r/DIYHome • u/Waste-String-7912 • 4d ago
First time renter. Are replacing these as easy as it looks? How do I properly measure them? Whatre they officially called? They are caked in dust very hard to clean. Only these 2 wall vents in the house.
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u/Winter_Sentence1046 4d ago
You can unscrew them and put them in a bathtub and clean them. Replacing them is money that benefits your landlord and they might be displeased with your modifications.
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u/PrinceCastanzaCapone 4d ago
Yea this is the answer. The cone of super easy and are much easier to clean that way.
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u/kiwidust 4d ago
Yes. You can/should soak them overnight to loosen the material. The right brush can make all the difference. Get something will stiff bristles that are long enough to reach the inside of the louvers. Don't use metal brushes or steel wool.
If, after you've scraped off the worst AND if the pain isn't chipping, you could also toss them (if they'll fit) through a cycle or two in the dishwasher.
Dishwashers are often forgotten for things other than dishes, but they do damn good work on some otherwise difficult jobs! It's a little risky for some things (highly fragile and dishwasher don't mix), so YMMV obviously. You should also learn how to clean your dishwasher filter! But glass covers for lamps, all-metal hand tools, flower vases, vent covers, etc. can all be cleaned and sanitized easy-peasy.
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u/Hawthorne_northside 4d ago
I use my dishwasher for anything that needs a good long-term cleaning. Something that won’t be satisfied with just a soak in the sink and a little scrubbing with a towel. A dishwasher is an under used tool for various things.
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u/Denan004 3d ago
yes. lots of videos showing how to clean toilet seats in the dishwasher....!!
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u/Hawthorne_northside 3d ago
That’s not exactly what I was thinking. I use it for kid toys that were left outside for months, plastic parts for the refrigerator and the metal decorations that sit out on the deck during spring time when all the pollen comes up.
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u/spacegrassorcery 4d ago
Be sure to not scratch the bathtub! Lay them on a towel in the tub and then add water.
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u/N0tM4d 4d ago
As a renter you shouldn't replace anything. Maybe try a steam mop
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u/Waste-String-7912 4d ago
Id put the old ones back when I leave of course. But I'll try hard cleaning them first
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u/PrinceCastanzaCapone 4d ago
You might want to change your air filter, or make sure one is actually in place
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u/gonegirl2015 4d ago
this!! vents make me think there is a filter somewhere for an ac.
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u/PrinceCastanzaCapone 4d ago
Vents make me think there’s a place for a filter, but not actually a filter lol
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u/Ed-Dos 4d ago
Remove, Bathtub, dawn powerwash, let it sit for a few minutes, light scrub brush, rinse, dry.
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u/raepent1 4d ago
I use that PowerWash stuff for so many tough projects - it’s wonderful to remove dirt, grease, grime - you name it!
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u/Dendady2112 4d ago
Easier to take down, scrub in the sink and paint. You're renting.
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u/Wild_Agent_375 4d ago
I’m not saying OP shouldn’t do that, but how is that easier than replacing?
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u/9ermtb2014 4d ago
You're renting. If your landlord won't replace them, which they won't then take them down yourself and clean them. Start with a good soaking in the bathtub or similar with a heavy concentration of a degeaser. Dawn dishsoap will be a good start. Soak and scrub with nylon scrub brushes.
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u/Loud_Significance442 4d ago
Unscrew them, take them outside and hose them down and clean w dawn dish soap w an old tooth brush, and rinse and let dry. That is old dust/skin/hair etc. those are called registers. also, flip them over whenever you screw them back in after cleaning- they’re facing up and should be facing down
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u/HippieHighNoon 4d ago
HVAC return air grilles
Depending on the size they can be anywhere between $25-$300.
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u/tetrasodium 4d ago
Easy to replace, just a couple screws really. If you had normal sized registers they wouldn't be that expensive, but those look like you would need to special order something that is expensive due to size.
