What is the difference between a vent cover, a register, and a grille?
Most homes are heated and cooled by central forced air systems that consist of a furnace, an air conditioning unit, and ductwork. Warmed air from the furnace (winter) or cooled air from the air conditioner (summer) is delivered to the rooms in your home through forced air ducts. To provide efficiency and a uniform temperature from room to room, air is circulated back to the furnace through cold air returns. A vent is an opening that allows air to pass. In this case, a vent allows air to pass between the room and duct. A vent cover is a generic term used to describe the decorative cover on the vent (i.e., duct opening). Registers and grilles are specific types of vent covers. Registers are vent covers that are typically used on forced air ducts. They have a pre-attached damper or set of louvers to help control airflow. For example, the damper can be closed to avoid heating or cooling a room that isn t used. Grilles are vent covers that are normally used on air return ducts. Grilles do n
