Print quality degradation after 1 year printing.
After over a year and some printing for about 2-4 hours daily on my mini, I've noticed the print quality has degraded. There's a lot more stringing and over all, prints are just messier than with the same file and same filament on my newer mini. I'm assuming there's some maintenance I need to do to correct it, but not 100% sure what. My instinct is that it's likely the nozzle, but as I have very limited experience changing nozzles out and am not especially keen to do it without it being the thing to fix, was looking for a 2nd opinion, or input on any other things I may have neglected.
RE: Print quality degradation after 1 year printing.
Check the PTFE tube.
https://help.prusa3d.com/en/guide/how-to-replace-a-hotend-ptfe-tube-mini-mini_119449
Nejsem zaměstnancem Prusa Research.
After over a year and some printing for about 2-4 hours daily
So fairly light duty. Unless you have been printing abrasive filaments your nozzle should still be OK.
Maintenance is the first step as you surmised...
https://help.prusa3d.com/en/article/regular-maintenance-mini_13322
The other common cause of printing degredation over time is damp filament.
Cheerio,