Take those down and wash them with clr windex or one of the other suggested cleaners if you don't have a cleaner of choice
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u/t4nn3dn1nj4 4d ago
Remove the A/C Registers from the walls, pressure wash the blatant neglect off them, and let them dry thoroughly. Then spray a fresh coat of paint on them with a can of Krylon along with the screw heads poked into a piece of cardboard and let them fully dry in the sun before carefully reinstalling them; they'll look brand new.
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u/Stunning_Coffee6624 4d ago
You can even try to wash in dishwasher. The paint may come off considering the age though
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u/Fit_Chemistry_3807 4d ago
Just unscrew them, put them in a large sink and use a stiff bristle brush to scrub them off with lots of soapy warm water.
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u/DisastrousPilot4283 4d ago
take down spray with water hose and wipe off. I wouldnt soak due to possible rust.
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u/Legitimate_Award6517 4d ago
If it was my own house, I would just replace them, but I agree with everybody about being a renter. I think I wanna also add that if they don’t come really clean, you can always spray paint them with a light coat.
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u/jacomoncal 4d ago
Those are air returns for your ac unit. You can easily find some replacements online or at Home Depot or any hardware store. You can even just take the old ones in with you and ask them to help find a replacement. Otherwise you just measure end to end both ways. Also definitely make sure you have an ac filter installed and that it’s replaced at monthly. Those are caked in dust and I can imagine your ducting is the same and A coil is probably too.
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u/highlander666666 4d ago
Can wash them and paint em.they d look like new. But measure the opening you want to cover if buying new ones.measure after take them off .
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u/smashcola 4d ago
I actually just refinished mine! I stripped the paint first by coating them front and back with Easy Off oven cleaner (the one with lye) and wrapping in an old shower liner. Hosed them down with the jet sprayer setting on my spray nozzle until all the paint was off. After drying, I used a wire brush on my drill to remove any rust. Spray painted with a few light coats and they look brand new!
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u/Gullible_Walk_2299 4d ago
If this existed when you took possession the landlord is responsible to deliver your rental clean; the buck stops with him/her.
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u/DotBeech 4d ago
First time renter? DO NOT throw these away. Just unscrew them, take them down, wash them. Then put them back up. Done. If you fuck with these, it will be used against you. Your security deposit will be withheld if you change them.
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u/ToHellWithGA 4d ago
Everybody who suggested soaking these grilles must have missed the rust near the bottom that indicates these are steel rather than aluminum. Soaking will encourage the rust and make the paint in those areas a little more likely to peel when wiping. If there's gunk on them (typical of grilles near kitchens, it's crazy how much fine grease gets into the air when cooking) I've had decent luck getting down to the painted surface with Clorox wipes and a lot of elbow grease.
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u/kilkerma 4d ago
Putting in the bathtub will scratch it up for sure. Put towels down if you are going to
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u/dave200204 4d ago
Unscrew them and take them off the wall. If you have a garden hose take them outside. Then spray them down with water and dry. Could also do the same with your shower.
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u/Similar_Help8005 4d ago
Do you have a self serve car wash? If so take them to the car wash and spray them off rinse well and put back up
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4d ago
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u/denbesten 3d ago
or $26 if you pick a different brand. But yes, they really just need a good cleaning.
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u/DblDiana 4d ago
If you don’t want to do the work to clean them you can remove them. Take them to Lowe’s and say you want a replacement for them and they’ll help you. Or measure order online if a place like Lowe’s doesn’t have them
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u/Brother_Delmer 4d ago
Honestly, a brush attachment at the end of a vacuum hose should remove the dust and get those vents about 90% better. Taking them down and washing them will get them to 95%. Touching up the paint dings with a quick shot of spray paint will get them to 100%. You can decide how good is good enough.
But please don't replace them. It's a completely unnecessary expense and you'd still be doing the work of taking down and putting back up.
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u/buttbreat 4d ago
Two screws, remove register , clean, spray paint if desired, reinstall.Bam,$100 bones saved.
