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How to Add a Room Air Duct with Speedi-Boot – Part 3

Bob Jackson
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by Bob Jackson

How to Add a Room Air Duct with Speedi-Boot – mount the vent boot and connect the flexible air duct. This project is continued from Part 2.

The Speedi-Boot™ air vent is fastened by nailing the feet of the telescoping arms to the wood joists with the pre-installed nails (you can also use screws). This is where the Speedi-Boot really shines compared to a raw vent boot where I’d have to measure, saw and mount 2″x4″ blocks to build a box frame.

Speedi-Boot Ceiling Joist Mount

Remember, the Speedi-Boot can be mounted perpendicular (as shown) or parallel (turned 90 degrees) to the joists by removing the telescoping arms and reinstalling on the other side as illustrated in Part 1 of this project.

Mounting the Speedi-Boot Air Vent

Installation Tip: Lightly press and hold the Speedi-Boot against the drywall for a snug fit while nailing the feet.

Flexible Air Duct Installation

Push back the fiberglass outer jacket to expose the coiled-wire inner core of the air duct. Slide the inner core over the Speedi-Boot as shown.

Slide the Air Duct Inner Core over the Speedi-Boot Air Vent

Secure the duct to the Speedi-Boot with metal foil HVAC tape. Smooth out all wrinkles for an air tight seal.

Seal the Flexible Duct to the Speedi-Boot with Metal Foil Tape

Slide the insulated outer jacket over the neck of the Speedi-Boot and secure with a zip-tie. Trim off the excess tail of the zip tie.

Secure the Insulated Jacket to the Speedi-Boot with a Zip Tie

Lay the flexible air duct as straight as possible and cover the Speedi-Boot with insulation.

Speedi-Boot Air Vent and Flexible Air Duct

Take care to provide a generous radius on all bends in the flexible air duct to avoid kinks that would restrict the air flow.

Rigid Air Duct Trunk Line Take-Off

The new air vent branch line will be connected to the rigid air duct trunk. I strongly recommend against splicing into an existing supply branch line if at all possible, i.e. making a wye or tee connection, because this can result in insufficient air flow for comfort. However, if you’re installing a return air vent, then splicing into an existing branch line is OK.

Place the starting collar in the center of the rigid duct and trace a circle to cut the mounting hole.

Trace for Starting Collar Take-Off on Trunk Air Duct

Cut the starting collar hole with a utility knife.

Cut for the Starting Collar in the Rigid Air Duct

The starting collar is installed with the mounting fingers inside the air duct.

Insert the Starting Collar – Fingers Down

Reach inside the starting collar and bend the fingers outward 90 degrees to secure it the rigid air duct.

Spread the Mounting Fingers to Secure the Starting Collar

The starting collar is sealed to the rigid air duct with metal foil tape.

Seal the Starting Collar with Metal Foil Tape

Use only minimum length plus an extra 2 feet of flexible air duct needed to span the distance from the air vent to the starting collar. Cut the outer- an inner jackets with a utility knife or scissors, then cut the spring wire on the inner jacket with wire snips. My pocket Leatherman has wire snips at the base of the pliers tool. Fasten and seal the inner duct with metal foil tape.

Fasten the Air Duct Inner Core to the Starting Collar

The air duct installation is completed with a zip tie.

Zip Tie the Flexible Air Duct to the Starting Collar

Here’s the new flexible air duct branch line:

HVAC Flexible Duct Branch Line
HVAC Flexible Duct Branch Line

The attic work is now complete.

Ceiling Air Vent Installation

I’m ready to install the air register on the new Speedi-Boot vent. Speedi-Boots have dust covers to keep out spray paint, dirt and debris. The dust cover is especially helpful for floor installations to keep out dirt during while remodeling or adding a new room.

Speedi-Boot Air Vent Ceiling Installation

Remove the dust cover:

Remove the Speedi-Boot Dust Cover

Speedi-Grille™ Ceiling/Wall Air Register

The Speedi-Grille register is a high quality product that snaps into the vent boot, holding itself in place until permanently fastened with the included screws.

Speedi-Grille™ Ceiling/Wall Air Register

The secret to Speedi-Grille are the two sheet metal spring tabs that run the length of the register. Just press the Speedi-Grille into the Speedi-Boot and it snaps into place until the mounting screws are installed. I really liked this feature because I’m always dropping screws while trying to hold a standard grille in place.

Speedi-Grille™ Spring Tabs for Snap-in Installation

Speedi-Grille installation is a snap (pun intended). Now I’ve got two free hands to install the mounting screws.

Speedi-Grille™ Air Register Snap-In Installation

The Speedi-Grille air register is attached with two screws that fit into the register pilot holes on the Speedi-Boot. The screws clamp the register and Speedi-Boot together, compressing the foam rubber gasket of the mud ring to the drywall for an air-tight seal. Compare this to a raw vent boot that leaks air into the attic.

Speedi-Grille™ Air Register Installation

Standard Air Register Option

Standard air registers also work fine with Speedi-Boot, just install the normal way with a screw- or socket driver.

Attach the Air Register to the Speedi-Boot Vent

The Speedi-Boot is huge improvement in air vent installation speed, fit, finish, and quality.

Thanks for reading,

Bob Jackson

air ductHVACSpeedi-Bootvent boot
Bob Jackson
Bob Jackson
Technology product manager by day and a prolific handyman in the evenings and over the weekends. Bob was the founder of the original Handyman How To website and that tradition continues on this site with excellent new handyman content into the future.
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