Each feature of the home brings unique value with its presence, although only the most prominent role they play is visible to the eye. For example, equip your bathroom with a beautiful sink that matches your decor. The sink, combined with the right faucet, gives your washroom area a charming look. In addition, their ease of use makes your experience even happier. While these are some obvious or apparent traits, imagine a situation where the faucet starts leaking. Wouldn’t that ruin your peace of mind? Of course, it wouldn’t be too much of a challenge if you could afford such small changes. Still, the plink-plink sound caused by the drops falling from the faucet will steal your peace every time you visit your bathroom. Water wastage is another angle.
What do you do to avoid such a situation in the future? You’ll want to look for a leak-free model when shopping for bathroom faucets. Thus, other things in your home can be fixed. You just need to find a suitable solution. Think about your windows, for example. Two common challenges that many homeowners face with windows include sound ingress and drafts. Let’s investigate the cause of these problems and ways to manage them.
Noise Infiltration Through Windows!
One of the main reasons may be the choice of windows. Single-glazed windows do not offer as much sound insulation as double-glazed windows. If the noise problem persists even after installing double pane windows, you should be suspicious of the quality of your product. Surprisingly, a high-end single-pane version can outperform low-quality double-glazed windows in making your home less noisy. You can solve your problem by selecting the right thickness for your glass. It will absorb and block sounds. Sometimes improper installation can also affect the ability of windows to prevent sound from entering through the window, glass, etc.
Poor installation is often due to measurement issues that result in gaps between the window and the panes. Please hire a trusted professional company for jobs like this to avoid installation mistakes. Experts add that the material surrounding the windows may also be a culprit. Metal, glass and wood are some standard options. Wood and vinyl make your windows sound better than glass and metal. Metal should be the least preferred if you want to reduce noise in your home. And if you use wood, it will require care. Aside from these, you can also blame poor window performance on foam insulation or caulking.
Easy solutions to solve the noise problem
Some homeowners want to spend less on their windows even though they face the problem, but they also want to get rid of it. They can install soundproof curtains on the windows. It will be affordable and easy to do. Others may replace regular caulks or seals with acoustical sealants to block sound entering the home through small cracks. You can also try spray foam for a quick fix. The foam will dry and harden quickly to seal gaps and block outside sound. Or, you can opt for acrylic materials over glass windows for the interior of the window. It will prevent the sound from bouncing off the surface. In addition, it can significantly reduce noise.
If the noise problem is severe, you can replace double-glazed windows with triple-glazed windows to make the glass surface 50% more energy efficient. But triple panels alone cannot work in mitigating noise transmission. They may need laminated glass to do the job. All of this will make this installation run almost 20% more expensive. The cost of installing a double-glazed window can be anywhere from $350 to $500. With triple panels, the price will be much higher.
The problem of draft windows and easy solutions
Air escaping through the window causes uncomfortable room temperatures and expensive utility bills. How do you detect this problem? Hold a piece of paper near the window frame to check for flutter. Fluttering indicates a leak problem. Once confirmed, you can examine the windows for loose joints, cracked glass, warping, damaged weatherstrips, faulty hardware, etc. Also, check if you can close the windows properly. Any of these issues can cause drafts in your windows.
There are many things you can do to improve your windows. Use new caulk around the trim, frame, and other appropriate parts. Choose a non-toxic compound – something like latex putty may be best. Before applying caulk, clean all dirt and debris from the windows. You may also need to remove window trim to seal the area between the frame and the wall. Also replace the trim. If everything is fine except the weatherstrip, you can substitute this inexpensive material.
Weatherstrip is usually foam material. You can get it at your local hardware store.
In this case, you can also rely on curtains, cellular shades and draft snakes to prevent drafts from entering the home. Cellular curtains can let in some light, while layered curtains block drafts to keep in warmth. Some homeowners use storm windows indoors during the cold months as an extra layer of insulation. The layer is attached to the window frame to check for air leaks. If the problem persists after doing everything, you can call an auditor to assess your home’s energy levels. The energy auditor will investigate different nooks and crannies to determine the points that favor the entry of air into your space and recommend precise solutions.
Home ownership is a 24×7 duty, but that only benefits you. In a rented place, you don’t have the freedom and it doesn’t make sense to spend money on things that don’t belong to you. Once you move to a different place, you leave them behind. You can make minor and urgent changes depending on the situation. However, fixing up your home allows you to make it a better place to live with peace of mind. You will be able to enjoy all the comforts without worrying that one day you will have to leave this place.
Home is your sanctuary, and you own every part of it. But he can be calm when you ensure his well-being. Fixing things from time to time can be a part of it. If you take care of this, you and your household can enjoy each other’s company for many years without strain.