Residential Floor Registers & Grilles
Floor registers and grilles are both vent covers through which air from heating and cooling systems flow. As the name suggests, floor vent covers are placed over vents in the floor. This contrasts with baseboard registers and grilles, which are used for vents located at the base of a wall. Registers and grilles are responsible for funneling conditioned air into the room and taking air out of the room, respectively. In short, both types of vent covers are essential for maintaining the comfort of the room. They are essential components of any heating and cooling system.
Differences between Floor Registers and Grilles
It’s common to hear people talk about registers and grilles as though they are the same thing. And indeed, they look very similar, with thin, solid edges and sides, and louvers covering the main surface area. Both are also attached to the openings of ductwork. However, registers and grilles do not perform the same job.
Floor registers are attached to vents that supply heated or cooled air into the room. Floor registers feature dampers, which can be adjusted manually to control the volume of air flow going into the space. Floor registers also have louvers to control the direction of the air flow. In contrast, floor grilles take air from the room and return it to the heating/cooling system for reconditioning. They do not feature dampers.
Choosing Floor Registers and Grilles
There are multiple factors to consider when choosing appropriate vent covers:
- Where the registers or grilles will be used—Residential and commercial properties have different needs, so it’s important to choose the right category of register or grille for the space in which they will be used.
- The design needs of the space—Registers and grilles are typically available in steel, although Hart & Cooley offers one floor register available in extruded and anodized aluminum. Golden sand and white are the standard colors, although custom colors may be available in limited circumstances.
- The free area needed for adequate air flow in the room—“Free area” is a term that is used to describe how much space on a grille or floor register is open for air flow. It is common for grilles and registers to have at least 75% free area. Adequate air flow is critical for maintaining comfort and for preventing issues with air quality. Note that in some cases, you may see “free area” referred to as “see-through area” in product descriptions.
With so many different types of residential floor registers and grilles available, you need an expert to guide you through the process. At Hart & Cooley, LLC, our team brings the practical experience you need to find the right sizes, shapes, and more for your registers and grilles. As a customer, you’ll work with one sales and customer service representative for the duration of your relationship with us, who will get to know your specific needs and will be available to assist you at every stage. Find out more about our reliability, fast deliveries, and comprehensive product lines by contacting us today. We serve customers throughout the Unites States and Canada, and we are ready to assist you.