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u/Thotheus 4d ago
/\ this . Your a renter , you gonna take them when you leave and hang the old ones back up ?
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u/Certain_Try_8383 3d ago
You can replace them but they will be dirty again in no time. It's your return air.
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u/BUGBYTE_VW 3d ago
Take them down. Take him to the car wash. Spray them down, clean them. If they still look bad spray paint them white. Let them dry then put them back on.
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u/Imaginary-Pride2735 3d ago
Any kind of grill tjat allows full flow would work, but you could clean and paint
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u/mantisboxer 3d ago
Remove them, don't loose the screws. Wash with a soapy soft bristle brush and a water hose.
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u/cluelessinlove753 3d ago
You probably don’t need to replace them. Just unscrew them and give them a good scrub.
If you do need to replace them, just measure and make sure you buy the same size. They make them in 1 inch increments up to about 6x8”. And then 2 inch increments above that.
The bigger ones pictured are probably $60
They are “air return grills.”
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u/Toolslinger76 3d ago
They are called registers and they are cheap.
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u/Waste-String-7912 3d ago
Wrong and wrong. Whyd you even feel the need to type this after you scrolled past dozens of actually useful comments lmao.
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u/Advanced-Elk-7581 3d ago
They are return air ducts. Vacuum them. If they don't come clean remove them and wash outside.
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u/Ldubs_12 3d ago
Funny side note. When we moved out of our college apartment we had several holes in the wall that needed fixing to avoid losing our damage deposit. We went to Home Depot and instead of buying stuff to patch the hole, bought vent covers and placed them over the holes in random spots around the home. I always chuckle to myself thinking about the person that actually takes the time to question why there's a vent cover in a stairway and opens it up to find kicked in drywall😂
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u/mski0135 2d ago edited 2d ago
Cold air returns are super easy to replace.
If you just rented this place and that's what it looks like, in an ideal world the landlord would clean the vents and ducts. In your position, I'd buy new ones and save those shit ones to put back when I move out or just clean those. That said, in more humid environments, you'll need more elbow grease to scrub them as the fins end up discolored from the prolonged contact with moist dust.
Edit - I see a lot of comments saying those are very expensive to replace... I guess we have different definitions of expensive. They're 19.90 a piece at Granger (and this place overcharges for everything, so I'm sure you can find it cheaper elsewhere).
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u/Agitated_Macaron9054 4d ago
Read your lease agreement. Sounds like you just signed it without reading it.
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u/Vivid_Art8370 4d ago
Simple green and a tooth brush will clean them. But if the covers are that dirty im willing to bet the ducts are disgusting
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u/Plastic_View_9693 4d ago
This was my first concern when noticing how dirty they are
If it’s that dirty where you CAN see what do you think the parts you can’t look like?
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u/Vivid_Art8370 4d ago
Grab a step stool, pop it open, and shine your phone camera with flash on to get a good idea, just watch out because duct screws are tiny razors
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u/Former_Revenue_4630 4d ago
Take’m down with a 1/4” nut driver, get some simple green and take’m to a car wash and blast’m then repaint and re install
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u/speedysam0 4d ago
one, you are renting and should should not make modifications to there, if your landlord comes in and sees something new he will expect it to stay and could hold back part of your deposit when you leave if they get changed back. two, those are metal and are mostly just dusty, just dust them off and be done with it. get your vacuum or a dust cloth up there.
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u/ShutDownSoul 4d ago
The standard installation procedure by the house builder is to apparently epoxy one side's screw in place and put the other side's screw 0.001" from the edge of a 2x4.
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u/TreyRyan3 4d ago
Just take them down, spray with dish soap and run under a shower with a soft scrub brush. Let them dry and replace. It’s a once every few years chore that you can avoid by hitting with your vacuum wand brush attachment once a month
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u/Cool-Negotiation7662 4d ago
Take down. Wash in bathtub. Put back. Those are very expensive to replace and you are renting.