Forced Air Heat Registers

[xraytech]

My home is a red brick 1946 Cape Cod with forced air gas heat/central air
All of my registers are these large ones that I can't find replacements for.
The one in my bath is between the toilet and sink so it's gotten quite rusty.

I'd really like to get a pair of these in an antique brass for my living room so I can have a spare register for my bath.

I'd appreciate any assistance in where to find these

 

[polkanut]

Check Habitat for Humanity ReStore's.  They specialize in things of this type.

http://www.habitat.org/restores

 

[tomturbomatic]

You could take the bathroom one to a body shop that could blast it with glass beads then you could put a two part epoxy paint on it and it would probably last forever or maybe they could suggest a baked on finish.

 

[combo52]

Replacement Registers

Hi, you don't mention what size your registers are, but in any event if these supply both heat and cool air in your home you need a newer style that allows you to send cool air up when you are in A/C season and straight out and down for heating.

 

Antique Brass registers are usually more of a Victorian Style, your home is probably about 50 years too new for AB registers etc.

 

[washman]

Maybe this will help?

?

http://www.oldhouseonline.com/category/old-house-directory/heating-cooling/registers-grilles/

 

[volvoguy87]

Soak, strip, paint!

Soak it in a tub of Pepsi or Coke Classic for a few days, then wash, rinse, spray prime, and spray paint them! The acid in the cola will dissolve the old paint. Wash and dry them to get rid of the cola and grime. Go over them with mineral spirits to prep them for paint. Spray paint them with primer for metal. Finally, spray them with paint of your choosing. I like shiny black enamel on my non-brass vents.

If you need new ones, you can find them, but you may want to go to an HVAC supply house where the professionals go, as opposed to a Big Box like Lowes.

Dave

 

[dermacie]

I would

Measure and Google search. There are websites who make them pretty pricey too. Another option is to have them changed out to modern, possible cheaper depending on labor. Although it would change the look of the house.

 

[sudsmaster]

Behind those registers is probably a simple six or eight inch diameter rigid duct. You could probably gin up almost anything to replace them and direct the conditioned air where you want it. Plastic even would probably be a good choice for a bath.

 

Or stainless. A sheet metal shop might be able to fabricate something, as well.

 

As far as the control goes, I've read it's not a good idea to try to balance the air flow at the registers anyway. This should be done via balancers closer to the blower.

 

Also, looking at your register, I'm guessing it was installed back in 1946 when the system was gravity flow. Now that the system is forced air, these are not exactly the right choice anyway.

 

I have a similar situation in my '41 home. The older parts of the home have original gravity flow registers that are flush with the wall but have complex redirection mechanics behind them, like yours must have. The newer parts of the system have smaller flat grille registers that are flush with the floor, and which have only a simple lever actuated damper which which one can somewhat modulate the air flow. But like I said, I try not to shut off air flow that way because it will just force heated air out into the crawl space through any leaks in the ducting (and I'm sure there are many).

 

[turquoisedude]

Sam, I noticed this listing on the Pittsburgh, PA craigslist, if it may be of any help.  There's only one photo of a furnace air register, but there could be some of the style you are looking for in the house.  

 

 

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/app/5634038660.html

 

[sudsmaster]

I remember visiting a local city-owned mansion a while back. It sits on a very large lot, that is pretty much an entire valley. It was owned by a family that made its fortune with coal back in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After changing hands a couple of times it wound up getting donated to the city and repurposed for meetings and special occasions, like Christmas and Thanksgiving celebrations/pageants.

 

Anyway, when I toured the home a while ago, I was shocked at some of the restoration work. There are these beautiful oak hardwood floors with contrasting mahogany purfling. Smack dab in the middle of the contrasting trim, someone sunk rectangular holes and put in modern forced air registers. Really awful.

 

Oh well. What not to do...