How to Seal Floor Vents

If you live in a house with a crawl space, there is a skilful chance the floor vents are non sealed. This is i of those things that tin can go unnoticed simply have a big affect on your indoor environment over time. The good news is that we have an like shooting fish in a barrel fix y'all tin tackle in a weekend!

Nosotros are going to lay out exactly what you need to know how to seal flooring vents. Showtime, let's look at why information technology is important.

If you take spent any corporeality of time in your crawl space, you know that information technology is not a pleasant surroundings. Information technology is musty, the air is humid and unconditioned, and… well, information technology is dirty. That is the all-time instance scenario. There is also a risk insects, critters and even snakes are finding their way downwardly there.

Thank goodness at that place is a solid floor between your living room and the crawl space!

But wait… If unsealed, the air vents in your flooring can leave open spaces, upward to an inch wide, correct into the crawl infinite.

Woman looking Disgusted

The EPA estimates 40%-threescore% of your indoor air could be coming from your crawlspace. And let's not even retrieve well-nigh those critters down there!

Convinced? Let'due south get started.

Stride 1: Audit your floor vents.

Unsealed Air Vent

Check to make sure yous have a crawl space, and that you lot have air vents coming upwards through the flooring. If you do, unscrew one of the flooring vent covers and set information technology bated. Look into the vent, right where the ductwork meets the floor. Is there a gap betwixt the metal duct and the floor? Bingo! You accept an unsealed vent.

Step 2: Gather your supplies.

Y'all'll probably need a quick trip to the hardware store, or if you lot are planning ahead, use the Amazon links beneath. (Nosotros do receive a pocket-sized commission if you click the link, but this does not increase your price.)

  • Aluminum Tape
  • Water Based Duct Sealer (Mastic)
  • Aluminum Window Screen
  • Putty Pocketknife
  • You will also need a screwdriver, pair of scissors, some paper towels and safety or nitrile gloves.

Step 3: Tape the vents

If the vent cover is not removed, unscrew it and prepare to the side. Wipe off the inside of the metal duct with a clammy rag to remove whatever dust.

Tear the aluminum tape into pieces long enough to comprehend each of the 4 sides. Yous should accept 2 short pieces and ii long pieces.

Carefully remove the back of the record. Brand certain yous put it where yous want it because you only become ane shot!

Place the tape and so that it adheres to the peak few inches of the metal duct, so wraps over onto your floor by about i/4 inch. Printing into place firmly. Echo for each side, making certain there are no pocket-size gaps left in the corners where the pieces of tape meet.

Stride 4: Seal the tape

The tape does a neat task sealing, just as the metal expands and contracts with seasons it can begin to come loose. That is where the duct sealer comes in.

Use your putty pocketknife to generously coat the aluminum record with duct sealer. Make sure the sealer extends beneath the bottom of the tape, but exercise not put whatsoever on your floor . Come up as high equally y'all can without making the plough onto the section of tape direct on the floor.

You need to wait for the sealer to dry out, and so go ahead and clean up any mess you made and be sure no globs are on your flooring. Move on and repeat the procedure at each of your floor vents.

Step 5: Seal for bugs

The previous step sealed any crawl infinite air from entering your living space. This step will continue out the bugs.

Make sure the duct sealant is fully dry out.

Unroll the aluminum window screen and set over the open vent hole. Be sure you are using an aluminum screen and not fiberglass. That volition ensure critters tin can non chew through.

Cut the screen to be about ane 1/2 inches wider than the opening on each side.

Button the screen into the vent, and brand a pucker along each of the four sides. The crease will cause about an inch of screen to plough support forth the vent wall. Work the corners to exist foursquare. The final product should fit snugly into the vent hole and look a little like a serving tray.

Tear 4 more pieces of aluminum tape, and tape the screen into the vent. Be sure that the screen is a few inches down into the vent , so that your vent embrace volition all the same fit.

Replace the vent cover and you are done.

Applause! Great Job!

Congratulations! You lot did it! Your family and domicile are protected from dirty crawl space air, insects, and other critters. Peachy task!

We're Here When You lot Need U.s.a.

Having trouble with your indoor air quality? Telephone call Branch Environmental . We're experts at indoor air quality assessment. We treat each inspection every bit an investigation. As a company, we believe that no one should alive or work in a building that makes them ill. From subconscious mold sources to major contaminants, we tin can identify exactly what is going on in your dwelling and rid it of environmental toxins, ofttimes for proficient.

Co-operative Environmental – Because nobody should alive or work in a building that makes them ill.

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