Categories: Decorating & Design

Make Your Own Magnetic Vent Covers

Is your heating and cooling bill killing you? Do you end up heating or cooling rooms you don’t need to simply because there’s no way to shut off the vent? Although most vents are made to open and shut, after years of use, the vents may not work as well as they should. Sometimes, even after closing the vent, you can still feel air coming out of it.

Some people stuff vents with newspaper, others lay a slipper over the top of the vent! There’s no need for all that hassle and inconvenience. There’s a quick solution for covering vents you don’t need. Use magnetic sheeting to make your own vent covers. It’s easy to do and you can create them in minutes! The magnetic vent covers will only work for metal vents.

Magnetic sheeting is sold by the sheet, or by the roll, at most craft stores and some other stores. A roll will allow you to make several vent covers for your home. If you only need one or two you might want to consider purchasing the magnet by the sheet. Whether you purchase by the sheet or by the roll you’ll be able to make vent covers that will help you save money.

Measure the width and length of your vent covers. Cut rectangles of the magnetic sheeting to the exact size of the vents. Cut the rectangles out and the vent covers have been created! Simply lay one cover on each vent and it will stay there. The magnetic sheeting grips the metal vents and prevents air leakage. Covering vents to rooms you don’t use can save you lots of money.

There are different types of magnetic sheeting. Sheeting sold at craft stores generally has a peel-away sheet that exposes an adhesive underneath. This type of sheeting isn’t appropriate for making the vent covers unless you plan on decorating them. The sheeting has a slick, removable cover that doesn’t look great on the vent. The paper can be slippery and will get dirty in no time.

If you use the adhesive type magnetic sheeting you can attach a picture to your new vent covers. Cut thick paper pictures, like from a calendar, and attach them to the adhesive sheeting. If you want, you can laminate the picture first, to protect it and make it easy to wipe clean.

A different type of magnetic sheeting is sold at stores that feature computer printer supplies. This type of magnet doesn’t have the adhesive, and therefore, doesn’t have the tacking-looking paper attached. The magnet is cut into rectangles to fit your vents and can be printed on or left plain. You can print them by finding a picture online, taking it to your printing program, then printing it directly onto the magnetic sheeting.

Whether you are trying to save on your heating and cooling bill, or you just don’t see the sense in heating and cooling rooms you don’t use, the magnetic vent covers are just what you need. If your home is one that has the vents in the ceiling or walls, the sheeting will still do the trick. It beats stuffing vents with newspaper or cutting cardboard pieces to stick inside the vents. The sheeting is usually white, so if that’s not your thing, use the printable magnetic sheeting. You can print colors or other designs onto the sheeting to match any decor.

Rolls of magnetic sheeting sell for ten or fifteen bucks. Sheets – ones large enough to cover a vent – sell for a couple of bucks. Use them to cut and make your own vent covers, and not only will you save money on your heating and cooling bill, you’ll have vent pictures that no one else you know has ever seen!