Curtains are nice for blocking out some sound, but honestly, once I swapped to double-pane sashes, the difference was night and day. Still get a bit of street rumble, but at least I can sleep through it now.
That lines up with what I've found too. Heavy curtains do *something*, but not nearly enough if you're right on a busy street. I tried those so-called “soundproof” curtains last winter—advertised as blocking up to 80% of noise. Maybe if your noise is just light traffic or a barking dog down the block... but I still heard every bus and motorcycle going by. They’re good for drafts and keeping the room darker, but not a real solution for city noise.
When I finally took apart my old sashes, there were gaps everywhere—some big enough to see daylight through. Even after adding new weatherstripping, it barely helped. Like you said, it’s all about layers. I ended up using low-expansion foam behind the trim, then re-caulking everything. That got rid of some whistling, but the real improvement came after biting the bullet on double-pane replacements.
If anyone’s considering new windows, I’d suggest looking into laminated glass or even triple-glazed units if you can swing it. The cost is up there (mine were about $700 per window installed), but it’s a night-and-day difference for both noise and drafts. Still, don’t expect total silence—low-frequency stuff like trucks or garbage collection still sneaks in. But at least it’s more like a dull hum instead of feeling like you’re sleeping on the sidewalk.
I’m a bit skeptical of any single “fix” for this kind of problem. It’s always a combination—seal up the gaps, insulate where you can, and upgrade the glass if you’re really desperate. Curtains are fine for what they are, but they’re not magic. I’ll take properly installed windows over thick drapes any day.
I get where you're coming from about windows, but I think curtains and window upgrades both have their place, especially if you’re on a budget. Not everyone can swing $700 a window, and honestly, layering up with thick curtains plus sealing every crack gave me a noticeable drop in noise and way less heat loss last winter. Sure, it's not perfect—trucks still rumble by—but my energy bills dropped too. Sometimes the “good enough” combo works if you can’t go all-in on new glass right away.
That’s a really solid point about curtains and sealing up cracks. I’ve seen a lot of folks get hung up on the idea that only new windows will help, but honestly, not everyone’s got the budget for that kind of upgrade. Heavy curtains made a big difference in my old apartment—didn’t block out every honk or siren, but it definitely dulled the worst of it. Have you tried any of those window inserts? They’re like a cheaper, removable second pane. Curious if anyone’s had luck with those, since I’m still dealing with some street noise myself.
Have you tried any of those window inserts?
I totally get where you’re coming from. Heavy curtains helped me too, but like you said, they don’t kill all the noise. I tried those window inserts last winter—honestly, way better than I expected for the price. Not total silence, but it took the edge off traffic sounds and was a breeze to pop in and out. Definitely worth a shot if new windows aren’t in the cards right now.
Not total silence, but it took the edge off traffic sounds and was a breeze to pop in and out.
I had similar results with inserts. They’re not a miracle fix, but they do reduce decibel levels noticeably—especially for mid-frequency noise like cars. I measured about a 7-10 dB drop using a basic meter. Still, if your windows are old or drafty, you’ll get even more benefit just by sealing gaps with weatherstripping first. Inserts work best if the frames are in decent shape.
Yeah, I’ve noticed inserts help, but honestly, if your window frames are warped or have gaps, you’re still gonna hear a lot. We had old single-pane windows and sealing every little crack with foam tape made a bigger difference than the fancy curtains I tried before. Anyone actually swapped out their windows for acoustic ones? Wondering if the cost is really worth it compared to just beefing up what’s already there...
sealing every little crack with foam tape made a bigger difference than the fancy curtains I tried before
Funny, I actually had the opposite experience in my old rowhouse. I did the foam tape thing too—definitely helped, but it only got me so far. Ended up biting the bullet and putting in double-glazed acoustic windows in our bedroom. It was a chunk of change, but honestly, it knocked the street noise down way more than any DIY fix I tried. If your frames are really shot though, I get why you’d hesitate. For me, curtains and tape were like putting a band-aid on a leaky boat... worked until rush hour hit.
I get what you’re saying about the foam tape being more of a temporary fix. I did something similar in my 1960s split-level—taped every seam, swapped out the weatherstripping, even caulked around the frames. It definitely cut down on drafts, but the noise from the street still bled through, especially when trucks rumbled by. I tried those thick “soundproof” curtains, too, but honestly, they just made the room darker and heavier without making a huge dent in the noise. Maybe it depends on the window construction or how old your frames are?
Upgrading to double-glazed acoustic windows sounds like a dream, but the price tag has always made me hesitate. I got a quote once for our living room bay window and nearly fell over. Did you notice any difference in how the room felt temperature-wise after the install, or was it mostly just noise reduction? I’ve heard some people say their heating bills dropped, but I’m not sure if that’s just wishful thinking.
One thing I haven’t tried is those acrylic magnetic window inserts—supposedly they help with both sound and insulation, and you don’t have to rip out your old sashes. Anyone had any luck with those? I’m not ready to tear out all my windows, but if there’s a solid middle ground, I’d love to hear about it.
I tried those thick “soundproof” curtains, too, but honestly, they just made the room darker and heavier without making a huge dent in the noise.
Yeah, I had the same experience with the curtains—felt like living in a cave, and still heard every garbage truck at 6am. I’ve looked into those acrylic inserts too. My neighbor swears by them for winter drafts, but he said they only helped a little with noise. Anyone else notice if they fog up or come loose over time? The idea of not messing with my old wood frames is tempting, but I wonder about the long-term hassle.
Tried the acrylic inserts about five years back—mostly for drafts, but I was hoping for some peace and quiet too. They did help a bit with street noise, but honestly, not a huge difference. Didn’t have fogging issues, but I did notice they started to loosen up after a couple of seasons, especially when we’d open the windows a lot in spring. For old wood frames, they’re a pretty low-commitment fix, but I wouldn’t call them a miracle. Still better than those heavy curtains, at least for me.