Removing floor register

[breeves2245]

Made the mistake of changing my mind on which way I wanted the front door to swing on my new construction house without telling the HVAC installers.

So now the register is slightly in the way when using the door. I want to remove it totally as moving it is not an option. I just completed removing the floor planks. I was going to decide to cap the branch ductwork coming from the main supply or remove the branch altogether depending on the answer I got from here. I took the nails out of the upright vent that was in the subfloor and this caused the compelte branch to drop down and break off from the main supply. So that decision had been made!

So with a six inch round opening in the main ductwork (this is the only register on the branch) what is the proper way to seal it? It appears to have an inch or so of some type of insulation material inside the main supply. Do I just glue heavy duty plastic over the opening?

Thanks for any advice.

[allan38]

Congratulations on your new home.


Hmm, a pity you want to cripple the heating and cooling system on a new home. They're typically marginal and capping off the supply duct won't help heating or cooling in that room. If the thermostat is in that room then the other rooms may overheat or overcool.

Your changing the door swing has opened up the potential for a chain of unintended consequences. Have the door swing the other way or do what is out of the question and move the supply register.

After you realize your mistake in a few years some lucky technician will be paid to correct the duct repair. Or else you won't be able to swallow your pride and admit your mistake and will live with a room that is always too hot or too cold

Fix it right, otherwise you will only dig the hole deeper. Fixing it right has nothing to do with capping off the duct.

I've seen this movie before, it's a bad story that never ends well, it's entertaining only because I'm not on the paying end.:pop:

If you are determined to cap it anyway, disregarding my excellent advice, then use an insulated cap that has an inch or more of duct board insulation. Use duct mastic to create a vapor and air proof outer barrier.
The insulation will prevent the cap from sweating and causing water and mold damage to the home. Like I said, you may be putting yourself in a bad movie that doesn't end well. To change my metaphor, you're already paying tuition and may be adding a few unexpected courses.

[seatonheating]

Hmm, a pity you want to cripple the heating and cooling system on a new home. They're typically marginal and capping off the supply duct won't help heating or cooling in that room. If the thermostat is in that room then the other rooms may overheat or overcool.

Your changing the door swing has opened up the potential for a chain of unintended consequences. Have the door swing the other way or do what is out of the question and move the supply register.

After you realize your mistake in a few years some lucky technician will be paid to correct the duct repair. Or else you won't be able to swallow your pride and admit your mistake and will live with a room that is always too hot or too cold

Fix it right, otherwise you will only dig the hole deeper. Fixing it right has nothing to do with capping off the duct.

I've seen this movie before, it's a bad story that never ends well, it's entertaining only because I'm not on the paying end.:pop:

DITTO!!!

[fxb80]

The installing contractor would be the authority on what might need to be done to offset the effect of reducing the system's airflow by removing the grill. Techs often get asked if it's ok to close registers in unused rooms, which has the same effect on total airflow as what you are doing. The person who designed the ductwork can calculate the answer. Or a tech can measure system performance with grills closed (or removed) and see if the system is operating within spec. Sometimes there's a noticeable difference, sometimes there's not.

Your contractor will have the right materials to cap the opening using the same materials and insulation that the main trunk is made of, if the contractor is willing to reduce the airflow and conditioning of that room.

[jdblack]

I'd also like to add that if your duct "fell off" the trunk when you took it loose from the subfloor you need to have another contractor evaluate your duct system. These things shouldn't just fall off and to be quite honest if you tried to come behind me and remove one of my runs you would be cussing.

[pauls heating &]

by eliminating that run-you may now have a warm area in the summer
and a cold area in winter-your ductwork is a system - its designed for
your house-
get your contractor back to move it..

[heaterman]

Call the HVAC contractor and ask for their forgiveness! Then ask them to relocate the run, THERE IS ALWAYS an option. And I would agree, there should be wall pipe braces under EVERY run termination, It should not have dropped just by unnailing the termination boot.