be an asbestos material, typically containing chrysotile asbestos fibers in a high percentage.

Look at the lower left corner of our close up photo of a silver-colored asbestos vibration damper at a warm air furnace (photo above right). See that little black round spot above the "D" in "Daniel" of our © notice?

That's where a technician has made a hole in the asbestos damper material in order to insert a thermometer to sense air temperature. The fibers released by such minor damage are probably below the limits of detection.

Asbestos duct vibration damper cloth (C) D Friedman J LeeIt is easy to distinguish asbestos fabric in the vibration dampener from other common damper materials which have been used as other fabrics are more finely woven (see photos on this page) and may be rubberized or coated canvas or on newer systems, vinyl-coated synthetic fabric.

Reports of actual asbestos lab tests of asbestos cloth vibration dampers confirms their composition:

The photograph of an asbestos cloth HVAC duct vibration damper shown at left, courtesy Jason Lee, was confirmed by Mr. Lee as containing 65% chrysotile asbestos.

OPINION-DF: Further testing or inspection may be in order, since if indeed asbestos material was used at this location, and especially if it is damaged, it could release asbestos fibers into building air. Do not tear, cut, or damage the material during your inspection.

If the vibration damper is missing, torn, leaky, or is made of asbestos, we recommend that it be replaced with modern materials. In some cases it may be less costly to simply replace an asbestos-suspect vibration damper than to pay to have it tested.

However if you want to test the vibration damper fabric, look inside the return plenum to the inside of the fabric. Often we can find an individual thread sticking up above the metal clamp securing the fabric to the metal plenum sides, easily clipped with no damage to the fabric itself.

Also see these related articles on noise and sound control in buildings:

NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE
NOISE AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP
NOISE, DUCT VIBRATION DAMPENERS
NOISE CONTROL for HEATING SYSTEMS
NOISE CONTROL for FLOORS
NOISE CONTROL for PLUMBING
NOISE CONTROL for ROOFS
NOISES COMING FROM WATER HEATER
SOUND CONTROL in buildings

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AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
AIR CONDITIONER COMPONENT PARTS
A/C - HEAT PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES
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AIR CONDITIONER BTU CHART
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CONDENSATE HANDLING, A/C
CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS
COMPRESSOR & CONDENSING COIL, A/C
AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS

AIR HANDLER / BLOWER UNITS
ANIMAL ALLERGENS / PET DANDER
ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in buildings
ANIMAL ODORS IN buildings
APPLIANCE EFFICIENCY RATINGS
ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN buildings

BACKUP HEAT for HEAT PUMPS
BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION
BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION
BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING
BOOKSTORE - Air Conditioning "How To" Books

CAPACITORS for HARD STARTING MOTORS
CAPILLARY TUBES
CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS
CIRCUIT BREAKER SIZE for A/C or HEAT PUMP
CLEANING & Legionella BACTERIA
CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS
COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS

COMPRESSOR & CONDENSING COIL, A/C

CONDENSATE HANDLING, A/C
BACKUP HEAT for HEAT PUMPS
BLOWER DOORS & AIR INFILTRATION
BLOWER FAN CONTINUOUS OPERATION
BLOWER FAN OPERATION & TESTING
BOOKSTORE - Air Conditioning "How To" Books

CAPACITORS for HARD STARTING MOTORS
CAPILLARY TUBES
CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS
CIRCUIT BREAKER SIZE for A/C or HEAT PUMP
CLEANING & Legionella BACTERIA
DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE

