In today’s youtube and podcasting world, there are more people than ever creating media content from home. This is thanks to the decrease in the price of sound and recording equipment; And also the vast numbers of people that can access your content from the internet. That’s why in this article we’re going to show you an effective, low-cost way on how to make DIY sound absorption panels.
This article was made possible by a video on Youtube from DIY Perks. They showed me the step by step way to build my very own DIY sound absorption panels! The full video can be viewed at the end of the article.
The reason why people want to install sound absorption panels or foam on walls is usually that of poor room acoustics when recording audio. The access noise is caused by sound waves bouncing off the walls resulting in poor audio quality.
Some recommendations for combating lousy sound acoustics are sound absorption panels; but they can be expensive, especially if you have a large room needing many panels. There are a few ways that you can make sound absorption panels.
First Material Needed To Make A Sound Absorbing Panel
Material Needed To Make A Sound Absorbing Panel.
The first thing you will need is bath towels. Towels were the clear winner after testing a few different materials to see what would be best and most cost-effective for sound absorption.
You can probably find a bunch of full-size bath towels at your local charity shop or thrift store. They might look a bit worn, but they should perform fine. And the best thing about getting them from a thrift store is you can get a bunch for little money. Alternatively, you could always ask your friends to see if they have any towels that are worn out and ready for the trash bin.
DIY Sound reduction panel frame construction
DIY Sound reduction panel frame construction.
Now it’s time to construct the frame for the sound reduction panels. To do this, you should use a long piece of wood and cut it down into shorter pieces. The measurements of your wood frame will determine how big your panels will be. So make sure you know how big the panels have to be to accommodate the room where they will reside.
As the wood frame doesn’t need to be particularly strong, you can just screw the corner together without any special joints. You should first use a bit of wood glue on one side and then drill two holes for the screws, countersinking them afterward. You can use two wood screw to attach them.
Once this is done for all four corners, you should have a relatively sturdy frame, which is now ready for the towels.
Time to Add the Towels to your DIY Noise Reduction Panel
Add Towels to your DIY Noise Reduction Panel.
Now it is time to add the towels to your DIY noise reduction panel. When I built my panels, I wanted them to be white, so they blend into the wall. I used white towels for the outside of the frame.
First, the outside white towel needs a bit of ironing to get out any creases. Ironing out the wrinkles is only necessary for the first one as it is the only towel that will be visible. You don’t need to iron it out if you do not want to; because it is only for aesthetics and does nothing regarding sound reduction.
The towel can then be stretched around the perimeter of the frame and stapled in place. Once the first towel has been stapled on, you should have a frame that closely resembles a painting canvas.
More and More Layers of Towels For Increased Sound Absorption
More and More Layers of Towels For Increased Sound Absorption.
After you have your canvas like noise absorbing panel, you will need to add the rest of the towel layers so that it can absorb more sound.
To do that, you will need to place the other towels into the frame and cut them down to size. Six of these layers should provide more than enough sound absorption for desired results. These can then be placed in the middle of an uncut towel, stacked one on top of the other.
Now it is time to show off your sowing capabilities and sow all the towels together. Or maybe you can use this small DIY project to give grandma a visit and have her sow it for you! You have to sow all around the outside and also at various points in the middle so that they don’t later sag.
The towels should now be fixed together nicely and be placed back into the frame. Stretch the last back towel and staple it in place around the back edge of the frame. The last thing to do is to cut off the excess loose towel around the back of the sound reduction panel.
Time to Hang the Sound Absorption Panels Onto the Wall
Hanging Sound Absorption Panels Onto the Wall.
Now that your DIY sound absorption panels are complete, it is time to hang them on the wall. You can hang them up like you would hang a picture frame.
Building enough of these types of sound absorbing panels can make an incredible difference to the acoustics of a room. After installing three panels onto a studio wall, it caused quite a striking contrast. Take a listen to the video below from DIY perks and hear for yourself the difference these panels made for him! It has the same results for me, and I am sure it will have the same effects for you!
I also find them quite unobtrusive in a home environment as well, thanks to their light color. It is worth keeping in mind that you can customize them further by ordering a print on fabric and using that as the front layer instead of an old towel. It would give you a picture frame as well as a sound absorption panel.
How does DIY Sound Absorption Panels Compare to Proper Acoustic Foam?
I am sure you are wondering how your DIY sound absorption panels compare to proper acoustic foam. Well, I ordered some midrange quality acoustic foam to find out how they would compare. My test indicated that the one I built myself works better at absorbing noise than the one I purchased in store.
Conclusion
I hope you have as much fun as I did making your very own acoustic panels! Please let us all know in the comment section below if you were successful in building your DIY noise absorption panels and what you think of them! It would also be awesome if you could send us a picture of the one you made through our contact page.
