How to Install an Air Register and Duct
Your home heating/cooling system delivers its conditioned air through duct work and finally out through the registers in your rooms. Without this efficient means of transporting air, homes would heat or cool unevenly and energy costs would go through the roof. Sometimes it is necessary to add a register in a room that needs a little more ventilation. Installing an air duct and a register is a relatively simple project that almost anyone can do. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Air register
- Sheet metal boot
- Round duct work
- Round duct work fittings
- Sheet metal screws
- Tape measure
- Pipe crimper
- 1-inch galvanized strap
- Work gloves
Instructions
-
-
1
Locate where you want to install your new air register. Cut a hole in the floor 1/4 inch larger than the size of your register (e.g., if you want a 10 by 4 register, cut a 10 1/4 by 4 1/4 inch hole). Be careful not to hit any ceiling joists when cutting the hole.
-
2
Slide the square end of your sheet metal boot through the hole from below. A sheet metal boot is a duct fitting that is square at one end (where the register is) and round at the other (where it connects to the duct). You will connect the round end of the boot to a round duct, and run it back to your main duct trunk.
-
-
3
Connect the round duct of the sheet metal boot to the duct that runs to the main trunk. Join them by sliding the crimped end into the non-crimped end and fastening each joint with four sheet metal screws. If you need to cut any pipe, use your pipe crimper and crimp one end of the cut joint so you can connect it.
-
4
Cut a round hole the size of the pipe in the main duct trunk. Install the sheet metal collar into the round duct. Most sheet metal collars are "tab collars," which means they have tabs that are inserted into the duct and then folded over by hand. This locks the collar in place.
-
5
Support all duct work to structural members by wrapping 1-inch galvanized strap around the duct and securing it to the structural members with screws. You'll create a basket hanger that will look like the letter "U," and the duct will sit in the center.
-
6
Connect the round duct to the collar. Seal all duct joints and seams with mastic to prevent air leakage.
-
7
Slide the air register into the register boot. It should completely cover the hole and sit on top of the floor. Some registers have fastening screws, while others are just held in place by gravity.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Wear gloves when working with sheet metal duct work so you don't get cut by the sharp metal.
