Your home is supposed to be a haven from the rest of the world — a place where you can fully relax, feel like yourself and enjoy the peace of your space. That can be a little difficult to achieve, however, when your home is filled with noise pollution. Whether you live in a Northeast suburb or in the heart of the city, you likely have noise pollution that filters in from outside the home and that lingers once it is inside. From the clanging chimes of your kid’s favorite video game that they are playing in their room to the honking traffic from the nearby freeway, it can be aggravating to be constantly inundated with noise.
Fortunately, there are ways you can reduce the amount of noise pollution in your house and enjoy a more comfortable home. Here are a few tips to consider:
Add Insulation to Your Home
Most people think of insulation as a weather barrier. Cellulose insulation is often used to prevent warm or cold air from escaping the house, and to allow the homeowner to maintain their desired temperature without wasting excess energy. However, one benefit of added insulation that is not discussed as often is the fact that it can help soundproof the home. When cellulose insulation is installed, it is blown into the attic and into the interior and exterior walls of the home. Not only does this help prevent energy from escaping the home, but it also provides a sound barrier. Noise cannot travel as easily through these walls, which can make your home a more peaceful and private place.
Use Carpet, Rugs, and Drapes to Absorb Sound
The size and shape of the individual room can have an impact on how sound travels throughout it. In particular, Northeast homes that feature vaulted ceilings and open floor plans often have more sound pollution than smaller, more intimate houses. If you are finding that a room is too noisy, then you may want to consider redecorating. Adding plush carpet to a room that previously had wood floors will help reduce echoes and noise pollution. Drapes can help absorb the sound in the room as well. It’s important to consider the material of the drapes, as this can have an impact on controlling the sound. As an added benefit, heavy drapes can also keep the heat in the room and can reduce energy costs.
Fill in Cracks and Gaps Around Your Windows and Doors
Those who are looking for a way to enjoy a quieter home may find the solution in the smallest of spaces. Often times, small cracks and gaps around the windows and doors of a home are the gateway to excessive noise pollution. You may not even realize that those cracks are there, and you will be surprised by how quickly they can reduce the amount of noise in your home simply by filling them in with weather strips or caulk. Noise isn’t the only thing traveling through those cracks. Air also escapes through these gaps, which can reduce the comfort levels of the home significantly and also drive up energy costs. By filling in these seemingly insignificant gaps, you can enjoy many benefits.
Soundproofing is just one perk of adding insulation to your home. Most Northeast residents find that adding blown insulation to their homes also helps them to maintain their desired home temperature while simultaneously reducing their heating and cooling costs. For more information on the benefits of insulation and to schedule your home energy assessment, contact HomeWorks Energy today.
