Most of the time, a ceiling air vent attaches to ceiling joists on either side of the duct for stability. However, in some cases, the duct may not align with the joists, and you may have to attach the vent directly to the drywall. Drywall, a pressed form of gypsum, has a tendency to crumble, but by using supplies made just for drywall, you can attach the vent securely.
Instructions
1. Select a lightweight plastic or thin aluminum vent cover. Vents come in a variety of standard sizes and materials. The less it weighs, the better your chances of successfully installing it into the drywall.
2. Hold the flat side of your vent against the ceiling, aligning it with the duct. Use a pencil to mark the holes on each end. Your pencil marks should be at least ½ inch from the edges of the cut drywall. If not, you'll need a larger vent.
3. Fit your drill with a bit slightly smaller than the diameter of the anchor bolts, and drill a hole into the ceiling drywall at each pencil mark. Position the drill so the bit stays straight, not slanted to either side.
4. Hold the vent cover in place, aligning the holes in the vent with the holes you drilled into the ceiling.
5. Push the plastic part of the drywall anchor into each hole. A drywall anchor has two parts: a split plastic anchor with ribbing, which contracts slightly when inserted into a hole, and a threaded screw that fits inside the plastic anchor.
6. Use a screwdriver to insert a threaded screw into each plastic anchor while holding the vent in place. Tighten the screw just until it is snug against the vent cover, but do not over tighten. As you insert the screw, the plastic anchor will expand outward, hugging the drywall.
Tags: plastic anchor, vent cover, , drywall anchor, either side, into ceiling