Do you have a generator or an air compressor that makes a lot of noise? Do you want to silence those appliances as much as possible? In this article, we will show you how to soundproof a generator or compressor by building a sound reduction quiet box. We made our sound reduction quiet box for a Champion 9500 Watt portable generator.
Like most generators, aside from inverter generators, of course, they can become very loud. After building a quiet box, the noise level stands lower than the expensive Honda Inverter generators.
You can also use this quiet box to silence an air compressor because the sound reduction techniques are the same.
Building one of these generator sound reduction quiet box is more straightforward than most youtube video tutorial would lead you to believe. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of great youtube videos regarding DIY quiet boxes; But it doesn’t have to be that complicated.
7 Essential Criteria When Designing the Generator Quiet Box
When designing the quiet generator box, there were seven primary criteria the quiet box had to have.
The quiet generator box must decrease the generator noise by at least 50% or more. Surpassing the 50% noise reduction level can be achieved by following the instructions ahead in building your quiet box.
Since the quiet generator box will only be used during extended power failures, it must be capable of being disassembled for storage in the minimum amount of space. The bottom of a small closet below the hanging clothes is the best location for us.
The box must be quick and easy to assemble and disassemble without the use of screws.
The mating surfaces of the parts must be airtight to prevent sound leakage.
There must be air intake and output ports to allow sufficient cooling.
The soundproof generator box must be able to run the generator in the carport out of the rain; And without anyone, including neighbors, being exposed to high amounts of carbon monoxide.
The quiet box must be a modular design that allows flexibility to install different types of sound baffles and fans.
Step 1 – Measurements
The very first step you want to begin with is by measuring your generator or air compressor, whichever you want to build the quiet box for.
You will need to leave a few inches on each side of the box to be able to handle the soundboard thickness, the insulation thickness, and the ventilation properties. By doing this, you minimize the risk of cutting the soundboard the wrong size.
You should also take the measurements into account If you want to use this soundproof box to be able to accommodate more than one different appliance. Some people have a generator, a compressor and even a pool pump they want quiet
Step 2 – Cut the Sides and Top of the Soundproof Box
MDX Medium Density Fiberboard
Cut out the MDX (Medium Density Fiberboard Amazon Link) as per your measurements using a circular or table saw. You should label your four wall pieces and your single top piece with a pencil, so there’s no confusion later. Make sure you buy the right size and enough MDX or soundboard so you won’t have to go back to the hardware store or make a second online order. The link above is the MDX that I used to build my quiet box
Step 3 – Make Holes for the Ventilation
Measure the diameter of your ventilation ducts, and mark two circles on the MDX box to cut. The first ventilation duct has to be on the roof of your enclosure. Your top vent should be at the back and not in the center. Cut the second ventilation duct on a side piece that will be on the opposite side from the top duct. Lay the quiet box pieces out on your flat workspace with the four walls surrounding the top.
Step 4 – Glue and Caulk the First Layer of Sound Deadening Insulation
The key to sound insulation is adding layers of free space that allows the sound to dissipate. The best way to deaden the sound inside a quiet generator box is by adding more than one layer of sound deadening material.
Sound Deadening Insulation.
The first layer that you should add is made from a Vinyl MLV (Mass Loaded Vinyl) sound Barrier material. A sound barrier material made from vinyl is meant to block noise and used for soundproofing, unlike a foam which is a sound absorber. The MLV sound barrier we used to build the soundproof generator enclosure is the “TMS Mass Loaded Vinyl 4′ X 4′ – 16 Square Feet 1 Lb MLV Acoustic Sound Barrier”. Click here for the current Amazon price.
Even if the sound barrier material you use on the inside of the enclosure has glue on it, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to add some “Greenglue noise-proofing compound.” You will also need some Greenglue noise-proofing sealant (Amazon Link) to seal the edges of the vinyl. To learn more about the GreenGlue products, CLICK HERE to be redirected to our Greenglue tutorial and product review. We will explain why we always use GreenGlue and why it’s our favorite soundproofing sealants.
Step 6 – Add the Second Layer of Soundproofing Inside the Quiet Enclosure
Foam matting made of closed cell vinyl nitrile will be ideal as the second layer of soundproofing. I could not find the exact type of foam matting I wanted on Amazon, so I ended up supporting my local hardware store. You should be able to see what you need at your local hardware store also. Again, cut it to size and glue it directly to the vinyl layer, caulking the edges with GreenGlue once more to complete your soundproofing insulation.
Step 7 – Time to Assemble the DIY Generator Quiet Enclosure
It’s time to assemble your DIY generator quiet enclosure finally! One by one, attach all four walls using nails or screws. I always use screws in case I want to modify the quiet enclosure in the future or merely disassemble it for space saving needs. Lastly, attach the top of the enclosure and securely screw it down.
