Forum Discussion

Msu50000's avatar
Msu50000
Explorer
Jul 30, 2018

Metal Floor Register - seal/cover - semi permanent

We have a floor register from the furnace in a very unusual spot and after dealing with it for 2 seasons now I want to seal it off. It's right outside of the shower and when I step out or my wife steps out it's a natural landing spot for your foot. Well even though we try to avoid it, I still manage to hit it just using and going in and out of the bathroom. It's dented in slightly. I'd like to seal it permanently with a metal cover that can hold some weight, I can't find anything. Any ideas on how I can accomplish this?
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2018
    I'd just throw a bath mat over it. you could cut a piece of metal to the same size, pull out old grille and put flat piece in.?"
    bumpy
  • Msu50000's avatar
    Msu50000
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2018
    That would probably work. Silly question, where would I get flat stock like that?
  • Msu50000's avatar
    Msu50000
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2018
    Excellent, I've seen some thin stock there, I'll check for some thicker gauge. Thanks all.
  • Dick_B's avatar
    Dick_B
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2018
    Just one caution and that is if too many of the registers are sealed the furnace will not have enough vents to allow air flow. One sealed vent should not be a problem but our rig has a vent with adjustable louvers that can shut off completely which would then mean two sealed vents out of four.
  • Msu50000's avatar
    Msu50000
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2018
    Thanks that is definitely a consideration. We still have 3 of 4 open...
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Jul 30, 2018
    You could alwaya buy a real regiater with adjuatavle louvers and close it, then throw a rug over it. If you ever need it, simply open the louvers.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Jul 30, 2018
    donn0128 wrote:
    You could alwaya buy a real regiater with adjuatavle louvers and close it, then throw a rug over it. If you ever need it, simply open the louvers.


    Exactly what we did
    OEM registers were thin and I broke several when I stepped on them.

    Pickup replacements that were thicker material and adjustable at Home Depot.


    Also picked up a couple 8x11 magnetic sheets at Hobby Lobby and cut one to fit register in Kitchen to keep 'stuff' from falling in
  • Huntindog's avatar
    Huntindog
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2018
    Heavy duty registers are available. I replaced all of mine. The new ones won't break. IDRC where I got them, but a search will turn it up.

    And X2 on the caution about restricting airflow. I personally would not cover or block off any of them. The heater installation, manuals state just what is needed. Maybe you can block it off, or maybe you can't. You simply do not know if YOUR TT has more airflow than is needed. Restricting it below what is specified will cause the heater to overheat the combustion chamber..... There SHOULD be a safety switch to shut it down in that case... But it may not work , and I believe on at least some heaters, it is a one time switch.... IOW, when it blows, it needs replacing. This is so people do not keep running a heater that continuously trips the safety switch... A heater that does that NEEDS to have a repair done.

    If you are dead set on closing off that vent... See if you can add one where it will be useful.
    I did that on my TT, it was an easy cheap project, and now the BH has the heat it needs.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Jul 30, 2018
    Huntindog wrote:
    Heavy duty registers are available. I replaced all of mine. The new ones won't break. IDRC where I got them, but a search will turn it up.

    And X2 on the caution about restricting airflow. I personally would not cover or block off any of them. The heater installation, manuals state just what is needed. Maybe you can block it off, or maybe you can't. You simply do not know if YOUR TT has more airflow than is needed. Restricting it below what is specified will cause the heater to overheat the combustion chamber..... There SHOULD be a safety switch to shut it down in that case... But it may not work , and I believe on at least some heaters, it is a one time switch.... IOW, when it blows, it needs replacing. This is so people do not keep running a heater that continuously trips the safety switch... A heater that does that NEEDS to have a repair done.

    If you are dead set on closing off that vent... See if you can add one where it will be useful.
    I did that on my TT, it was an easy cheap project, and now the BH has the heat it needs.


    It's called a 'high limit switch'....will shut down furnace if heat exchanger air temp rise too high (depending on model 130*F---190*F)
    Self resetting when temp drops

    Atwood Water Heater uses a one time 'thermal fuse' blows at 190*F and has to be replaced

    Closing off register MAY limit airflow enough to cause furnace to shut down.....MAY
    Try it...if furnace shuts down don't do it again

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