Typically, you’ll want to hire out for any project that involves the word “relocate”
Whether you’re experiencing cold spots in your home or you’re embarking on your dream remodel, you may need to relocate a heat vent. This is not usually a weekend DIY, and you should enlist the help of an experienced HVAC contractor in your area to relocate the heat vent for you. Exactly who you hire will depend on the complexity of the job.
Relocating a heating vent might be a relatively simple prospect. Yet even in those straightforward cases, the vent will need to be reconnected to your heating system’s ductwork. Many vent relocation projects will require more specific skills such as HVAC experience and advanced carpentry, especially if you’re moving the vent to a location that’s more than a few feet away or from a floor to a wall. In those cases, it’s best to have the experience and skills of an HVAC pro to handle the work for you.
DIY is possible—if you have substantial knowledge of ductwork, residential HVAC systems, and basic carpentry skills. But cutting gaping holes in your flooring and ceiling is risky for the average amateur carpenter. Plus, you’ll need to know how to adjust and reconnect the existing ductwork to ensure a proper fit and function.
Even if you do have the requisite skills and tools on hand, you might consider hiring a professional HVAC contractor to do the work for you. They’ll complete the job more quickly and with less disruption to your household. You likely won’t discover your DIY mistakes until you connect the furnace later and hear only crickets.
If relocating your heat vent involves cutting into drywall or flooring (outside of the hole needed for the new opening), you should consider hiring a general contractor to coordinate and oversee the repairs. You may need drywall, flooring, and painting professionals to patch up the holes created during the move, especially when considering the old vent location. A general contractor can give you options to match the flooring with either a vent grill or different flooring material.
However, if your preferred new location involves relocating or removing existing wiring or ductwork, it’s probably a better idea to hire a specialist HVAC contractor who knows their way around a home’s heating system.
Vent relocation specifics will vary depending on your household needs, but generally, the process goes as follows:
Your HVAC pro will examine the area you’d like to move the vent to ensure it’s a suitable location
They will relocate wiring or other elements as needed to accommodate the heat vent
They will remove the vent from its existing location measure the vent itself
They will mark and cut out the new vent location to size
They will turn off the power supply to your furnace, reposition the duct to connect to the vent, and install the vent
They will turn the furnace back on and test the new connection to verify that everything is working correctly
