Grilles and Registers

In the floor, wall, or ceiling, air registers have slatted openings that a user can control using an adjustable damper. Usually, for airflow control, the damper opens or closes access to the air duct with a rolling guide or lever on one side of the vent. These openings do not return air to the HVAC system, but deliver air that is heated or cooled into a room.

Grilles are fixed, unshakable structures that are capable of delivering or returning air. In residential ceilings and walls, grilles are found.  A home can have one larger return grille or multiple tiny ones in the home, depending on the system configuration. The air return is a grille which serves one purpose-to pull air back for reuse into the central heating and air system.