Airplane noise tends to be a huge problem for a lot of people, especially if you’re living near the flight path. This type of noise has proven to be linked to a series of health issues, including hearing impairment, sleep problems and heart disease.
In order to prevent these problems from affecting your health, you’ll need to find a solution to the noise problem. Luckily, there a few things you can do today to block unwanted airplane noise from entering your home.
Continue reading, and I’ll show you exactly how to soundproof your house from aircraft noise.
How to Soundproof a House From Airplane Noise
1. Insulate the Windows
The very first thing I recommend doing is soundproofing the windows, as these are one of the biggest culprits when it comes to unwanted noise. Soundproofing your windows will help reduce the noise level significantly, which will give you a quieter home.
There are lots of different ways to do this, but the method you choose will depend on your budget and expertise.
If you aren’t a handy person, or you don’t want to spend a large amount of money on soundproofing, then you should consider these simple methods below:
Use a Sound-Blocking Curtain
If you’re on a budget and looking for one of the cheapest yet most effective methods, I suggest that you get yourself some soundproof curtains (also known as noise reduction curtains). These curtains are made from materials with sound-absorbing properties. Not only do they have the ability to cancel out sounds coming from outdoors, but they can also help reduce echo from the sounds within your own home.
These curtains are usually a lot thicker and denser than the regular ones, but fortunately, they look just as attractive. If you’re looking to buy these acoustic curtains, I recommend the NICETOWN Thermal Insulated Blackout Curtains (click here to check out the current price online). These are my personal favorites!
Get Soundproof Blankets
If you don’t want to use a curtain, you can simply try using a soundproof blanket. These blankets are great at reducing the level of noise coming through the windows. Most soundproof blankets are made of fiberglass or polyester material, which is what makes them great at absorbing and deflecting sound while providing a sort of insulation at the same time.
Seal All Gaps and Cracks Around Windows
Another effective way to get rid of unwanted noise is to seal all the gaps and cracks around the windows. By doing so, you’ll significantly reduce the amount of external noise that enters the house.
The best way to close off all the gaps is to use weatherstripping tape. This tape can be bought in a lot of different forms, and it can be made out of many different materials. Some of these materials include foam, rubber, silicone and more.
All you’ll need to do is measure and seal the gaps with the tape. It’ll take you about 25 minutes (or less) to cover an entire window.
Make Window Plugs
You can make your own window plugs, but I must say that doing this will take a lot of time. What you’ll basically do is create a noise-reducing window insert that you can easily remove whenever you want to.
These plugs are a great solution as they’ll save you from messing with the construction of your window. Plus, they’re affordable, and you may be surprised at how well they’ll block sound.
2. Soundproof the Doors
The only reason I suggest that you soundproof your windows first, instead of your doors, is because there are likely more windows in your home than doors. Therefore, soundproofing all the windows should be your first priority.
Seal All the Gaps
As with the windows, you can also use weatherstripping to seal each door’s gaps. This will also allow you to save some money, because you can use the same weatherstripping tape for both the windows and doors.
What I really like about weatherstripping tape is the fact that it’s affordable and the pieces are long enough to get the job done.
Use a Soundproof Blanket to Block Noise
Yes, you can use a soundproof blanket to soundproof your doors as well. As I’ve mentioned earlier, these blankets are made of fiberglass, a material that’s known as a good sound absorber.
These blankets are pretty easy to install, as all you’ll have to do is hang them from hooks on the back of the door. They’re a good option since you can easily put them up and take them down whenever you choose to.
Purchase a Soundproof Door
Most doors used in homes are hollow these days, so if you don’t mind spending some extra money, I recommend that you purchase a soundproof door. Buying a new solid door may be the most expensive solution so far, but if you decided to go this route, you’ll surely notice the difference.
3. Soundproof the Ceiling
Well, this isn’t something that you see very often, but I definitely recommend that you check out your ceiling, as you may have heard some of the aircraft noise coming through there. The only problem is that soundproofing your ceiling can be a bit challenging.
Add Drywall by Using Green Glue
This is the most effective method when it comes to soundproofing your roof. All you’ll need to do is add a layer of drywall by using green glue sealant. A layer of green glue between the double layers of drywall will have the ability to stop airborne sound effectively. It also has the capability to reduce noise on impact.
This is considered the best way to sound-dampen your ceiling (check out the current price of green glue).
Use Acoustic Foam Panels
Another thing I suggest doing is attaching foam panels to the ceiling. These are extremely affordable and easy to install.
4. Soundproof the Walls
If you’re one of the lucky ones, then your walls may already be built with soundproofing layers. If not, you can follow these steps to combat unwanted noise.
Use a Blanket and Foam Panels
You can use a thick blanket and foam panels to help block the noise coming through your walls as well. Using a blanket may not be attractive, but I can guarantee that it’ll help reduce the amount of external noise coming through the walls. All you’ll need to do is cover each wall in its entirety.
Add Bass Traps
Bass traps are usually used to reduce bass noise, and one thing you should know by now is that an aircraft produces a lot of that. It’s the reason you normally feel vibrations when an aircraft passes by! Bass traps are great at combating this noise, and all you’ll have to do is add them to each corner of each of your walls.
5. Put in a White Noise Machine
You can use a white noise machine to mask airplane sounds while the planes pass by. Instead of listening to the disturbing noise coming from an aircraft, you can simply set your machine to play a more soothing and relaxing sound. This will help keep your mind at ease.
Conclusion
If you take the time to follow all these methods carefully, you should be able to soundproof your home from all those annoying airplane noises. You don’t have to do everything at once, but I can assure you that the more steps you take, the more external noise you’ll be able to combat.
If you liked what you read, then you may want to check out my other articles on the site. If you have any questions, feel free to let us know by leaving a comment down below!
Here is another article you might like: How to Soundproof a House For a Party.
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