 No one meant for it to happen, but it did happen. They cut the ceiling and the plaster was brittle. They could not avoid
it- a small crack develops near the opening. Sure, it can be patched but the paint will not match. When ductwork is installed in a home that has plaster walls, there are many opportunities for that tiny
crack to grow.
(cracked plaster)
Lose Attic Storage Space or Closet Space
Ductwork in an attic can take up space you would normally use to store holiday decorations, that tuxedo that does not fit, your wedding gown, and a sundry of other items you simply do not know where else to put. Take a look at a typical attic with ductwork. Ducts must traverse the attic in order to carry air (cooling or heating) to each room. It can not be pinched or smashed in any way, if you do have this problem you may want to consider an
Home Comfort & Safety, Energy Audit.
Ductwork in the Attic is Inefficient
Current studies conducted by utility companies, report the ductwork installed in attics reaches over 120 to 165 degrees increasing the cost of operating the system by 22%. Consider the Harrisburg region's dependence on air conditioning. We enjoy about 600 hours of air conditioning operation throughout a typical summer. At 600 hours, a typical high-efficiency unit will consume about $650 to operate. Imagine adding 22% to the operating costs! That is a whopping $145, if your ductwork is sealed tightly and insulated properly!
The Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) of an air conditioner is its BTU rating over its wattage. For example, if a 10,000-BTU air conditioner consumes 1,200 watts, its EER is 8.3 (10,000 BTU/1,200 watts).
In fact, looking at the “Manual J” produced by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, ductwork in the attic adds a considerable “load” to the system. Sometimes, the additional “load” is enough to increase the size of the system, costing homeowners hundreds of extra dollars to purchase, hundreds to maintain, and hundreds to replace when it wears out! It is an out of control spiral, not to mention the negative impact it has on our environment!
Repairing Air Conditioners
Window air conditioners are “carry-in” for service items, if the customer decides to service them at all. Many customers consider them a “throw-away” item. Imagine what that does for our environment! If it breaks, it will probably cost more to repair than actually replace.
If the unit is under warranty, simply “bring it back and we will give you another unit” is the typical response from the retailer. Hopefully, they will have one waiting and you will only experience the inconvenience and hassle for a
short time.
Why are Window Air Conditioners Noisy?
Window Air Conditioners achieve a noise rating of 90 dB to 120dB’s. The noise rating ranges from a slight roar to a level causing the average person to turn the volume of the TV up to a level making conversation during a show, a game or a program simply NOT possible. It becomes a shouting match!
The effects of noise on hearing may vary among different people. Some people's ears are more sensitive to loud sounds, especially at certain frequencies. The frequency of a sound determines how low or high a tone is. But any sound that is loud enough and lasts long enough can damage hearing and lead to hearing loss.
Listen To The Differences In Sound Waves:
 
Air Conditioner. sound - Ductless Unit. sound
You can really hear the difference, and the difference is
what can harm or help your ears.
Compare the Facts:
A sound's loudness is measured in decibels (dB). Normal conversation is about 60 dB, a window air conditioner is about 90 dB, and a loud rock concert is about 120 dB. In general, sounds above 85 are harmful, depending on how long and how often you are exposed to them and whether you wear hearing protection, such as earplugs or earmuffs.
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