Haha, ducts are definitely the "out of sight, out of mind" part of HVAC for me too. Ever had critters set up shop in yours? Found a squirrel nest once... talk about airflow issues.
"Found a squirrel nest once... talk about airflow issues."
Yikes, squirrels can really make themselves at home! Had a similar issue with birds nesting in mine—ended up installing some mesh covers on the vents. Simple fix, and no more surprise guests since.
Had a similar run-in with mice a few years back. Couldn't figure out why the airflow was so weak until the tech pulled out a whole nest from the ductwork... insulation, leaves, bits of paper—you name it. Ended up sealing off entry points and adding some hardware cloth around the openings. Definitely improved efficiency afterward, but I still wonder how long those little guys had been freeloading in there.
"Definitely improved efficiency afterward, but I still wonder how long those little guys had been freeloading in there."
Had a similar issue myself, except mine was squirrels. Took me forever to realize they were getting in through a tiny gap near the soffit. Sealed it up and added mesh screens, but now I'm wondering—did you notice any lasting damage to your ductwork or insulation after removing the nest? Curious if I should double-check mine again...
Had squirrels myself a couple years back—here's my two cents:
- Didn't see much ductwork damage, but insulation was another story...they shredded it pretty good.
- Honestly, even if you sealed things up tight, I'd still peek in there again. Critters are sneaky.
- Might also be worth checking wiring nearby. Mine chewed through some cables—thankfully caught it early, but better safe than sorry.
