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Gigem's avatar
Gigem
Explorer
Sep 09, 2015

Reparing a cooling duct (rodent hole)

I have a kinda weird problem. One night some rodent got into my AC cooling duct. I think he somehow came up inside the wall and decided he wanted to get out of the wall into the duct? The duct is made of some type of 1/4 insulation board, covered with a foil facing? He actually, ate a hole into the duct. Now I'm trying to figure out the best way to repair the duct. The hole is at a vent opening in the bathroom. I think he must have smelled the fresh air from the duct opening and thought this was a good way out. I have pretty good access to the hole but I'm trying to figure out the best way to "patch" the duct. I've seen just about every RV problem in this forum, so I thought I'd give this one a shot. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Seeking Advice
  • West_Coast_Canu's avatar
    West_Coast_Canu
    Explorer
    Sep 09, 2015
    Gigem wrote:
    Ah Yes, eternabond tape, I had completely forgotten about that. Some insulation behind the duct hole and eternabond should make a good patch. You guys never let me down.

    Unfortunately, I still need to get some type of "plumbers" camera to run down the duct, just to make sure the little critters haven't done some additional damage where I can't see it.:(

    Thanks again for all your suggestions.


    Ryobi makes a camera scope that will work with iPhone 6 Home Depot carries them here in Canada.
  • West_Coast_Canu's avatar
    West_Coast_Canu
    Explorer
    Sep 09, 2015
    I work in our Operations department of a very large Property Development Company. I handle maintenance requests. Do not use Duct Tape!! The glue will dry out over time and fall off, duct tape has a thousand uses but not for HVAC. Foil tape is the correct one to use and is very easy to use , HVAC techs use this.
  • Dick_B's avatar
    Dick_B
    Explorer
    Sep 09, 2015
    Do NOT use Duct Tape! The foil tape is what the experts use.
  • Gigem's avatar
    Gigem
    Explorer
    Sep 09, 2015
    Ah Yes, eternabond tape, I had completely forgotten about that. Some insulation behind the duct hole and eternabond should make a good patch. You guys never let me down.

    Unfortunately, I still need to get some type of "plumbers" camera to run down the duct, just to make sure the little critters haven't done some additional damage where I can't see it.:(

    Thanks again for all your suggestions.
  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer II
    Sep 09, 2015
    I'd use foil tape. If the hole is small, the loss of insulation is not of grave importance so long as it's airtight, though a bit of some sort of insulation could be poked in place somehow if you wish.

    Foil tape is handy for repairing many different things.
  • therink's avatar
    therink
    Explorer
    Sep 09, 2015
    I hope you caught the bugger.
    I would likely stuff the hole with fiberglass insulation and cover with foil tape. Eternabond would work as well if you have some kicking around.

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