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Most of us would like our home to be a place of peace, tranquility and relaxation. One obstacle to peace and tranquility at home can be the presence of unwanted noises. It is a fact that noise pollution can have a detrimental effect on your health, stress level, and quality of life. As experienced professionals who create outstanding home music and video systems, we have learned a lot over the years about how to provide the highest quality sound in your home. We also know how to reduce the noises in your home don't want to hear. Fortunately, with proper design and the use of appropriate construction materials, there are ways to significantly reduce the amount of unwanted noise in your home.
Here are some examples of common home noise pollution culprits and what can be done to alleviate the problem:
Plumbing and HVAC: These systems are often blamed for disturbing the peace at home. Most people would prefer not to hear the loud whoosh of an upstairs toilet being flushed, or the clunking of the heating or air conditioning system turning on and off. By using cast iron pipes, ensuring pipes are securely fastened to the walls, and/or wrapping the pipes in an acoustical insulation, the plumbing sounds can be greatly minimized. There are in-line silencers available from many manufacturers which can quiet things down in an HVAC system.
Walls, Floors & Ceilings: You are probably familiar with the expression, "the walls are paper thin." That is not a good thing. If your home includes a dedicated home theater, for example, it is especially important to take steps to control the sound in that room and keep it from bothering others in adjacent spaces. To lessen the noise that travels through walls, acoustic batt or foam insulation inserted in the space between the walls can make a huge difference. Also, using two layers of drywall that are glued together with a sound dampening adhesive can really help reduce the noise transfer between rooms. The sound of people clomping about on the floor above you is not particularly pleasant either. An effective method of constructing floors that won't create a racket for those in the room below is to use a flooring assembly consisting of two screwed together 3/4 inch plywood boards that have a sound dampening adhesive between them.
Windows: If you are bothered by noises coming from outside, the type of windows you have can make a big difference. Windows with two totally isolated panes that are lined with acoustic dampening materials can be an effective sound blocker. Thicker glass and more space between the panes reduces the noise transfer even further.
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