How To Run Ductwork In Walls. Try to place your vents near walls instead of the middle of the room. For this matter you may need to find appropriate chapters in the basement part of my diguide book.
This scenario can be particularly annoying because the sound tends to be amplified in the tight metal space.
Think about how the structure is built. Running electrical wires behind your walls is a great way to add an additional outlet or switch right where you need it. Inductive reasoning will carry you far. The problem is that there are massive ducts running underneth the joists in the laundry room, straight across the middle of the ceiling and splicing off into all directions.