I’ve got an old brick house with original windows, and while I love the character, the city sounds come right through some nights.
I’ve actually tried the magnetic window inserts in my 1920s place, and honestly, they surprised me. I wouldn’t call them a total game changer, but there was a definite drop in both drafts and noise—maybe 40% less street noise? The thing is, they’re only as good as your frame. If your window frames are warped or really out of square, you’ll still get some leakage around the edges. But for me, it was a big enough improvement that I didn’t regret the purchase.
About curtains: I layered heavy velvet curtains over the inserts in my bedroom. It definitely helped, but it’s more of a muffling effect than true soundproofing. The low rumbles from trucks got softer, but sharp noises (sirens, car horns) still made it through. If you like the blackout effect anyway, it’s worth it, but it won’t solve everything.
For sealing old windows, rope caulk has been my go-to. It’s cheap, easy to remove in spring, and fills those weird little gaps that weatherstripping misses. Not perfect, but every little bit helps.
If your window frames are warped or really out of square, you’ll still get some leakage around the edges.
That’s what worries me. My frames aren’t exactly pristine, so I’m skeptical about inserts making a big impact. Anyone tried actually replacing the sashes or doing a full reglaze instead of inserts? Seems like a hassle, but maybe more effective long term.
I’ve run into this a bunch—warped frames can be a real headache. Inserts are quick, but yeah, if the frames are out of whack, you’ll still get drafts and noise sneaking in around the edges. I’ve helped folks go the full route: sashes replaced or even a full reglaze. It’s more work up front, but honestly, it seals things up tighter and lasts longer. Reglazing’s not as scary as it seems if your frames are still structurally sound—just messy and time-consuming. If you’re already dealing with noise and leaks, might be worth biting the bullet instead of just masking the problem.
I get why folks go for the full reglaze, but honestly, isn’t that kind of overkill if you’re just dealing with noise and not major drafts? I tried soundproof curtains first—just hung them up, no tools needed—and it cut the street noise way down. Cheaper and a lot less messy than tearing into window frames. Maybe not a forever fix, but for me it made things way more livable while I figure out if I want to mess with the windows later. Anyone else start small before committing to a big project?
I’m with you—jumping straight to new windows felt like a huge leap for me, too. I started with those heavy curtains and a draft stopper at the bottom of the sash. It didn’t make things silent, but it took the edge off the worst of the traffic rumble. Honestly, I think a lot of people underestimate how much even small changes can help before you go all-in on something expensive and disruptive. Sometimes it’s just about buying time to decide what’s really worth it.
I get what you’re saying about small changes, but in my old apartment, those curtains and draft stoppers barely made a dent. Maybe my windows were just that bad? I finally caved and got new acoustic windows—pricey, but the difference was wild. Sometimes the big leap is worth it if you’re losing sleep.
I finally caved and got new acoustic windows—pricey, but the difference was wild. Sometimes the big leap is worth it if you’re losing sleep.
Totally get what you mean about the “big leap.” I’ve seen so many folks try every curtain and seal under the sun, but if your windows are old or single-pane, it’s kind of like putting a band-aid on a leaky pipe. Swapping to acoustic windows isn’t cheap up front, but man, the peace and quiet is a game changer. I’ve had clients who literally stopped hearing traffic and sirens overnight. Draft stoppers are fine for little gaps, but they won’t fix thin glass. Sometimes you just gotta go for it if city noise is wrecking your sleep.
Swapping to acoustic windows isn’t cheap up front, but man, the peace and quiet is a game changer.
That’s definitely been my experience too—once you get those laminated glass units in, it’s like flipping a switch. Curious if you noticed any difference with temperature control too? Sometimes folks overlook how much those old single-pane windows let heat and cold through. For some, that ends up being as big a deal as the noise.
Curious if you noticed any difference with temperature control too? Sometimes folks overlook how much those old single-pane windows let heat and cold through.
Yeah, I actually noticed the temp change more than I expected. After swapping out the old single panes for acoustic ones (laminated glass, heavier frames), the draftiness basically disappeared. In winter, the living room used to be freezing even with the heat running. Now it holds temp way better—my furnace cycles less, and you don’t get that cold “whoosh” when you walk by the windows.
One thing though: installation was a pain. Had to shave a bit off the trim, and those new frames are chunky. Worth it, but not exactly a weekend project unless you’ve got some experience.
Noise-wise, it’s night and day. But honestly, the energy savings and comfort surprised me just as much. Not cheap up front, but I’m seeing a difference in my utility bill already. If you’re on the fence because of cost, maybe factor in what you’ll save long-term... it helped me justify it.
Can’t argue with the comfort upgrade—same thing happened here after I swapped out the old windows. Did you notice less condensation too? That was a big plus for me. Agreed, though, installation is no joke... definitely not a quick fix.