Floor registers play a vital role in the ventilation of your home. The adjustable dampers allow efficient airflow and control the air’s direction and volume. Floor registers also shut off the air in the rooms you are not using, improving the efficiency of the HVAC unit.
Installing the correct floor register size is crucial in reducing the noise entering your home from outside. It also increases the efficiency of the damper in controlling the airflow.
Are All Floor Registers the Same Size?
Floor registers do not come in the same size. When you go shopping for a floor register, you will encounter different common sizes. Industrial standard common sizes of floor registers are most suitable for medium-sized rooms. The specific size depends on the space being installed and the hole size.
What’s the Standard Floor Register Sizes?
Standard register sizes do not exist. However, you will find a range of common sizes in the market. The common sizes range anywhere between 2-1/4 “x10″ up to 8″ x14″. The industry standard for common sizes in the market are 4″x10″, 4″x12″, 6″x10″, and 6″x12”. These sizes are suited for medium rooms such as the dining area and the bedrooms. The standard register sizes come in even numbers, for example, 2,4,8.
Smaller sizes are more suitable for smaller spaces such as the hallway and the bathroom. To get the correct dimensions, you need to measure the hole’s opening and use the measurements before shopping for the register.
How Do Floor Registers Works?
A floor register works as a ventilator. It is essentially a grille with moving parts that control the movement and direction of airflow within a specific room. Floor registers are predominantly used in homes installed with HVAC units with perimeter distribution systems. They are installed on an opening on the floor of the specific room.
The floor register uses an adjustable damper box to control airflow through the opening in two ways. When you press the lever placed at the floor register damper box, the shutters open, facilitating airflow in the room. If your HVAC unit is releasing cool air, you will have cool air inflow, and if it is generating warm air, the air inflow will be warm.
When you press the lever in the opposite direction, the shutters close the opening, shutting out the air from your HVAC unit from accessing the room.
There are two types of dampers in the market, opposed-blade dampers and single-blade dampers. Opposed blade dampers provide more uniform air distribution and are preferable to single-blade dampers.
What Is an Oversized Register?
Over-sized registers are “larger than common size registers” installed in more extensive areas such as conference rooms and halls. Over-sized registers come in rectangular shapes. With sizes ranging anywhere between 6″ x22″ and 9″ x 22″.
Most common registers come in even numbers, for example, 4″ x6″. You will likely come across odd numbers for oversized registers such as 7″ x22″. The shutter vent blades run parallel to the longest side of the grille. If, for instance, your register is 9 “x22”, you will have the shutter blades running parallel to the 22-inch side.
Flush Mount vs. Self-Rimming Floor Registers
Typically, there are two-floor registers: flush-mount and self-rimming.
Flush mount registers are inserted on your house’s floor and sit even with the floor surface. If you prefer a flush mount register, it is recommended that you install it during your hardwood floor installation. Flush mount registers add an exquisite touch to your hardwood flooring.
On top of that, the flush mount registers are not easily damaged. Since they sit on the same level as your house flooring, they are less likely to be interfered with. Metallic flush mount registers vary in style, and it would be impossible not to find one that blends with your home décor.
The self-rimming floor registers sit above your hardwood floor, at the height of about 3/8 inches off the hardwood flooring. The biggest pro for self-riming registers is that they perfectly sit on top of the hardwood floor supported by the rim. The con is that they do not merge with the flooring as nicely as the flush mount registers.
Also, you can easily damage the register’s surface when you push it a lot since they are raised above the rest of the flooring. A self-rimming can also be slightly loose if you do not get the accurate sizes as measured by the initial contractor.
Register vs. Return Air Grille
Whereas a register allows the access of air inflow to a specific room with the help of the adjustable dampers, a return air grille takes care of the air returns back to the source. A return air grille is a ductwork connection that allows air to return to the heating and cooling system. The openings connecting the air returns ducts are usually covered with grilles.
The ducts allow the air to be re-circulated or vented out of the house. The return air grilles cover the duct and also regulate the airflow. The grilles also have a mounted filter to trap particulate matter and purify the air before re-circulation.
The return air grille looks similar to the supply grilles. Still, it can be differentiated by the airflow direction in front of the grille. It is always essential to ensure that all the grilles, whether supply or return, are kept free from obstructions to ensure they function as intended.
How to Measure Floor Registers
One of the most common mistakes made in floor register purchases involves incorrect measurement of the register hole size.
The steps below will help you achieve the correct measurements, saving you purchase headaches and possible return trips to the shop.
- Remove the existing register if it is still in place.
- Ensure that you measure the actual hole size, not the vent cover faceplate dimensions. The faceplates dimensions are larger than the actual hole size by 2 7/16 inches to provide for the vent lip.
- While recording the measurements, always express the width first. For instance, if the opening has a width 4inches and a length of 10 inches, the correct size of the register to order should be 4″x 10″.
- The actual register is smaller to enable the frame and damper assembly to fit into the recessed opening. Thus, most register dampers drop about one inch into the whole. Ensure that your ductwork has enough clearance for this provision.
You can now contact the various service providers and start your purchasing process when you have the measurement details right. If shopping online, click on the image for the register dimensions. Check out the different grille details styles and match your requirement details.
How to Install Floor Registers
Below is a step-by-step guide on quickly and efficiently installing a floor register.
- If there is an existing register in place, remove it and measure the rough openings.
- Slide the new register in place while ensuring that the vent louvers are angled towards the center of the room.
- The boot at the underside of the register slides into the duct opening. The boot and gravity will hold the grille in place; therefore, no other form of fastening is required.
Other Things to consider when choosing a floor register apart from the size
You already know the exact measurements of the opening. You are now actively shopping for a register that is the perfect match for you. Before you click on the “add to cart” button, below are some of the other considerations that you would want to take in place.
- Style of the register – The styles of different registers may vary. In choosing among the ones that appeal to you, you may want to consider how well the style rhymes with the floor, home décor, and partitions that have been put in place.
- Cost-Your budget determines what you get – The style could be attractive, but at the end of the day, the cost of the register has to match your budget.
- Durability – How long do you want to stay before changing the register? Flush mount registers tend to be more durable since they have lesser disturbances once installed. If you shop deliberately, you may even be lucky to come across a permanent register. When considering the durability, it is also essential to confirm the quality of the damper, as it is actively involved in the control and regulation of the airflow.
- The intensity of use – How fast the floor register grilles succumb to wear and tear may vary with the usage. If used for long periods, the grille and damper will wear out sooner and request a replacement.
In conclusion, the floor registers are not of the same size. You will find common sizes best fitted for medium-sized rooms in the market. Suppose you want to ventilate a larger area such as a conference hall. In that case, oversized registers are best suited for the job. You can choose between the flush mount register and the self-rimming floor register.
Finally, when you want to replace an existing register, make sure that you measure the actual hole and not the faceplate. Never take the faceplate measurements to the shop.