Adding a HVAC vent in the Dining Room

OK, so this project is not terribly interesting. But I like to document the things we do to improve Wendhurst, and sometimes that is adding beauty, and sometimes that is adding function. This would fall under function.

Our dining room has not had a heat vent since we bought the house. It has a cold air return, but no heat. And although the kitchen directly adjacent does have a vent, it is blocked by the chimney that runs right through the middle of the house, thereby directing all the heat into the kitchen and none into the frigid dining room. And we live in Upstate NY, the land of freezing cold winters, and we frequently entertain. In the dining room. And it was cold. So yeah, this was kind of a necessary improvement.


Now the interesting thing to note here, is that this room previously had heat. How do we know this? Well there was a patched part of the floor, and a patched part of the duct directly beneath said floor. So we knew this would, potentially, be a very straightforward project. I say that with some trepidation, because all projects have the ability to morph into something insanely complex and frustrating. But (spoiler alert) this one was easy!



Basically, our process was as follows: measure the length of ducting we would need, and figure out how many elbows we would need as well (one). Make a trip to Home Depot to purchase said ducting, elbow, joint that would attach to the main duct and a heater vent.

Once home, remove the wood panel in the dining room, and cut out a hole that would fit a heating vent with a drill and a reciprocating saw. (A jigsaw would have been easier, but we don't have one) Replace wood panel in floor, now with a hole. Then cuddle with the babies on the bed in the basement (thereby keeping them safe) while Lover assembles the ducting and attaches it. Marvel at the fact that this man can do anything he sets his mind to. Take a picture.



Install the vent in the floor in the dining room. By install, I mean, drop into place and make sure it lines up with the ducting beneath.



Hit the new ducting with a quick coat of white spray paint so that it blends in a bit with the painted basement ceiling. Make a mental note to add more coats of paint in the summer when we will not die of fumes. (Get on that Jenny!)



Breathe a sigh of relief, enjoy your toasty warm dining room, and invite guests over without fear of them contracting pneumonia while they eat. Blog about it. Easy peasy.

And yes, we did this project before we bought the new buffet. And I am just getting around to blogging about it. You're welcome.