Step 8 – Installing the Ventilation Ducts to Your DIY Generator Soundproof Box
It is imperative to supply air and proper ventilation to the inside of your DIY generator quiet box. The generator will need adequate ventilation to properly function and to avoid overheating. Combustion is impossible without air, and a lack of air will cause the generator to overheat to potentially dangerous levels.
When venting exhaust from a soundproof generator box, use venting ducts with lots of bends in them; since sound waves travel in a linear path, bending and curving will cause the sound to lessen.
Thread the hoses into the holes you cut earlier and then secure them in place. A small vent should be placed over these openings as well.
In case you’re unable to make a generator quiet box, here are some of the quietest generators on the market for 2020! Watch the video below and tell us what you think!
Building your DIY soundproof box for your generator is a lot cheaper than buying a professionally made soundproof quiet box. I hope you found this article of great use in your DIY efforts. Please let us know in the comment section below if you completed your quiet box and what are your impressions. Also, let us know if you built the box differently and how it works.
Im sure you know as well as I do how annoying a desktop tower can sound when it is running at full capacity. Sometimes it’s not that it’s loud, but it’s because of the high pitch winding noise that comes out of the computer. There are ways to soundproof your desktop computer, and you can also go the DIY route and make a complete silent pc build. It might not be entirely soundproof, but you sure can do things to make your desktop computer much quieter.
Here are our Top 10 Tips to get that silent gaming experience. Or at least have a quiet computer in your home office.
1 – Keep Your Computer Clean
The first and one of the essential noise reduction aspect is cleanliness. A clean PC is usually a quiet PC. I’m obviously talking about the literal aspect of cleanliness and not file dumping. Open up your PC tower a couple of times a year and vacuum the inside. It only takes a few minutes to do, and you would be surprised as to how much dust can accumulate inside a computer.
The amount of cable clutter within your computer tower doesn’t have much of an influence on temperature but it does have an influence when it comes to noise. Fewer cables you freely have inside your computer casing the less turbulence you will have and the quieter your computer will become. If you do have a lot of cables inside your computer casing, use plastic zip ties to wrap them together so they’re not cluttering the inside of your computer.
2 – Quiet PC Fans with the “BeQuiet Silent Wings 3 Cooling Fan”
BeQuiet Silent Wings 3 Cooling Fan.
Most of the noise can come directly from your cooling system. It’s not the fact that you may have too many fans but you might not have the right type of fans to make your computer silent.
You can buy quiet PC fans for a lot less money than you might expect! The best quiet computer fan we tested is the “BeQuiet Silent Wings 3 Cooling Fan”. These cheap, quiet PC fans are usually around 25 dollars. You can certainly buy a more expensive quiet computer fan, but the BeQuiet Silent Wings 3 is all you need!
At low speed, the BeQuiet Silent Wings 3 is nearly silent. When at high speed, they’re making a tiny bit of noise but far from your typical computer cooling fans. Doing 1600 RPM on a 140mm fan is obviously going to make “some” noise; I can only compare this cooling fan to the Noctua fans on my CPU cooler, and those do seem louder at max, and they spin 100 RPM slower.
What this fan does very well is avoiding making mechanical and electrical noise, even at moderate speeds. It’s mostly just the winding noise of air until you get closer to max speed. My other fans produce a mild hum when running at moderate speed. The air winding noise does seem a bit lower pitched as well, and that’s exactly what I look for in a cooling fan.
Cooling is a struggle between temperature and noise. If you can manage to keep your PC cool, then you should have less noise in return. People often make the mistake of running as many fans as they can cram into their system.
The key here is to find the right balance between the number of fans and the speeds they have to run to keep your computer tower from overheating. To achieve this, you can either spend big money on expensive fans or be clever with the gear that you have.
The air that your cooling fans are producing must have a clear path to leave the interior of your computer. Try to set up your fans so that all air moves in a straight line. Bottom to top, front to back or even inverted versions can also work; as long you don’t have opposing fans or obstructions to the flow. The smoother the air flows, the less hard your cooling fans need to work, and the quieter your computer system will be.
4 – How To Set Up Automated Fan Controls To Achieve Quiet Computer Fans
Most motherboards, graphics cards and even the computer casing itself have fan controls. You might not know this, but you can make changes to your fan controls, so they work more efficiently.
Go into your BIOS or GPU software and create a custom profile. Some PC components can raise the level of heat within your computer. Make a profile that uses minimal fan speed while your computer is idling. I have to admit, I have no clue what so ever how to configure the way your fan operates. But our friends at How-To-Geek can certainly show you how. Follow this link find out how to auto-control your PC’s fans for cool and quiet operation.
