- Upgrading to krypton-filled glass is great for insulation, but
—that’s a super common issue.the old wood frames just let in noise from outside anyway
- Frames from the 1950s usually lack modern weatherstripping and tight seals, so sound leaks right through.
- Did you notice any condensation changes or just less draft? Sometimes the thermal gain is obvious but acoustic improvement… not so much.
- Curious if anyone’s tried retrofitting the frames instead of full replacement? It’s a bit of a project, but can help with both noise and drafts.
Retrofitting the old wood frames was actually the route I took—mainly because I just couldn’t stomach ripping out all that original trim. Picked up some silicone weatherstripping and acoustic caulk, then spent a weekend sealing every gap I could find. It helped with drafts a lot more than noise, honestly. Still get a bit of street sound, but it’s less “windows rattling” and more muffled now. Anyone else notice if interior storm windows make a bigger dent in noise? I’ve read mixed things.
Tried the interior storms a while back—honestly, they’re better at killing drafts than noise in my place. Maybe it’s my ancient sash windows or just the thin glass, but I still hear the neighbor’s dog. On the plus side, no more howling wind through the gaps... small wins, right?
- Gotta admit, I went the krypton window route a couple years back, and the sound difference was way more noticeable than with storms. Not perfect—still get a bit of street noise—but my neighbor’s yappy chihuahua is finally less of a daily soundtrack.
- Drafts were never my main issue though, so maybe it just depends on what’s bugging you more: cold toes or barking dogs.
- Sash windows are notorious for being leaky and loud... mine rattled every time a truck went by. Krypton-filled double panes did quiet things down, but they weren’t exactly cheap. Still, I’d say the peace and quiet was worth skipping takeout for a few months.
- If your glass is super thin, even the best storms might not help much with noise. It’s like putting earmuffs on a skeleton—something’s missing in the middle.
- Honestly, if you’re mostly after draft control, storms are great bang for your buck. But for noise? Might be time to save up for better glass or at least some heavy drapes (bonus: they hide ugly windows).
- Side note: I tried those peel-and-stick weatherstrips before going big on new windows. Helped with drafts, did zilch for noise. Cheap fix if you’re desperate though.
Not saying krypton is magic or anything, but it did more for my sanity than storms ever did... at least now I can nap without feeling like I’m living in a kennel.
I’ve got to agree, the sound reduction with krypton was way more noticeable than any storm window I ever tried. We put them in about five years ago when the city repaved our street and suddenly every garbage truck sounded like it was coming through the living room. Still not exactly “library quiet,” but it’s a world of difference compared to the old single panes.
One thing I sometimes wonder: did anyone notice a difference in how their HVAC runs after switching? We saw a small drop in our winter heating bill, but not as dramatic as all the brochures suggested. Maybe because our house is 1920s brick and leaks air in a hundred other places... or maybe the real savings is just not losing my mind from endless sirens at 2am.
Curious if anyone’s tried pairing krypton windows with those heavy blackout curtains for an extra noise buffer. Worth it, or overkill?
We swapped out our old drafty windows for krypton-filled ones a couple years back—mainly because my partner was ready to lose it with the neighbor’s dog and the traffic noise. It’s definitely quieter, but like you said, not total silence. I’d call it “tolerable” instead of “peaceful.” Our house is from the 40s and honestly, I think half the noise just comes through the walls anyway.
About energy bills, yeah, I noticed a bit of a drop in winter but nothing crazy. I think unless your house is sealed up like a spaceship, those windows only do so much. We’ve got gaps around doors and probably a million other little leaks, so I’m not surprised.
I did try layering in blackout curtains (the thick, hotel-style ones). They actually help more than I expected—especially at night when things get loud. It’s not overkill if you’re sensitive to noise or light. The combo of new windows plus heavy curtains made our bedroom way more livable. Only downside is it makes the room super dark during the day unless you pull them all the way back, which can be kind of annoying sometimes.
If you’re already spending for good windows, adding curtains doesn’t feel like a waste to me. But if you’re hoping for total silence, that’s probably not happening unless you start adding insulation everywhere or build a bunker.
I hear you on the “tolerable” versus “peaceful” thing. We swapped our windows a while back—also in an older house—and yeah, it’s quieter, but I can still hear the neighbor mowing at 7am. What really surprised me was how much cold air kept sneaking in under the baseboards after the window upgrade. It’s like the windows just made me notice all the other leaks more. Heavy curtains are a lifesaver for both noise and drafts, but I do get annoyed at how cave-like the room gets during the day. Still, I’d do it again... just with lower expectations about turning my place into a soundproof bubble.
I kind of have to disagree about heavy curtains being the go-to fix. We tried those blackout ones in our living room after putting in new windows (ours are argon, not krypton, but same idea), and honestly, they just made the place feel like a vampire den. My partner started calling it “the bat cave.” Sure, there was less draft and noise, but I missed having any daylight at all. Ended up taking them down after a week because it felt like living in a bunker.
What worked better for us was tracking down all the weird little gaps—like, who knew baseboards could leak so much air? I got a cheap tube of caulk and some of that foam tape stuff and just went around the whole room. It was a pain, but after sealing everything up, the cold drafts basically stopped, and the noise dropped even more. I think the new windows just made me realize how many other places my house was leaking air (and sound). The windows helped, but it’s not magic.
I’m also not convinced the gas in the windows does as much as they claim. Maybe it helps with insulation, but if you’ve got old walls or floors, you’ll still feel it. Plus, that neighbor mowing at 7am... I swear nothing short of moving will fix that.
Anyway, I’d say skip the heavy curtains unless you’re into living in darkness. A bit of DIY sealing goes a long way and doesn’t mess with your sunlight.
Heavy curtains definitely aren’t for everyone. We tried them in our bedroom years ago—felt like we were prepping for a solar eclipse every night. Ended up using draft stoppers and some caulk like you mentioned, and it made a bigger difference than I expected. The windows help, sure, but if your walls are old (ours are from the 60s), you’re still gonna feel drafts. As for the neighbor with the mower… I just keep earplugs on standby.
Drafts are such a pain, especially in older places. You’re spot on about the walls being a factor—people always blame windows first, but leaky walls or even old outlets let in just as much cold air. Krypton-filled windows do help with insulation, but honestly, unless your house is already pretty airtight, you might not notice a huge difference for the price. I’ve swapped out plenty, and sometimes folks expect miracles... but it’s more about the whole setup than just the glass.