Whenever I come home and stay with my mom I genuinely consider breaking her central heating and cooling system. I feel like it would save us a lot of interpersonal drama and bickering if I could just force her to replace the central heating and cooling equipment. It would probably also be more energy efficient, since her current furnace and air conditioner are at least 20 years old. The biggest problem I have with her indoor air temperature control devices, however, is how the house is so permeable to sound thanks to the air ducts. It doesn’t matter what room you’re currently in, because there are so many air vents installed throughout the home. Every air vent connects to the extensive air duct system, which is composed of thick metal sheets. Apparently these metal sheets are extremely conducive to transferring sound. Wherever I am in the house, I can always hear my mom watching the news or speaking to her friend through the air ducts. Even if the air conditioning system or furnace is running at full blast, I can clearly hear her through the air vents in every room. I’m sure that she feels the same way about me and my unwelcome echoing sounds that emanate through the ductwork. I truly wish that she could replace her exhausting central heating and cooling system. There would be some privacy in the house if I wasn’t so afraid of every air vent. Besides, if she installed some ductless air temperature control systems her electricity bills would decline, her air quality would be much better, and so would the quality of life.