How to Place a Wall Air Vent

wall vent
  • 1-2 hours
  • Beginner
  • 75-125
What You'll Need
Tape measure
Screwdriver
Drill
Chisel
What You'll Need
Tape measure
Screwdriver
Drill
Chisel

Positioning a wall air vent can be a tricky thing to do. Getting it right is a must, as a wall air vent which is in the wrong position can let in bad smells, leave the floor wet during rainstorms, and even fail to work properly due to problems with its location. If you are thinking about installing a wall air vent, then there are a few things that you can do to provide it with the best position possible. Follow a few simple tips to get the best performance from your wall air vent and avoid mistakes.

Step 1 - Get the Right Location

Your wall air vent can draw air in as well as well as take it out, so when you are placing your vent, you will need to find a position that is out of the way of kitchen and bathroom. This is sometimes not easy, for example if you live near a kitchen, then the smells can travel for what seems like miles. But if you only have your own kitchen and bathroom to avoid, then make sure that the wall air vent is not on that side. You should also consider placing the vent out of the way of rain and snow. A protected area of your property might be best, with a wall between your vent and the most common direction for rain in your area.

Step 2 - Avoid Internal Problems

Another problem with installing a wall air vent is finding the position of all the electrical, water, and heating systems which run behind the wall. Most houses have a lot of these behind the living and kitchen areas, so you should check out your walls using a stud finder, this will locate any pipes or wires behind the wall. You can avoid these pitfalls once you know where they are, and this will help you to get a clearer idea of where you can locate your wall air vent in any particular room.

Step 3 - Make a Hole

air vent

Once you have decided upon your location, you will need to drill out the bricks or other wall materials in that place. Use your drill to make a series of holes in the wall, avoiding pipes and wires, and then knock out the wall materials using a chisel. The chisel can also be used to tidy up the edges of bricks, siding, or cement, so your vent will lie flush with the wall. Once the vent is in place, add the screws to the outside, then go indoors and screw the vent to the wall from the inside.

Step 4 - Finish

Once you have finished installing the vent, you should caulk around the edges, both inside and out, and leave the whole thing to dry before using. When you try out your vent look for signs that the wall air vent is picking up smells, or that rain is coming into the room. If there are problems, you may have to remove the vent, fill the hole, and relocate the product.