5 – Remove Non-Essential Moving Parts
Other than fans, your PC can have many moving parts like hard drives and optical drives. Make sure these two particular pieces of hardware are not spinning when you’re not using them.
It’s not a bad idea to auto-set your hard drive into sleep mode when it’s not in use for a predetermined amount of time. Go to your control panel and select the “energy settings” option and you should be able to find what you’re looking for in there.
You can avoid those annoying optical cd/DVD drive spin-ups by ejecting the disk. Removing the optical drive altogether is not a bad idea either because speaking for myself, I hardly ever have the optical drive in use. Buying an external optical drive could solve that problem by only connecting it when you need to use it.
6 – Where You Keep Your Computer Can Have an Impact
Where you keep your computer can have a great impact on perceived noise. Make sure intakes and exhaust are completely unobstructed. Move the computer system as far away from where you’re desk chair. Unless you want to show off your computer of course.
7 – Sound Deadening Computer Case
Sound Deadening Computer Case.
The thicker and stronger your computer casing is the quieter it should be. Avoid rattling plastic panels or cases with ultra-thin metal panels. I did find some computer cases made of very thick steel that are quieter than cases with pre-installed sound deadening features.
It all depends on how much you’re willing to spend on a computer case. I have a PC case with thick sound deadening material inside it, and I do find that there is a difference between the computer I have now and the one I had in my previous casing regarding soundproofing.
The Corsair Carbide Series 100R Silent Edition (Amazon Link) is the computer case I would recommend if you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars for a computer casing. Corsair’s Silent Edition is the best value for what you’re getting regarding a premade sound deadening computer case. It comes with sound dampening side panels and a 3-speed fan controller. The fans can power up on overdrive only when performance requires it.
This computer case also comes equipped with two silent fans. My only problem with this case is the power light is brighter than a freaking lighthouse! If you keep your computer in a bedroom, then you can simply turn that light off permanently by disconnecting the LED wires.
If you don’t want to go as far as buying a brand new case, you can go the DIY route. Install the
8 – Use Vibration Canceling Ring and Mounts Inside Your Computer
If your quiet computer fan comes with vibration canceling rings or mounts, use them. The same goes for installing power supplies and hard drives. If your computer casing does not come with these types of rubber washers; Why not make some yourself from a rubber sheet or even from an old mouse pad.
You can also buy some cheap rubber rings and washers at your local hardware store.
9 – Underclock Your Computer Speed To Reduce Noise and Heat
If you know how to underclock your PC, it will have a considerably longer hardware lifespan, reduced heat generation (and hence dissipation), decreased electrical power consumption, increased stability and reduced noise from mechanical cooling parts.
If you don’t require the extra speed your computer has in its arsenal; why not lower it down a few notches?
A couple of things I should warn you about though;
Underclocking will reduce overall computer performance.
Underclocking voids the system warranty on most computers, depending on the manufacturer.
Conclusion
So there you have it, our top 9 tips to make your PC quiet. If you followed most of these steps, your computer should be much quieter and should also consume less electricity and generate less heat.
Please let us know in the comment section below if you have additional tips we might have missed. Let us also know if some of these tips helped you out, we love receiving reader feedback.
Have you ever had an issue with unwanted noise issues coming from your heating and air conditioning ventilation duct? In this article, we will be talking about an Easy Way to How to Soundproof Ventilation Air Duct Vents With 1 Product!
To my surprise, I found it very difficult to find any information on how to soundproof an air duct vent. Everywhere I looked online was more in line with an air vent that only went from one room to another.
I wanted to find out about soundproofing an air duct vent that had forced air passing through causing all sorts of vibrations and noise. But first, before I find out how to stop the noise, I wanted to find out how the sound was even happening.
There are a few issues that can go on in heating and air conditioning ducts regarding unwanted noise.
These ducts have various pathways that airborne noise can get through.
The next noise issue is the vibrational sound. The vibrational sound is an actual physical movement. For example, when the car beside you pulls up with loud and heavy bass music, it feels like thumping, that’s vibrational energy.
Then there’s, of course, the interaction between the vibration energy and the airborne sound when the music is booming. It is definitely moving the ground because that’s what it probably feels like but it is actually vibrational energy. Vibrational energy is causing the air to move which is causing airborne sound transmission.
When you’re thinking about an air duct systems, most people think about the noise going through the ACE HVAC duct which is in one end and out the other end. What they don’t understand is that noise is trying to break out off the sides of the duct. Noise is trying to leave the duct the same time noise from all around the duct is attempting to enter.
1. Noise Reducer Silencer
Vivosun Noise Reducer Silencer
What you need to do right now is to stop looking at the air vent as the culprit. The culprit lies much deeper inside the ductwork than your outward facing air vent. Think of a car, what silences a vehicle from all the internal combustion going on? A muffler!
