How to Connect the Duct in the Attic to the Vent

HVAC ducts carry warm or cool air from your air handler to vents throughout your house. Vents may be in the wall, on the floors or in the ceiling. Accessing duct work behind vents in the wall requires removing drywall; accessing duct behind vents in the floor requires going into the basement or crawlspace; and accessing duct behind vents in the ceiling requires a trip to the attic. Once up there, most homeowners with basic DIY experience and tools can connect duct work to a vent.

Things You'll Need

• Foil duct tape
• Duct straps (optional)
• Hammer and nails (optional)

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Run the duct from the air handler to vent along the straightest possible path. For best results, run it between two joists, or hang it from the rafters by nailing duct straps to every other rafter and wrapping the straps around the duct.

   • 2

     Slide the duct opening over the boot of the vent. Avoid crimping the duct as you slide it as far down the vent as possible.

   • 3

     Secure the duct to the vent by tightly wrapping the duct with foil duct tape, just above where its end touches the vent.