If Sound Suppression Isn’t on Your List of Features You Want in Replacement Windows, Perhaps it Should Be!

Our San Diego replacement window company meets with many homeowners who want to replace their old windows because they are drafty or no longer function properly, or because they want new windows that are more energy efficient. Rarely do we meet with people who want new windows because they want the inside of their home to be quieter. However, after their new windows are installed, one of the comments we often get from our customers is how pleased they are with how quiet their home is with their new windows. In other words, they didn’t go into the process of purchasing replacement windows with sound suppression on their wish list, but they got it as a result of purchasing quality replacement windows, and they are loving it!

Replacement windows with good sound suppression aren’t just for people who live in high-traffic areas. They’re also for people who live in normal, everyday San Diego neighborhoods.

Not everyone in your neighborhood is going to keep the noise down when you think it should be quiet. Your neighbors may have dogs that bark at all hours of the day and night. Or they may like to stay up late playing music or get up early to do yard work when you or your children are trying to sleep. Instead of asking your neighbors to change their lifestyle, what if you could simply block out their noise by installing new windows?

All of the windows we sell at BM Windows have some level of sound suppression. This is due to the fact that we only sell replacement windows in San Diego from manufacturers that make quality products. However, some of the products we sell have the option of enhanced sound suppression as an upgrade. Enhanced sound suppression is great if you live in an especially noisy area, like on a busy street or in the path of low-flying airplanes.

Comparing Sound Suppression on Replacement Windows

Any company that sells replacement windows in San Diego will probably claim their windows are good at keeping out unwanted noise. They can say this because, in comparison to old, single pane windows, almost any dual pane window will be an improvement. However, if you want true sound suppression, you need to buy windows that have a measurable advantage in this area.

To compare the sound suppression abilities of a replacement window, you need to look at its Sound Transmission Class (STC) and its Outdoor/Indoor Transmission Class (OITC) numbers. These ratings are given by an independent third-party organization.

When you look at the STC and OITC ratings on various products, it is important to know that the higher the number, the better the product is at keeping out noise. A window’s STC rating will tell you how good it is at suppressing all common noises, while its OITC rating will give you a good idea of a window’s ability to keep out low-frequency noises like traffic, airplane noise, or your neighbor’s subwoofer. Not all windows you research will have an OITC rating, as this is a newer method of rating windows that not everyone has adopted yet, but most, if not all replacement windows on the market should have an STC rating.

For comparison’s sake, an older single pane window will typically have an STC rating between 18 and 20. A standard dual pane replacement window will have an STC rating in the 25-28 range. Windows with enhanced sound suppression technology will have even higher numbers—into the 30s.

To put these numbers in perspective, a standard insulated wall in a stick-built home will have an STC rating around 36. Some replacement windows with enhanced sound suppression technology, such as Anlin windows, can match or exceed this number!

A four-point increase in the STC rating will provide homeowners with marked improvement in the amount of outside noises that enter their home through their windows. A ten-point increase in the STC number can suppress sound by 50 percent.

Take a look at this video produced by Anlin Window Systems to learn more about their replacement windows with sound suppression:

If you’re interested in learning more about replacement windows from a San Diego replacement window company that sells quality windows at affordable prices, contact us at BM Windows. We can set up an appointment where we can answer all of your questions about sound suppression or any other aspect of replacement window technology. We can also give you a quote on replacing the windows in your San Diego home. Give us a call or contact us through our website today!