The noise reducer silencer for inline duct fan seems like the answer. The vibrations are coming directly from the fan itself, and if you can dampen the noise vibration at the source, then the problem should solve itself.
The silencer is made from a thick, commercial grade neoprene foam. Inside is a specially selected open-cell texture combined with egg crate molded foam to deaden to vibration noise.
The thick foam insulation inside the noise reducer silencer stops sound waves yet still allowing clear air flow through the system.
The thing I found most amazing about this product is the fact that it was already fully assembled and ready to install. It easily connects with 6” fans, ducting or accessories.
I thought I would maybe have to hire someone to install it but it was rather easy and is also maintenance free. You install it and forget about it and soon you’ll hopefully also forget about the annoying noise that was coming from the air ducts.
You can get the Vivosun noise reducer silencer for inline ducts in 3 sizes. All you need to do is find out what size is the right match for your home air system.
4 inch: 4″ flange diameter x 12″ body length (1.6″additional flange length at each end) and weighs 2.9 pounds.
6 inch: 6″ flange diameter x 18” body length (1.6″ additional flange length at each end) and weighs 5.75 pounds.
8 inch: 8″ flange diameter x 24” body length (1.7” additional flange length at each end) and weighs 9.3 pounds.
One thing to note is that this silencer does not have any mounting kit, it is assembled to be installed between the fan duct and the rest of the ductwork.
You could, however, wrap the silencer with metal or nylon straps in order to attach it to the ceiling. The ducts going into and out of the silencer will have to be approximately two inches out from the ceiling in order to connect to the unit.
Also, the silencer does not have to be directly beside the fan. Some ductwork has a curve right after the fan before it straightens itself out into the basement ceiling.
You need to find the nearest location to the fan that you can securely attach the noise reducer silencer to do its job. Doing it this way might not reduce the noise as much as if it was connected beside the fan but it will certainly help in giving noise reduction from the fan.
A popular question I hear about these silencers is assuming the fan and filter inside grow tent, where do you install the silencer? Inside (after the fan) or at the end of the exhaust duct?
The noise reducer silencer for inline ducts is designed to go after the fan. It is usually directly after the fan but you could place it further along the duct; if placing it beside the fan is impossible.
Note that the noise reduction will be noticeable only at the end of your duct where the air exits, not in the room with the fan itself. It muffles the air in the duct so that when it exits the duct, there is much less noise escaping in the air.
You can also attach the silencer Inside the grow tent in the direction of the air flow. You then attach the ducting to exhaust out.
2. Advanced Acoustic Vent
Advanced Acoustic Vent
I’ve personally never tried this product and also don’t know anyone that has but It is too bad you cant buy it from Amazon USA or Canada because it would be something I would be interested to try. It is currently only available on Amazon EU and from the brands website. but you might find this product at your local hardware store.
As you can see from the photo, it looks just like a regular air vent but has acoustic noise reducer built into the unit. Acoustic Air Vents have been designed to allow ventilation through a wall; fitted with a sound absorbing lining that considerably reduces noise penetration through the vent without reducing airflow.
This item is a bit more expensive than the muffler type silencer that installs directly after the fan. The acoustic air vent would only protect one room in the home from unwanted noise coming from the air vent.
For that reason, I would much rather install something that would reduce the air vent noise across the entire house. But, if you’re only concerned about one room and you live in the UK, you might want to give this item a try. If you have an item such as this one, please leave a comment below and let us all know how you like it and if it works well.
3. Updating the Entire HVAC System
This is not the news that some people want to hear, but updating the HVAC system might be one solution to getting everything back on track. Working with any type of soundproofing material might provide some temporary solutions, but nothing is quite like upgrading the entire system.
Modern systems do a much better job of controlling sound right away, and they are working much more efficiently as well. Even if an older HVAC system is working relatively fine, it still might be putting out a lot more effort to get the same results. It just ends up being very clunky, with one repair after another needed later on down the road.
The upfront cost is something that definitely makes people a little scared, but there are benefits to upgrading in the end. For example, new HVAC systems are much better at being energy-efficient, so a person will save a little bit on utility bills each month. That starts to add up, and people can begin to make their money back. It might not be a huge amount of money, but it does end up helping.
4. Air Ducts with Flexibility
Can a flexible duct actually help? Believe it or not, it is very beneficial for some situations. A flexible duct does a great job of cutting down on sound leaks, and that makes the job of the air vent that much easier.
The reason why this is only a solution for some is that flexible ducts are more susceptible to breaks. If something like that happens, it makes things very noisy, and it is not the easiest fix. Some people look at the flexible ducts and only do it when necessary. That means fitting in a unique situation, or utilizing the available room.
