Yeah, that’s been my experience too—foam strips just don’t hold up, especially once the wood starts expanding and contracting. I gave up on those after a couple winters. The acrylic panel setup has worked better for sound, but you’re right about condensation. I’ve definitely seen some fogging during cold snaps, mainly when the seal isn’t tight or if there’s even a small gap at the edges. The trapped air can’t circulate, so it gets humid fast with all the temperature swings.
To deal with it, I started using some thin silicone bead around the perimeter instead of relying just on tape or magnets. It’s a pain to remove in spring, but it’s made a difference for keeping the moisture out. I still get a little bit of condensation if the panel’s pressed right up against the glass, but leaving a small air gap (like half an inch) seems to help. Not a perfect solution, but better than nothing.
Noise-wise, the acrylic’s not as good as double-glazed glass, but it’s a lot cheaper and doesn’t require ripping out old windows. If you’re in a spot with heavy traffic outside, it knocks down the worst of the noise, but low-frequency sounds still sneak through. I’d say it’s worth it for the price, but yeah, watch out for those cold-weather issues.
I’ve also tried those “window inserts” that pop in and out—pretty much the same story. They’re easier to remove when it warms up, but sealing is always the weak point. If you’re in a really humid area or have single-pane originals, condensation’s probably going to show up no matter what unless you go full replacement.
Curious if anyone’s had luck with those acoustic curtains? I see them online but always wondered if they actually do anything besides block light.
Curious if anyone’s had luck with those acoustic curtains? I see them online but always wondered if they actually do anything besides block light.
Tried the acoustic curtains a couple years back—honestly, mixed results. They’re heavy, and they definitely block out a ton of light (which is fine if you don’t mind living in a cave half the time). As far as noise goes, I noticed a bit of a difference with higher-pitched stuff, like sirens or loud neighbors, but the rumble from buses and trucks still came through. It’s not a miracle fix, but paired with window inserts or panels, it’s a little better.
One thing I didn’t expect: they made the room feel colder, probably because they blocked the heat from the sun during winter. Not great for those old drafty windows. I guess if you’re desperate for some peace and don’t want to mess with installing anything permanent, they’re worth a shot. Just don’t expect them to work like actual soundproofing.
Funny enough, I found rolling up a thick towel and wedging it on the window sill helped as much as the curtains for blocking drafts and some sound. Not pretty, but hey, city life makes you creative.
- Tried a bunch of things over the years—here’s what actually made a dent for me:
- Double-pane windows: pricey upfront, but the drop in street noise was noticeable right away.
- Window inserts (like Indow): less commitment than replacing windows, and surprisingly effective for both drafts and sound. Not perfect, but a big improvement.
- Heavy curtains help with echoes inside but don’t do much for deep rumbling outside. Agree that they make rooms darker and colder in winter.
- Draft stoppers and towels help a bit, but it’s more about blocking airflow than serious noise.
- Honestly, window upgrades made the most difference in my old house. If you’re renting or can’t do major work, inserts are probably the best bang for your buck.
Funny, I actually found the heavy curtains made a bigger difference than I expected with outside noise—maybe it’s just my old plaster walls or the way my windows are set up? They do make the room feel cave-like in winter though, totally agree there. Window inserts were a pain for me to fit around weird trim, but I guess every house is its own little puzzle.
I gotta say, I’m not sold on heavy curtains as a real fix for street noise—at least in my place. Tried blackout ones and honestly, maybe a tiny difference? But I still heard trucks rumbling by. I ended up sealing the window gaps with weatherstripping and that helped way more. Maybe it’s just my drafty 1930s windows, but curtains felt more cosmetic than functional for sound. Anyone else notice that?
I get what you’re saying about curtains—mine looked great but didn’t do much for the noise either. That said, I did notice a bit more quiet when I doubled up with both heavy curtains and those cheap foam panels behind the blinds. Not pretty, but it took the edge off the late-night sirens. Weatherstripping made a bigger difference for me too, especially in my old windows that rattle if you sneeze near them. Maybe curtains are more of a “last 10%” thing?
That’s interesting about the foam panels—I’ve wondered if those cheap ones actually help. My place is old too, and the windows are definitely the weak point. Tried just curtains at first, but honestly, all they did was make the room darker. Weatherstripping sounds like it might be worth a shot, though. Did you just use the peel-and-stick kind, or something fancier? I’m kinda hoping for an easy fix...
Tried just curtains at first, but honestly, all they did was make the room darker.
- Had the same issue with heavy curtains—just ended up with a gloomy room and not much less noise. They’re better for blocking light than sound, at least in my experience.
- On weatherstripping, I went with the basic peel-and-stick foam type. Super easy to install, but honestly, didn’t notice a huge difference with city noise. It helped more with drafts than sound.
- One thing that worked better for me: those acrylic window inserts (like Indow or DIY plexiglass panels). Not cheap, but you can just pop them in during noisy seasons and take them out later. They made a bigger dent in the noise than any curtain or foam strip.
- If you’re looking for something quick/cheap, layering helps a bit—like using both weatherstripping and a second curtain rod with another set of curtains. Still, it’s more “less bad” than actually quiet.
- For anyone in an old building, the gaps around the window frame are often the real culprit. I had to use some caulk and even stuff some rope caulk in spots where the frame was warped.
- Foam panels are okay for echo inside the room, but they don’t do much for blocking street noise coming through windows. Tried them on a whim—looked weird and didn’t help much.
If you want an “easy fix,” peel-and-stick is about as simple as it gets, but don’t expect miracles. If the noise is really bugging you, might be worth saving up for inserts or even secondary glazing. Just my two cents from living above a bus stop for years...
I’ve tried most of these “quick fixes” over the years. Heavy curtains just made my place feel like a cave, and honestly, I could still hear every garbage truck at 5am. Weatherstripping helped with drafts, but didn’t do much for noise. The only thing that really made a difference was when I finally bit the bullet and put in those acrylic inserts. Not cheap, but at least I could get some sleep. Still not perfect—if someone’s revving their motorcycle outside, you’ll know—but it’s way better than just layering curtains and hoping for the best.
I hear you on the heavy curtains—had those up for a year and my living room felt like a dungeon. Honestly, the only thing that’s really helped in my old brownstone was swapping out the original single-pane windows for double-pane replacements. Not cheap, and took a couple weekends of chaos, but I finally got to sleep through the 6am bus route. Still, if the neighbor’s dog gets going, nothing short of moving seems to help... But at least I don’t feel like I’m living in a subway tunnel anymore.