The rushing and honking of traffic, the grinding of construction, the scream of aircraft engines overhead: these sounds are some of the most annoying to listen to all day, especially if you have to hear them in your own home!

Your home should be a comfortable sanctuary with peace and quiet. But for many homeowners, the reverse is true, and noise pollution prevents them from enjoying their hobbies or getting a good night’s rest. In this guide, we’ll explore a few tips you can follow to reduce noise pollution at home and why they’re important.

What is noise pollution?

Noise pollution is unwanted and potentially harmful noise you might hear from inside or outside your home. When most people think about noise pollution, they think about irritating, frustrating, or stressful sounds like:

• Loud traffic noises, like honking or tires screeching on the street
• The sounds of construction, like drills or jackhammers running
• The noises of crowds, including loud conversations, shouts, and heavy foot traffic
• The sounds of aircraft in flight
• Vehicle sounds, like motorcycles, tractors, etc.
• Constant animal noises, like dogs barking

Noise pollution can be different for everyone. However, the negative consequences of noise pollution are often the same.

Negative effects of noise pollution

Loud, unwanted noises aren't harmless. In fact, there's some evidence to suggest that consistent noise pollution can lead to serious health side effects, including:

• Physical symptoms, like high blood pressure, heart disease, or headaches
• Psychological symptoms ranging from fatigue to anxiety
• Sleep issues, such as not being able to get a full night's rest
• Problems with memory and concentration (which might themselves be consequences of the other possible health problems)

It’s no stretch to say that noise pollution can have a measurably negative impact on your quality of life. If your home is next to a busy street, your neighbors are loud, or you are subjected to unwanted noise pollution from another source, it's a good idea to take steps to reduce that noise pollution ASAP.

How to decrease noise pollution

Good news – you can take noise pollution into your own hands and minimize its effect on your life even if you can't solve the problem externally (e.g., talking to a neighbor and asking them if they can keep their noise down after 10:00 PM).

Let’s take a look at some of the most effective ways to reduce noise pollution in your home.

1. Try noise-canceling devices

When loud noises are temporary, noise-canceling devices like headphones could be the perfect way to preserve your hearing and your sanity.

Noise-canceling headphones and similar devices don’t truly block everything; they actually emit contrasting audio waves that effectively cancel out common types of noise pollution, like loud conversations or the sounds of traffic. These devices might be great ways to reduce noise pollution if the loud noises currently plaguing your ears aren't likely to be around for much longer.

2. Install soundproof windows

However, you can take more permanent steps to eliminate noise pollution throughout your home by installing soundproof windows. Soundproof windows stop some of the most irritating sounds from getting into your home thanks to two design features:

• They’re properly sized so they fit right into the window slots of your home and don't leave gaps for air or noise.
• They are built using two or three panes of glass, which act as additional barriers sound has to get through before reaching a room inside your house.

Soundproof windows are excellent investments now and for the future. These highly insulated, energy-efficient windows can prevent you from having to listen to annoying noises all day long and may even lead to savings on your utility bill.

3. Soundproof home by hanging window curtains

Your window treatments can also have positive effects in terms of outside noise reduction, whether or not your windows are soundproof. Thick window curtains and blinds serve the same purpose as extra layers of glass: they further insulate your property and make it harder for sound waves to travel through.

With a set of new soundproof windows and stylish window curtains or drapes, you can upgrade your home with a top-notch home renovation and get rid of noise pollution at the same time!

4. Rely on indoor or outdoor plants

Plants are some of the best absorbers of ambient sounds in the environment. They can give you a little extra peace and quiet in your home, too – just place a few charming indoor plants near your windows or less insulated walls.

Alternatively, plant some larger bushes, shrubs, or trees outside. Admittedly, this noise reduction trick will take some time to bear fruit, but it'll be well worth it in terms of how much extra greenery can elevate the look of your front or backyard and how effectively those larger plants can block noises from the street or from pesky, insensitive neighbors.

5. Replace home insulation

Your home’s insulation plays a big role in how much noise gets into it from outside and how energy efficient your home is overall. If you've had issues with keeping your house warm or cool as well, it might be time to replace the insulation throughout your property.

Get in touch with knowledgeable contractors and ask about blown-in cellulose or fiberglass insulation. Either of these options can soundproof individual rooms in your property and maximize energy efficiency. Like soundproof windows, this home renovation option can potentially solve more than one problem at once.

6. Lay some carpets or area rugs

Hardwood floors look nice, but those hard surfaces reflect sound waves. If there's a particular room in your home that's vulnerable to noise pollution, like your kitchen or bathroom, try laying down a few thick rugs or area carpets to see if that improves things. Fabrics are much better at absorbing ambient noises, and just a few extra rugs can have a much better effect on unwanted noise than you may think.

7. Upgrade your doors to more soundproof options

Drafty windows can let in tiring or stressful sounds, but so can drafty doors. If your entry door is older or no longer perfectly fits in its frame, replacing it with a brand-new entry door is a smart idea – both for the cost of your monthly utilities and your ear health!

A new entry door can better insulate your home and boost its curb appeal. For the best results, pick a properly insulated fiberglass door, which will improve energy efficiency as well as look fantastic. If you prefer wooden doors, you can even find fiberglass entry doors with woodgrain finishes, enabling you to enjoy the durability and low maintenance of fiberglass with the visual value of wood.

Get soundproof windows installed today

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to decrease noise in your home. Soundproof windows are some of the fastest means to see (or rather, hear) results, especially if your home’s current windows are on the older side or a bit drafty.

Window World can help. Our experts can assist you in finding the perfect new windows for your home, then take care of installation to ensure your windows are set properly and sealed perfectly. To learn more, visit your local Window World today or request a quote to get started!