5. Using Soffits
Sound insulating soffits help with air vents and ducks. As long as the right materials used, people can see a pretty big sound reduction in a short amount of time.
Soffits became very popular when people started putting theaters into their home. It is made out of MDF, with insulation included. They can either be used alone, or by using additional layers of drywall between the soffits. It is a more advanced option than that everyone is going to feel the need to invest in, but it is certainly worth exploring.
Air vents and ducts are certainly a nuisance, but they are still essential when it comes to any type of room out there. The last thing a person wants to do is blow off the opportunity to control sound, so soffits might work.
6. Using Sound Baffles
A sound baffle is another option for people to explore if they need soundproof an air vent. A baffle is essentially a box, and it makes sounds travel a little longer to help with the overall absorption process. The sound is greatly reduced once it reaches people inside the room, and it might just be a solution that works for some.
This material goes into the inside of the walls, and vibrations are reduced greatly. Think of a sound baffle in a lot of the same way as a muffler on a car, as it can greatly change how sound travels.
Baffles are only going to help people who are using an HVAC system. The ducks are already pretty long, so there is an opportunity to install these baffles along the way. A more standard air vent won’t have the space, so the opportunity to have an impact is not going to be there in the end.
Should you Hire a Professional to Make your HVAC System Quieter?
There are so many different options to explore with soundproofing air duct vents that it is impossible to say whether or not it is for professionals only.
There are some simple solutions that just about anyone can pull off, and it does not make much sense to invest in a professional to help. However, there are more complex situations, and taking it extra time to get everything figured out is essential.
A professional will be able to identify the problem and little easier, and have long-term effects. If the news seems bad initially on what might be causing the problem, a professional opinion can help.
Another advantage to using a professional is that they can really make sure that a room is a soundproof as possible with other solutions as well.
If a person is having problems with an air vent, they may be having problems elsewhere in the room as well. Having someone who can do everything at once is going to help reduce stress and get things going in the right direction faster than ever.
What Causes Air duct Vents to Become Noisy in the First Place?
A lot of people like to troubleshoot what exactly causes air vents to become noisy in the first place. There are a few factors, such as the shape, the number of walls, and what material is used to make the air vent.
Some people in older buildings might feel like the entire setup needs replaced if it is severely outdated. If there is any damage, it also might make sense to help with soundproofing the air vent in the first place.
Try to stay away from metal material that might cause the sound to bounce off the vent and continue to be a problem. The fewer metal walls inside the vent, the better, because it will not travel quite as much with noise. A lot of the modern vents have this setup, which definitely comes in handy.
Finally, look for an extremely flexible duct that has bends so that the sound can’t travel quite as much. The more corners the better, especially when controlling the sound. Send sound on a bit of a maze, and everything will come out sounding a lot quieter in the end.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading one of our noise reducing articles. Reducing air vent noise can be difficult to figure out when searching online. That’s the reason why I decided to write this article in the first place. Please leave us a comment if you have a noise reducer silencer for an inline duct.
In this article, we will be showing you some easy and cost-effective ways to reduce washing machine noise. Washing machines can become noisy as they age. That can be due to many different reasons. Sometimes the motor or the tumbler will make the washing machine vibrate and noisy and can drive someone to the brink of madness. Well, maybe not to that extent but it can surely be annoying. One simple way you can reduce a noisy washing machine is by placing a washing machine anti-vibration pads or mats underneath to absorb the vibrations.
Washing machines are notorious for producing a vibrational sound that travels into the floor joist and cavity and irritates the occupant’s bellow. You can simply place a washing machine anti-vibration pad or mat and should solve the vibration problem completely.
Dryer or Washing Machine Anti-Vibration Mats
Washer and Dryer anti-vibration pad.
Washing machine anti-vibration mats are made from a one-inch rubber panel. Most of these mats are built from recycled car tires, so not only does it absorb vibration, but it is also good for the environment.
The anti-vibration mat decouples the floor from the washer and will help absorb most of the vibration. We suggest that you lay them directly on the floor and then add a layer of wooden board on top of the mat. The wooden board will help support the legs or feet of the appliance and stop it from digging into the rubber. You can easily find a one-inch thick wooden board at your local hardware store.
The washing machine anti-vibration mat is one-meter square and is very dense. They are resilient to moisture and easy to cut with a traditional saw or jigsaw. These types of bigger mats are also called anti-vibrations pads but usually when you see a product that has the word “pad” and not “mat” it usually means four individual pieces for each leg of the appliance. Click Here for Current Amazon Price.
Dryer or Washing Machine Anti-Vibration Pads
There are a few different washing machine anti-vibration pads on the market today. Most of these pads are cheap and can be difficult to know which one works as intended. These anti-vibration washer pads are engineered to absorb the damaging vibrations and reduce annoying noise.
