The duct problem in Vijayawada
Many apartment blocks in Labbipet, Governorpet, Patamata and Moghalrajpuram were built on narrow plots, with a duct or light well between flats to bring air and light to bathrooms and kitchens. These shafts are shaded through the scorching summer and sheltered from the rain, so pigeons move in quickly.
Residents notice:
- cooing and wing noise early in the morning
- feathers and droppings on bathroom ventilators
- blocked exhaust fans
- a smell that gets worse in humid weather after the rains
Two ways to net a duct
Across the top. One net at terrace level keeps birds out of the whole shaft, with any open sides on lower floors netted too. This needs the agreement of all the flats.
At your flat. A net across your own ventilator or the open side of the shaft beside your flat, useful when a building-wide decision isn’t possible.
Materials
UV-stabilised HDPE or nylon bird net (50 mm, or smaller where sparrows use the shaft), a tensioned border and stainless-steel hooks. Ducts stay damp around pipes, and plain iron rusts quickly. An access panel is always included where pipes need servicing.
Light wells shared by two buildings
In parts of central Vijayawada, the gap between two neighbouring buildings serves as a light well for both. If both buildings agree, a single net across the top solves the problem for everyone. If not, each side can net its own openings.
Installation
- Inspect the duct and decide where to net.
- Plan safe access.
- Clear nests and droppings at the fixing points.
- Fix stainless hooks around the opening.
- Run and tension the border.
- Lace the net, sealing around any pipes.
- Fit the access panel.
After the job
Ask plumbers and electricians to close the access panel after every visit. Because ducts are shaded, nets there last longer than balcony nets.
Before the visit
Send photos of the duct from your window and, if possible, from the terrace, so we can see how it is built.
Our duct area safety nets page has the full details, and the guide on why apartment duct areas need nets is a useful read too.
Why ducts get worse after the rains
Droppings in a shaft dry out in the summer heat, but after the rains the humidity brings back the smell, and damp nests attract insects. Many residents first notice the problem in the weeks after heavy rain. Netting the shaft before the next rainy season stops new droppings building up.
