Air Conditioner 'Cut Out' - Is the rest of it all worth it?

[ENIGMACODE]

Hello Hello ??

I got some GREAT advice here last month from Rod Gervais in regard to proper wall construction and keeping NEW Walls from direct contact with the existing structure to help isolate sound ....

And I think I put it all to good use as illustrated here with my improved Gasket Design:
http://home.ucwphilly.rr.com/livesound/stuff/combo-gas-2.jpg

I have another question in regard to allowing a 'Cut Out' for a conventional 'Thru the Wall' Air Conditioner.

First let it be known that this room is simply an all-purpose 'HOBBY Rehearsal Room' There is ABSOLUTELY NO money or space for a Ducted Air System..

NO MONEY - NO SPACE

Ok - with that said I'd like to pass on a quote that I saw here from 'Blue Bear Sound' - "Basically, if a room isn't waterproof, it's not soundproof"

My intention was to build sturdy 'Foam Gasketed Trap Doors' (for both the inside and the outside), to fully ENCOMPASS the Air Condtioner that unfortunately has to pass thru the wall ....
http://home.ucwphilly.rr.com/livesound/stuff/ac-2.jpg

WILL THESE DOORS BE TOTALLY WATERPROOF?

No - I think a 'little' leakage isn't too bad?

BUT - The MAJOR question is:
Will all my OTHER efforts to construct this FREE Floating Room be WORTH IT as a result of having to cut thru the exterior wall for the Air Conditioner??

Will this Air Conditioner Cut Out - TOTALLY cancel out my other efforts to
SEAL this room?

Thank You ....
Best Regards
Michael Fraticelli
rocknroll@ucwphilly.rr.com

 

[Innovations]

I am trying to envision what you are speaking of. Are you saying that you will turn off the AC and close the doors while you are recording? That means that if you have some longer sessions you will be sweltering. After all in addition to being 'watertight' your room is extremely well insulated!

You say you have 'no space' for a ducted system yet your picture says that you have 2 walls 14 inches apart. That sounds like space to me. So use the space as a plenum. Mount the AC into the outside wall (definitly use the gasket to prevent structure-borne vibrations). Then pump air into the sealed space between the walls and then direct it through several turns past sound-absorbing materials before entering the room much quieter. A few panels of JM rigid rock wool can build the sound-deadening 'duct' to bring the cold air into the room.

But that only takes you half way.

Most homes can put an in-window air conditioner and not have to worry about exhaust because space around doors, windows, vents, etc, give the air plenty of chances to escape. But your studio is trying to be watertight, remember? There is no way for air to get out. So your window AC unit might pressurize the room to a few psi but not actually move any air! Even worse once the room is pressurized the air might find a tiny crack in your door or other seal and make a high pitched whistle ! So you need not one but TWO holes in your watertight room, the second to let air out! The same principles apply for the second hole. Make it turn multiple times and line it with sound absorbent material. Make use of convection and take your hot air out near or through the ceiling.

 

[ENIGMACODE]

Innovations - Thanx for the quick response

Innovations you mentioned:
"Are you saying that you will turn off the AC and close the doors while you are recording? That means that if you have some longer sessions you will be sweltering. After all in addition to being 'watertight' your room is extremely well insulated!"

Yes precisely - Again let me say that this whole dilemma is not really a BIG problem - Recording Sessions?
Possibly - But again this whole project is strictly for FUN....
Am I prepared to turn the unit OFF after the room cools? Sure WHY NOT?
Will I occasionally leave the unit running on those real hot days with those homemade trap doors open? Sure WHY NOT?
(As long as sound doesn't get out of control)

Innovations you mentioned:
"pump air into the sealed space between the walls and then direct it through several turns past sound-absorbing materials before entering the room much quieter"

I've read about this design in regard to conventional thru the wall AC units ...
BUT - Don't forget, 'conventional thru the wall AC units' were NOT designed to have it's air pumped thru any obstructions like duct work etc... I fear that this will greatly impede the unit's capacity to cool as it was designed for ...

Soooo - let me ask you again:
My intention was to build sturdy 'Foam Gasketed Trap Doors' (for both the inside and the outside), to fully ENCOMPASS the Air Conditioner Housing passing thru both inner and outer walls ....
http://home.ucwphilly.rr.com/livesound/stuff/ac-2.jpg

I think a 'little' leakage isn't too bad?

Sooo the MAJOR question is:
Will all my 'OTHER' efforts to construct this FREE Floating Room be WORTH IT as a result of having to cut thru the exterior wall for the Air Conditioner EVEN if I build sturdy 'Foam Gasketed Trap Doors' (for both the inside and the outside), to fully ENCOMPASS the Air Conditioner Housing passing thru both inner and outer walls ....

Thank You ....
Best Regards
Michael Fraticelli
rocknroll@ucwphilly.rr.com

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

This IS the motha of homestudio design and construction delimas. Everyone who PLANS to build a studio faces this sooner or later. Design is easy, floating floors, double walls, doors, insulation, treatment....all are cheap compared to the investment for a correct HVAC system alone, which usually stops people from achieving a properly isolated space. Compromise is the usual route, via opening and shutting doors, in-wall air conditioning, windows etc. I know, I've been there. Still am. I refused to waste time and money building a half assed studio. If I can't build it correctly, then treatment is the only option. Oh well. I can't afford a new car either, so what else is new I know one thing for sure....trying to record in a sealed space with no air conditioning SUCKS. Been there done that. So for me, its either the whole ball of wax, or nothing. I think it becomes a realization that sets ones prioritys in place. It did for me. Anyway, thats my .02.
fitZ

 

[ENIGMACODE]

Hey Rick Wassup?

Ok guys.....

Thanx so much for your input....

BUT I beg of you to please comment here:
Again let me say that this whole dilemma is not really a BIG problem - Recording Sessions? Possibly - But again this whole project is strictly for FUN.... Am I prepared to turn the unit OFF after the room cools? Sure WHY NOT? Will I occasionally leave the unit running on those real hot days with those homemade trap doors open? Sure WHY NOT?
(As long as sound doesn't get out of control)

Sooo the MAJOR question is:
Will all my 'OTHER' efforts to construct this FREE Floating Room be WORTH IT as a result of having to cut thru the exterior wall for the Air Conditioner EVEN if I build sturdy 'Foam Gasketed Trap Doors' (for both the inside and the outside), to fully ENCOMPASS the Air Conditioner Housing passing thru both inner and outer walls ....

Rick - you stated:
"So for me, its either the whole ball of wax, or nothing. I think it becomes a realization that sets ones prioritys in place. It did for me."

WHEN I RETIRE IN 3 YEARS MY NEXT STUDIO WILL BE THE REAL THING .....

Thank You ....
Best Regards
Michael Fraticelli
rocknroll@ucwphilly.rr.com