They could not be easier to install. Simply place anti-vibration pads on each corner of your washer or dryer, and you’re done.
The only anti-vibration pads that I’ve used in the past was the “STEADY-PAD Anti-Vibration and Anti-Walk Washer and Dryer Pads”. You can buy them for under twenty dollars in most cases. Click Here for the current price from Amazon. You can also buy cheaper versions for around five dollars, but after reading some reviews, I decided to stick with the Steady-Pad.
Official Steady Pad Description
Steady-Pad anti-vibration pads.
“Is your washer or dryer wobbly, squeaky, or prone to “walk/skid” away from its spot when in use? STEADY-PAD Anti-Vibration/Anti-Walk pads are the most effective solution available. These pads have been designed with premium heavy-duty rubber to fit ALL MODELS of washers and dryers on the market. STEADY-PAD is the key to keeping your washer and dryer anchored to your floor WITHOUT using adhesive. The pads stay put on your floor thanks to the unique micro-grip pattern molded on the underside of each pad. In addition to increased stability, the unique molded bottom and thick shock absorbing rubber provide the ideal buffer to eliminate excess vibration and sound. In each package, you’ll receive 4 STEADY-PAD Anti-Vibration/Anti-Walk Pads and a User Guide. Each pad is 3 inches in diameter and 1.25 inches in thickness. The top of the pad features a 1.75-inch indentation to fit the leg on each corner of the machine securely. We confidently stand by our products with a 120-day money-back guarantee. Enjoy!”
When I had moved to my previous house, I had purchased a front-loading LG washing machine. The washer itself was exactly what my wife wanted, and it was working well. The only small problem we found was that it would shimmy across the floor when washing a small load. I first checked to make sure the leveling was correct, and it was. The problem wasn’t the washing machine itself; it was our linoleum floor that was too slippery to handle the washing machine spin cycle.
We bought these little steady-pad hockey pucks, placed them under the feet of the washer and immediately washed some clothes. Not only did the vibration stop but it also reduced the noise. I don’t find that the steady pads lessen the washing machine noise as much as the full one inch thick anti-vibration mats, but at this price, it was indeed worth it. Click Here for current Amazon Price.
Use a DIY Appliance Lifter When Lifting Washer and Dryer
I would strongly recommend using an appliance lifter when you need to lift your washer and dryer to place the pads underneath. If you’re older like my parents, these appliance lifters can be a back saver. You can also use these lifters to lift all sorts of furniture when you want to move stuff around.
DIY furniture lifting and moving tool.
This is a handy little tool to have around. My parents are in their eighties and live alone, and once or twice a year they get some wild idea to rearrange the furniture in their house. An appliance lifter made it much easier for them. The little slides work like any other furniture slide; it’s the lifting tool that is the real gem here. If your washer and dryer are entirely flush to the ground on all sides, then you have to lift it just a little bit to slide the tool under it, but then it raises very easily.
DIY furniture slider and moving tool.
In the cases of most washer and dryer, they are not flush with the ground, so this lifting tool works great. It’s not rocket science, but I wanted to mention it to the readers in case something like this would be of value to you while moving your washer and dryer around or to lift in a couple of inches off the ground.
What About the VibrationBloc For Washing Machine Vibration Reduction?
The VibrationBloc is something I stumbled on when I was researching different ways on how to reduce my washing machine vibrations. I could not find this product on Amazon (where I do most of my online shopping).
VibrationBloc For Washing Machine Vibration Reduction.
I went on a Reddit message board and specifically asked about this item, and someone told me that they initially bought the vibrationblock for a 29″ stacked washer/dryer combo. They claimed that it helped a small amount with reducing vibration (but not much, even carefully following all recommendations). The house still shook a lot when it was in use. The machine was almost too big for the stand, and the feet barely fit within the depressions for them.
If you have a 27″ washer and want every last bit of vibration reduction, it might be worth it. For anyone else, it’s not worth the money.
The negative thing I took from researching the vibrationblock was a video that I watched on Youtube from their company. The video is of a washing machine vibrating on all sorts of different anti-vibration products that didn’t work, and lastly, you see the vibration block completely stop the vibration.
If you watch the video HERE, you will see what I mean. I don’t think the footage is very authentic and I think it might be a bit misleading after talking to several people that have used this product in the past. However, please let me know if you have the vibrationblock and what you think of it, you might change my mind.
Washing Machine Noise Conclusion
After researching and trying a couple of different washing machine anti-vibration products to reduce the washing machine noise; I have to say that my favorite one is the full square anti-vibration mat. If you have a smaller budget, the Steady Pad is another good choice.
