How to Minimize City Noise in Your Downtown Home
Noise pollution is a major concern in our society today. Noise is caused by a variety of factors, but the most common are traffic, construction, and street noise. A city’s urban environment can be much louder than a suburban neighborhood where you live in peace and quiet.
Generally, noise within our homes is not a problem since it’s within our control. We can reduce the racket by changing our behavior, like turning down the stereo, or by asking our family members to be a bit quieter. Unfortunately, there are other sources of noise that we can’t control. Traffic and construction noises are sometimes unavoidable and can be louder than our own daily noise inside. Here’s how to make your downtown home quieter.
Traffic Noise
Cities have a lot of traffic noise. It can feel nearly impossible to sleep, work, or relax when you’re constantly surrounded by traffic. If you live in a traffic-filled area, this is likely to be a long-term situation. In cases like this, you may want to look for more long-term solutions like soundproofing on the exterior walls, thick, insulating curtains, or soundproof windows.
Construction Noise
Construction noise can really get on people’s nerves if they live near one or more construction sites. Most of the sounds are drilling, hammering, and sawing. Those jarring sounds can even cause serious health problems. Fortunately, construction is usually temporary, so temporary solutions will be sufficient. Look into utilizing earplugs, noise canceling headphones, or white noise machines to drown out the sound.
How to Reduce Street Noise
There are many cities around the world where continual noise pollution is a problem. Whether the noise comes from traffic, businesses, construction, or your neighbors, noise can quickly become bothersome. Several studies have shown that it has adverse effects on the health of city dwellers, including sleep disturbances, high blood pressure, and even heart disease.
You can reduce street noise with sound barriers that block or reflect sound waves from traffic or other sources. It’s advisable to invest in soundproof window installation services as a foolproof solution. This is especially advisable if you live with infants, children, or pets that may be disturbed by the noise.
Conclusion
People and animals are affected by noise pollution. It can cause hearing loss, stress, and other health problems. Noise pollution can come from traffic, construction, airplanes, or even a loud neighbor. Nowadays, it’s nearly impossible to avoid noise pollution altogether, but you can reduce it by using some practical strategies.