Yeah, I’ve had the same issue with critters—mine was a raccoon, not a squirrel, but same idea. Foam’s definitely easier to work with than the rigid plastic, though. I tried patching the chewed spot with some mesh and zip ties... not pretty, but it held up through winter. Anyone else try something like that?
Had a possum chew right through my soffit vent last year—left a mess and a cold draft. Tried the mesh trick too, but honestly, it only lasted a few months before something got in again. Ended up switching to metal vent covers and sealing the edges with roofing cement. Not as easy to install as foam, but I haven’t had any critter problems since. Foam’s quick, but around here (Midwest), the animals seem determined... sometimes you just gotta go tougher.
- Had raccoons rip through my old plastic soffit vents a couple winters back—total disaster, insulation everywhere.
- Tried the mesh too, but yeah, they just bend it or pull it loose. Midwest critters don’t mess around.
- Swapped to recycled steel covers last fall. Bit of a pain to fit, but zero issues since.
- Not wild about using roofing cement (can trap moisture if you’re not careful), but I get why you’d go that route with persistent pests.
- Honestly, I wish there was a greener fix that actually holds up... haven’t found one yet.
Honestly, I wish there was a greener fix that actually holds up... haven’t found one yet.
Same boat here. I tried using some of those “eco” plastic vent covers made from recycled materials—looked promising, but the squirrels chewed right through them in under a year. Midwest winters just seem to make critters extra determined. The steel covers are solid, but yeah, not exactly low-impact to produce. Wish someone would come up with a tough, plant-based composite or something that could actually take a beating and still let air flow.
Yeah, I hear you on the “eco” vent covers. I’ve seen a few jobs where those recycled plastic ones just didn’t cut it—critters, sun, and cold all seem to wear them down fast. Steel’s not perfect for the environment, but it’s the only thing I’ve seen that actually keeps squirrels and raccoons out long-term. I’d love to see a composite that holds up, but honestly, nothing’s matched metal for durability yet. If anyone ever cracks that code, I’ll be first in line.