DIAGNOSE & FIX AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP
DUCT SYSTEM & DUCT DEFECTS
  AIR FILTERS for HVAC SYSTEMS
  ALLOY SYSTEMS FLEXDUCT
  ASBESTOS HVAC DUCTS
  ASBESTOS PAPER on DUCTWORK
  ASBESTOS TRANSITE DUCTWORK
  BALANCING AIR DUCT FLOW
  DUCT & AIR HANDLER ODORS
  DUCT DAMAGE, MECHANICAL
  DUCT INSULATION - Asbestos Paper
  DUCT ROUTING & SUPPORT
  DUST CONTAMINATION FROM HVAC?
  FIBERGLASS DUCT, RIGID CONSTRUCTION
  FIBERGLASS HVAC DUCTS
  FIRE DAMPERS in DUCTWORK
  FLOOD DAMAGE in DUCT WORK
  GOODMAN GRAY FLEXDUCT
  INCREASING RETURN AIR
  LEAKY DUCT CONNECTIONS
  LOCATION OF REGISTERS & DUCTS
  MOLD in AIR HANDLERS & DUCT WORK
  NOISES in DUCT SYSTEM
  ODORS in AIR HANDLERS & DUCT WORK
  OWENS CORNING FLEXDUCT
  OWL FLEXDUCT
  RETURN AIR REGISTERS & DUCTS
  SOUNDPROOFING for DUCTWORK
  SUPPLY DUCTS & REGISTERS
  TRANSITE PIPE AIR DUCTS
  UNDERSIZED RETURN DUCTS
  UNSAFE DUCT OPENINGS
  VIBRATION DAMPENERS
  WATER & ICE IN DUCT WORK
  WET CORRODED DUCT WORK
  ZONE DAMPER CONTROLS

ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings
EVAPORATOR COIL or COOLING COIL
EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEMS
EVAPORATOR COIL or COOLING COIL
EXPANSION VALVES, REFRIGERANT

FAN, AIR HANDLER BLOWER UNIT
FAN AUTO ON Thermostat Switch
A/C REFRIGERANTS
A/C - HEAT PUMP CRITICAL DEFECTS
A/C DIAGNOSTIC FAQs
INSPECTION CHECKLIST - OUTDOOR UNIT
INSPECTION LIMITATIONS

FURNACES WARM AIR HEATING SYSTEMS

NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE
NOISE AIR CONDITIONER / HEAT PUMP
NOISE, DUCT VIBRATION DAMPENERS
NOISE CONTROL for HEATING SYSTEMS
NOISE CONTROL for FLOORS
NOISE CONTROL for PLUMBING
NOISE CONTROL for ROOFS
NOISES COMING FROM WATER HEATER
SOUND CONTROL in buildings

  • Thanks to reader Jason Lee, Basin Environmental for contributing the photograph and field report of a 65% chrysotile asbestos cloth vibration damper on an older HVAC air handler-to-duct connection. June 2010. Mr. Lee can be reached at Basin Environmental, 325 North Portland Ave., Oklahoma City OK 73107 tel: 405-232-5737 or email to info@BasinEnvironmental.com
  • Thanks to reader Kenneth Meichtry, Building Maintenance Superintendent, General Services Agency, San Luis Obispo County, CA, for discussing proper HVAC terminology and the term vibration dampener, February 2011.

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

  • Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
  • Complete List of Air Conditioning & Heat Pump Design, Inspection, Repair Books at the InspectAPedia Bookstore.
  • Home Reference Book - Carson Dunlop The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop. The Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
  • Modern Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, A. D. Althouse, C.H. Turnquist, A. Bracciano, Goodheart-Willcox Co., 1982
  • Principles of Refrigeration, R. Warren Marsh, C. Thomas Olivo, Delmar Publishers, 1979
  • "Air Conditioning & Refrigeration I & II", BOCES Education, Warren Hilliard (instructor), Poughkeepsie, New York, May - July 1982, [classroom notes from air conditioning and refrigeration maintenance and repair course attended by the website author]
  • Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology, 5th Ed., William C. Whitman, William M. Johnson, John Tomczyk, Cengage Learning, 2005, ISBN 1401837654, 9781401837655 1324 pages
  • Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, have provided us with (and we recommend) Carson Dunlop Weldon & Associates' Technical Reference Guide to manufacturer's model and serial number information for heating and cooling equipment ($69.00 U.S.).
  • Air Conditioning Inspection, Diagnosis, Repair, Efficiency all the basics for home owners, inspectors, new repairmen
  • NewAir Conditioning SEER - New DOE Air Conditioner and Heat Pump Efficiency Standard
  • Asbestos HVAC Ducts and Flues field identification photos and guide
  • Fiberglass: Indoor Air Quality Investigations: Fiberglass in Indoor Air, HVAC ducts, and Building Insulation
  • ...

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