How To Add Register To Existing Wood Floor

Adding a Vent to Existing Ductwork: Pros, Cons and Costs

Could adding a vent to existing ductwork assist cool and oestrus a converted garage? Hither are the pros, cons and costs to consider earlier attempting this DIY home repair.

Dear Dollar Stretcher,
We fabricated a new bedroom in the area that was our garage. It has no heat and only a window air conditioner that is now broken. A small electrical heater is sometimes used in the coldest weather to heat it. This is non very comfortable.

A main duct runs through its closet. What might exist the pros and cons of making a duct into the room from it? Parts are available at Lowe'southward. We accept a new heat-pump organization, which is more powerful and efficient than the old one. Some air return would be required as well – perhaps in the door toward the principal firm. Do you or your readers have whatsoever advice?
Wilda

What are the Pros, Cons and Costs of Adding an Additional Vent to Exisitng Ductwork?

We asked our frugal readers to offer up whatsoever advice they had almost calculation an additional vent to existing ductwork. Is information technology a DIY chore? It is recommended? The pros? Cons? Costs? Here is some of the advice they sent it:

Insider Report: Communication from an HVAC Skillful

After beingness married to a HVAC homo for 20 years, here is what I know for certain. The big thing you need to check out is whether your existing unit is big enough to add together another vent. I know yous have a new unit that is more efficient, but does it have plenty tonnage to carry some other room? The amount of space you have determines your tonnage on Air-conditioning units.

You may also want to consider that fifty-fifty if your unit of measurement has plenty tonnage, you will deduct from its efficiency when y'all add that room. We added an addition two years ago and when my husband had upgraded the heat pump four years agone he had planned for the add-on in the tonnage on the unit. But in one case he added the additional rooms and took from the unit, we have establish a much larger increment in our electric bill than we expected. The tonnage on the unit of measurement is okay, merely basically we topped information technology out and have decreased the efficiency past doing so (we added more space than he originally planned). We should be a 1/two ton larger to get our efficiency back.

You need to bank check for a place for return air as you lot mentioned. The door choice may or may non work depending on where the return is in the main part of the house and its ability to actually draw the air from that room. Have someone who is reputable expect at information technology. If you don't know anyone, enquire people you know who may know someone. You will want to know what your unit is now. How much tonnage is your unit? What is the sear rating (efficiency rating/load)? What is the square footage of your firm without that room? How much square footage are you lot adding? With that info, an HVAC man can make up one's mind if you accept enough tonnage to add that room without maxing it out and losing your efficiency.

If your existing unit does not take enough tonnage to add together that room, and then you may want to consider a "through the wall" unit of measurement (like what they utilize in hotel rooms but much quieter). We accept installed these in converted porches, dens, additions, etc. They are thermostatically controlled and are not as loud as you call back. This gives you heat and cooling in one unit.
Shelly of Richmond, VA

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Be Cautious about Edifice and Fires Codes

I have a word of caution for the reader who converted a garage to an actress bedroom. My sister did this in a rented abode in Southward Carolina. She discovered that it was in violation of building codes and burn down codes considering the room did non have the proper windows and doors installed, as did the rooms in the rest of the house. And it was for her three sons, too! Please remember safety and comply with the building codes.
Mary

Adding a Vent to Existing Ductwork is a DIY Job

We just ran ductwork to our upstairs and it is so wonderful. The reason nosotros did information technology was because we wanted to sell our house. The realtor said that they exercise not count a room as a chamber unless at that place is a suitable heat source. They would non count the electric heat installed in the room.

My communication is to become for information technology. It took less than one day to install three vents and run the ductwork from the furnace in the basement through the first floor to the 2d flooring. Nosotros took the steps to draw a map and then bought all the pieces needed.
Trina

Consider Building a Subfloor Rather Than Adding a Duct

I would highly recommend building a subfloor, which basically means raising information technology a few inches off the original cement.

This is where y'all will feel a lot of common cold during the winter months. Besides floors agree that cold. Call up that the floor is going to trap the cold in the room, which means it is going to cost more to heat if you lot only use that room periodically. Since my family currently lives in a 'four season state' where winters tin get below nix, cold floors are an of import factor.

If your heater can handle the extra vent, go for it. I mistake people make is thinking they tin can just add a vent and the heating trouble volition be solved. All the same, if the heater you have is not able to handle the extra square footage, so your best bet is getting a bigger heater and air conditioning unit. By the time you spend the extra money for a window air conditioner and the added energy costs, you will probably notice it would more than than pay for itself to just upgrade your primary heater and air-conditioning unit. (Encounter Can a New Air Conditioner Reduce Your Cooling Bills?.)

Too something else to keep in listen is the age of your home and the age of your original units. Utility companies have often offered to subsidize replacements of inefficient heating and cooling units. Sometimes they subsidize by manner of rebates directly mailed to you or deductions on your utility bills spread over a period of time. I've also seen utility companies have resources to refer people to for low cost financing of more than energy efficient heating and air-conditioning units.

One affair I recall every habitation should have is ceiling fans in every main living area. Spending a few pennies for the ceiling fans to run in the proper management (move cooler air upwardly in the summer months and warmer air downwards in wintertime months) has shown big improvements on our heating and cooling bills. (Meet What's That Little Switch On My Ceiling Fan? And How Can It Salve Me Coin?.)

Don't forget that this may be considered a home comeback, which may be tax-deductible. So, talk with your tax advisor about your particular state of affairs.
Denise

An Additional Vent Could Increase Habitation Value

Yes, add together the vent as information technology will increase the value of your home at resale time (at present or twenty years in future)! Try to make it as professional every bit possible. Handyman slap-dash results will backbite value. (See Finding a Reliable, Safe and Affordable Handyman.)
Carole (Realtor)