Yeah, rope caulk’s probably the most bang for your buck if you’re stuck with old windows. I’ve seen people swear by it for drafts too. But I do wonder—have you checked the sashes themselves? Sometimes the noise leaks right through thin glass, not just the gaps. Heavy curtains help a bit, but unless you’re doubling up or mounting them past the frame, it’s mostly for show. Acoustic windows are great, but that price tag is no joke... ever looked into interior storm windows as a middle ground? Not perfect, but sometimes cheaper than full replacements.
Interior storms are a decent compromise, I’ll give you that. Installed a bunch of those in older brownstones—folks were surprised how much quieter things got, even if it’s not perfect silence. Still, sometimes the real culprit is that single-pane glass like you said. Rope caulk helps with drafts, but city noise can just barrel right through the glass itself. Curtains look nice but unless you’re basically building a wall of fabric, don’t expect miracles. If you’re handy, making your own acrylic interior panels isn’t too hard and can save a bit compared to buying custom storms. Just don’t expect it to be as good as full window replacement... but your wallet will thank you.
Curtains look nice but unless you’re basically building a wall of fabric, don’t expect miracles.
That’s been my experience too. I bought “acoustic” curtains for the bedroom, and while they took the edge off, it’s nowhere near what swapping out the windows would do. I tried doubling up with thermal liners—helped a bit more, but honestly, it was the DIY acrylic panels that made the biggest difference. They’re not hard to make, just a little fiddly with the measurements. If you’re renting or just not ready for new windows, it’s a pretty solid stopgap. Just don’t expect total silence... but for street noise, it’s a noticeable improvement.
I totally get what you mean about curtains—mine look nice but honestly, I was surprised by how little they did for the actual noise. I went with those thick “blackout” ones that supposedly help with sound too, but it’s more like a muffled honk instead of a full-on blare now. Still woke up at 6am to garbage trucks.
I’ve heard about the acrylic panel trick but haven’t tried it yet. Did you just use those magnetic strips to hold them in place, or something else? I’m not super handy but if it’s just measuring and cutting, I might be able to pull it off.
We actually debated biting the bullet and getting new windows, but wow—quotes were way higher than I expected. Plus, our house is from the ‘50s so there’s always some “surprise” when we start a project. For now, we’re just layering up: heavy curtains, a draft stopper at the bottom, and the occasional white noise machine when things get really bad.
Curious if anyone’s tried those window inserts you can order online? They look promising but I’m skeptical about how much they’d actually block out. Or maybe there’s some other hack I haven’t heard of yet...
Tried those online window inserts last winter. Honestly, they helped a bit more than the curtains—less street chatter and the bus noise dropped down a notch—but it’s not like living in a soundproof bubble or anything. Install was pretty straightforward (just measuring and pushing them in, not rocket science), but they’re pricey for what you get. Still debating if it’s worth doing the rest of the windows or just dealing with earplugs on trash day.
I hear you on the inserts—tried them in my last apartment, and yeah, they made a dent but didn’t exactly turn my place into a library. I actually layered them with some thick curtains, hoping for a miracle, but the garbage trucks still found a way in... Maybe my old windows were just too far gone. The price is what stopped me from doing every window too. Earplugs are definitely cheaper, but not exactly comfy for long-term use.
I totally get where you’re coming from. I tried the whole curtain-plus-insert combo in my bedroom and, honestly, it helped a bit but didn’t come close to blocking out the early morning leaf blowers or the neighbor’s dog. My windows are old wood-frame single panes—charming, but basically useless when it comes to noise. I looked into getting full-on acoustic windows, but the quotes were wild. Like, more than I paid for my first car.
What finally worked for me (well, mostly) was biting the bullet and replacing just the noisiest room’s windows with double-pane. Not cheap, but made a huge difference—still not silent, but at least I don’t feel like I’m living next to a train station. Curtains help with echo and drafts more than actual street noise in my experience. Earplugs are okay for emergencies, but I’d never get used to them every night.
If your windows are ancient like mine were, might be worth saving up for at least one new one where it matters most. Not perfect, but it changed my mornings for sure.
- Totally agree with this:
Curtains help with echo and drafts more than actual street noise in my experience.
I’ve thrown every “soundproof” curtain at my living room windows—honestly, they’re just heavy drapes. They cut down a bit on reverb but the traffic still comes right through.
- Had the same sticker shock looking at acoustic window quotes. Not sure who’s paying those prices, but it’s not me.
- Swapped one old single-pane for a double-pane in the bedroom last year. Not magic, but yeah, mornings got way less brutal. Still hear sirens, but it’s muffled now instead of feeling like they’re in the room.
- If you’re handy and your window frames aren’t totally shot, there are some DIY acrylic insert kits that aren’t too expensive. They’re not miracle workers, but do take the edge off for a fraction of the price.
- Earplugs...tried ‘em for a week and woke up with sore ears every day. Not sustainable.
You’re right—upgrading just one or two windows where it matters most is probably the best bang for your buck if you can swing it. City noise is tough to beat entirely, but every little bit helps.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’ve seen folks overestimate what a single double-pane window can do. If the rest of the house is still single-pane or drafty, you’ll still get a lot of bleed-through. Sometimes it’s worth checking the seals and frames too—air gaps let in way more noise than people realize. I’d say, don’t write off the inserts just yet, especially for older homes.
That’s a good point about the seals and frames. I remember when I first moved into my place, I was convinced new windows were going to be a magic fix for the street noise. Turns out, after dropping a chunk of change on one double-pane window, the draft from the old frame made it feel like I’d barely done anything. Like you said:
Sometimes it’s worth checking the seals and frames too—air gaps let in way more noise than people realize.
Have you (or anyone else here) tried those magnetic window inserts? I’ve heard people rave about them, especially in older houses where replacing every window just isn’t practical. Curious if they really make a noticeable difference or if it’s more of a marginal improvement.
Also, for those who’ve gone the curtain route—did you notice much of a drop in noise, or did it just muffle things a bit? I’ve got an old brick house with original windows, and while I love the character, the city sounds come right through some nights. Wondering if layering heavy curtains over inserts would be overkill or actually help.
And does anyone have any tricks for improving the seal around really old windows without totally replacing them? I’m all for DIY fixes if they’re worth the effort.