I’ve actually had the opposite experience with those acrylic panels—mine seemed to trap more moisture than just leaving the windows bare, especially when it got really cold. Maybe it’s the way my old radiators blast heat right under the sills? I tried those moisture absorber tubs (the cheapo ones from the dollar store), and they helped a bit, but not totally. Honestly, I wonder if there’s any way around the condensation thing in these old buildings without just biting the bullet and getting proper double glazing, which my landlord would definitely veto.
Yeah, those acrylic panels are a double-edged sword. They do cut down on drafts and noise, but if you’ve got radiators pumping heat right under the window, you’re basically creating a mini greenhouse between the glass and the panel. Moisture’s gonna collect there, no way around it unless you get some serious airflow. I’ve tried cracking the panel at the bottom for a bit of ventilation, which helped with condensation, but then you lose some soundproofing. Honestly, unless your landlord is open to secondary glazing (there are removable magnetic ones that work decently), it’s always going to be a compromise in these old buildings.
I hear you on the condensation mess. Tried those magnetic secondary panels once—worked okay for noise, but the moisture buildup was a nightmare come winter. Honestly, unless you do proper double glazing (which costs a fortune), it’s always a tradeoff. City windows are just stubborn like that.
Tried those magnetic secondary panels once—worked okay for noise, but the moisture buildup was a nightmare come winter.
Funny, I had the exact opposite luck. The panels helped a bit with drafts, but I barely noticed a difference with noise—maybe my street’s just too loud? Condensation was definitely worse, though. Has anyone tried those thick blackout curtains for sound? I keep wondering if they’re worth the hassle, or just end up collecting dust.
Blackout curtains do help a bit, but honestly, they’re not a magic bullet for city noise. I tried the thickest ones I could find—helped with light and drafts, sure, but the sound still got through. Plus, they’re dust magnets if you’re not on top of cleaning. If noise is the main issue, I’d look at proper double glazing before curtains.
I hear you on blackout curtains not cutting it for noise. When I moved in, I thought thick curtains would do the trick—nope, still heard traffic like it was inside my living room. Ended up biting the bullet and getting double glazing installed last winter. Honestly, it made a way bigger difference than I expected, especially at night. Not cheap, but I figured it was an investment in my sanity. One thing I didn’t realize: the installation took longer than I thought, and there was a bit of dust everywhere after. Worth it, though.
Double glazing really does make a difference, doesn’t it? When I moved into my old brick place, I thought just swapping out the curtains would help too—no luck. I tried those “soundproof” window inserts before committing to full double glazing, and honestly, they did help a bit but not nearly as much. The energy savings surprised me more than the noise reduction, though. My heating bill dropped after the install, which was a nice bonus. The dust from installation was a pain (found it in places I didn’t even know existed), but I’d do it again for the quieter nights alone.
Not sure I’d call double glazing a silver bullet.
Same here—my bills dropped, but city traffic still creeps in. I actually found that sealing up gaps around the frames with acoustic caulk made more difference than I expected. Before going all-in on new windows, it’s worth checking for those sneaky drafts and loose sashes. Sometimes it’s the little fixes that add up, especially in older brick homes like ours.The energy savings surprised me more than the noise reduction, though.
Yeah, double glazing was hyped up way more than it delivered for me too. I swear, my neighbor’s Harley still sounds like it’s parked in my living room some days. Like you said, sealing the frames and sashes made a bigger dent in the noise than the actual glass swap. I even stuffed some foam tape in spots I didn’t think mattered…turns out, those tiny gaps are basically megaphones for street noise. Old houses really keep you on your toes.
those tiny gaps are basically megaphones for street noise.
Nailed it. Most folks think the glass is the main culprit, but honestly, air leaks around the frame let in way more sound than people realize. Double glazing helps some, but if you’ve got old, drafty sashes, even the fanciest glass won’t save you. I’ve seen folks spend big on new windows and still hear every dog bark like it’s inside. Sealing up those gaps is usually the real game changer.