Buying the Best Floor Register Tip #1: Buy It Once!

Some things are fun to buy and some things aren’t. The fun things are fun for several reasons: they’re cheap, enjoyable and you don’t expect them to last long. The things that aren’t any fun are expensive, necessary and better last long because you definitely don’t want to buy more. Floor registers definitely fall into this second category. So why do so many people waste time and money buying cheap floor registers over and over?

Buying a quality floor register once will save you more money, time and stress than buying a cheap piece of junk that will need replacing in one or two years.

Unless you enjoy the act of shopping for HVAC accessories, don’t waste your time and your money on an “inexpensive” floor register. It’s cheap for a reason and that reason isn’t the manufacturer’s consideration for your financial well-being. It’s cheap so you’ll have to buy more and more.

Don’t fall into the cheapskate cycle of buying the same junk over and over again.

Break the cycle and buy a quality register. A quality register is one that:

• Is made of a durable material like steel, cast iron, brass or a hiqh quality plastic (like ABS Resin).
• Looks good. Why would you want something that looks cheap in your home?
• Is sturdy enough that it can withstand whatever type of floor traffic you throw at it? If your register breaks or starts to look worn down after a few months of use then you wasted your money. Make sure both the grille and the damper are made of steel or a quality plastic that won’t crumple under the normal everyday use.

These features may cost slightly more than they penny-pinching plastic ones most big box stores will push on you. The extra cost is worth it because you get more for your money and you only spend it once.

If you have to replace your cheaply bought and very cheap looking $5 dollar register 4 times over the next 6 years then you’ve spent $20 plus whatever extra fees you incurred through taxes, cost of gas, etc. You also spent 5 extra trips to the hardware store. Why? To save? Why didn’t you just buy a $22 register the first time and save yourself the trouble and make your home nicer looking at the same time?

Save yourself time, stress and money and just buy it once. Do it right the first time and be done. Life is too short to waste it in the HVAC aisle of your local monolith hardware store.

Posted on 01/04/10 // Posted in Floor Registers, Home Hardware Tips