I would skip the vibrationblock. I find the vibration block a bit too gimmicky and high tech to fix such a low tech problem.
Please leave a comment below if you use any of these product or any other anti-vibration products that you beleive work better than the ones Ive suggested.
In this article, we will be talking about how to properly soundproof walls using green glue noiseproofing compound, also known as green glue soundproofing sealant. We use this product on most of our soundproofing jobs.
How to Apply Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound and Where to Buy Green Glue
How to Apply Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound.
noiseproofing compound offers the best value for the money when it comes to acoustic compounds and sealants. If you correctly apply green glue by taking your time and paying attention to details, the results should be exactly what you would hope. We’ve been able to to get up to 58 decibels worth of sound reduction between rooms after using the proper amount of green glue sealant, and we will show you how to apply green glue soundproofing sealant on your next soundproofing job!
The basics of how Green Glue works is it’s meant to be used between two sheets of drywall. You place your first layer up on the wall, and then you caulk all the seams around it with Green Glue acoustic sealant. When you’re ready to put up your second layer of drywall, apply the acoustic green glue sealant onto the back of the second layer of drywall. You will need to use two tubes of acoustic green glue sealant per 4X8 sheet of drywall. After completing the green glue application, stand the second sheet of drywall against the first one and screw its down and that will squish the green glue between the two layers of drywall, and that’s what makes the green glue sealant do its job. Where to buy Green Glue?
How is Green Glue Noiseproofing Sealant Different from silicon caulk or PL 400?
Green Glue Acoustical Sealant.
Green Glue also makes their very own soundproofing sealant. Im, sure many of you, are wondering how is green glue soundproofing sealant different from silicon caulk or PL 400. That’s a Good question because I was wondering that myself when I first heard of Green Glue.
Unlike the standard silicon caulk, as green glue starts to set up, it firms up but will always stay flexible. It will not harden and crack over time as the standard silicon caulk would. The flexibility of the green glue allows it to absorb, reject and dissipate energy. That will keep it from going through the other side of the wall.
When the first layer of 5X8 drywall vibrates from the noise coming from the other room, those vibrations then hits the coat of acoustic green glue sealant. You need to make sure to apply the recommended amount of green glue to assure that it works correctly. The vibrations are then stopped by heat generated from the green glue dampening compound. The green glue turns the vibrations into low levels of heat and doesn’t allow the sound to get through to the other side of the wall.
Things You Need To Know While Using Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound
There are a few essential things you need to know when using green glue noiseproofing compound. Firstly, you can buy Green Glue compound in two different forms.
Green glue comes in the form of court tubes for smaller jobs. The court tubes allow for clean and precise installation.
You can also buy green glue soundproofing compound 5 gallon pails. The easiest way to apply the green glue when purchasing it in the form of a 5 gallon container is from a speed loader. The reason why someone would buy it in bucket form is that of the 25% of cost saving compared to the court tubes. It’s like anything else, you buy it in bulk, and you’ll save some money. You’re also left with a lot less garbage to throw out at the end of a job compared to using a dozen court tubes of green glue.
The Method of installing Drywall with Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound and Sealant
Installing Drywall with Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound.2 Sheets of drywall with Green Glue Noiseproofing compound.
The method of installing drywall with acoustic green glue is a bit different because of the level of soundproofing you want to achieve.
After the first layer of drywall is installed, the next thing you will have to do is caulk all the seams using acoustic sealant.
When you’re caulking the seams with green glue noiseproofing sealant, make sure to push into the crack of the seams so the sealant is forced into it as far as it can. You can apply a heavy dose of sealant because you will be placing another layer of drywall over the first one. The soundproofing caulking is sealing off the air transfer and will provide some dampening as well. This soundproof caulking will not dry and crack over time. It will stay flexible for the life of the build and will not harden like a regular construction adhesive.
While you have the second layer of drywall laying on the floor, it is time to put a right amount of green glue noiseproofing compound onto the back of the second sheet of drywall. Make sure to use two tubes per 5X8 sheets to achieve the expected soundproof results. If you are low on money and you can only afford one tube, you will meet approximately 70% of the desired soundproofing effect as two tubes would achieve.
The Important thing to remember is to seal all the seams and outlets because even an eighth of an inch gap will negate most of the soundproofing effect by letting air and sound travel through the cracks.
Last Green Glue Tips
If you’re going to be using green glue soundproofing sealant, make sure to wear gloves. If you end up getting some of the green glue on your skin, wash it off with water immediately. It will wash off thoroughly with only water until it starts drying. After the sealant is dry, it gets difficult to wash it off your skin.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed our green glue acoustic sealant application tips. Let us know if you use green glue for your soundproofing jobs and how you like it. Have you had any negative issues with this product? Let us know in the comment section below!
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