How to Redirect a Heat Vent
I am currently renovating my kitchen, and I have a floor register that is in a spot that needs to be redirected because I want to put a cabinet here. I came up with a method to do this that is quick, easy, and effective.
Table of Contents
Building the Box
The first thing I am doing for how to redirect a heat vent is building a box out of plywood. This box has 4 sides because the floor will count as a fifth side, and the sixth side needs to be open for the hot air to escape. To construct this box, I am using pocket holes and Kreg screws. This box is going to prevent the air from coming up into my cabinets. Instead, the air will move forward and out the front of my toe kick.
Heat Protection
Because this is a heat vent, I need to think about how to avoid heat from absorbing into the wood and causing problems. To combat this, I am using tinfoil. All 4 sides of the plywood box that I constructed are being covered in tinfoil to prevent issues. To be honest, I am making this up as I go because I did not find any tutorials that fit my needs. I am duct taping the edges of the tinfoil so that it will not crinkle as the air moves through the cavity. I am also adding tinfoil to the subfloor that my box is going to be sitting on. Obviously, the best way to do this is to buy a heat-proofing kit, but I wanted something more cost-friendly.
How to Redirect a Heat Vent: Placing the Box
At first, I thought I would need to fasten the box that I created to the subfloor, but I was wrong. Once the tinfoil was in place on both the box and the subfloor, you just put the box in its place. The reason there is no need to fasten it to anything is that, in my case, my cabinet is going right over it, and that will hold it in place. Next, I am placing my cabinet on top of the box, and the air is flowing out of my toe kick. When I cover my toe kick, I will just add a removable vent cover!
I hope you found this project helpful! As always, if you have any questions, please let me know!
