Jun 20, 2025
Window Insulation That Actually Reduces Noise
When most people search for “window insulation,” they’re thinking about blocking heat or cold, i.e., “Thermal Insulation”. But if your main problem is insulating against noise and sound—from traffic, neighbors, or barking dogs—traditional insulation like fiberglass, foam, or plastic film won’t help much. What you need is “Sound Insulation.”
At Sun and Sound Windows, we specialize in sound insulation for windows, not just energy efficiency.
Why Traditional Insulation Fails at Soundproofing
Most insulation materials are lightweight and porous, like fiberglass or foam. These are great for thermal insulation but poor at blocking sound. Sound travels through air—and lightweight, fluffy materials don’t have the mass or density to stop it.
If you’ve tried weatherstripping, window film, or foam insulation and still hear everything, you’re not alone.
What Actually Works to Insulate Against Sound
Effective sound insulation requires:
- Mass – Heavy materials absorb sound energy, and lightweight materials don’t.
But this is a window, so you require heavy, CLEAR material, i.e., laminated glass.
- Separation – A minimum 3-inch air gap between your window and the sound panel/insert reduces vibration transfer and creates a soundwave interference zone.
- Sealing – Prevents sound leaks around frames.
Our custom-made window inserts use all three principles to block outside noise—up to 90% reduction in real-world homes and offices.
Real Results Without Replacing Your Windows
Our inserts are installed over your existing windows. You won’t need to replace anything, and the results are immediate:
- Dramatic reduction in street and neighbor noise.
- Better sleep and peace of mind.
- Lower energy bills, too—our inserts provide thermal benefits as a bonus.
Are We the Right Fit for You?
If your main goal is to reduce outside noise, we can help.
Call us today for a free estimate and learn whether our solution is right for your windows—and your ears.
Nov 15, 2022
Get Window Inserts for Drafty Windows
The winter season is fast approaching, with blustery winds. If a cold winter draft seeps through your space like clockwork during this time, you shouldn’t have to ride it out. There is a solution to improve your comfort, so you don’t feel the need to grab your blanket as you deal with howling noises. That solution is installing window inserts for winter or any time of year.
Window Inserts Block Winter Winds
No matter the size or age of your windows or glass doors, window inserts can keep your space quiet, warm and toasty without replacing your windows.
Soundproof Your Space
The Sound Transmission Class (STC) represents a structure’s ability to reduce the sound volume. A higher number means a more significant noise reduction benefit. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), without window inserts, the STC for windows and doors with windows ranges from 19 dB to 38 dB.
According to a survey measuring wall sound, here’s what you may hear with the following STCs:
- Understand everyday speech: 25 dB
- Understand loud speech: 30 dB
- Almost understand loud speech: 35 dB
- Loud speech is a murmur: 40 dB
- Loud speech is faint but not audible: 45 dB
If an STC at 45dB can nearly mute a conversation, then howling wind noises also disappear.
Our soundproof window inserts at Sun & Sound have an STC of 42 dB to 48 dB, ranging as follows:
- With a single-pane window: 42 dB
- With a double-pane window: 48 dB
Sun & Sound window inserts increase STCs, all but disappearing howling wind. The window inserts improve your space for work or rest, improving concentration and stopping the influx of spooky-sounding howling noises at night.
Drafty Windows Raise Energy Bills
In 2022, on average nationwide, residential electricity prices are forecasted to continue increasing this fall and winter by 7.5% from 2021, according to the Short-Term Energy Outlook September 2022 forecast from the federal Energy Information Administration. Window inserts insulate your windows, reducing winter drafts and, in turn, lowering your energy bill.
At Sun & Sound, we help clients cut their heating bills throughout major Texas metropolitan areas through three window insert options:
- Operating insert that slides up and down or left and right
- Single-piece insert with a single removable panel
- Two-piece insert with removable dual panels
The single-piece window insert provides the maximum insulation. In contrast, the others have moving parts, allowing for occasional air flow if you open your window.
How Can You Get the Best Window Inserts for Drafty Windows?
At Sun & Sound, we offer window inserts that we can customize to any sized or shaped window or door. Our inserts comply with fire codes and homeowner associations, are nearly invisible, and are quick to install. Contact us today to reduce drafts in your space and stay comfortable all winter long.
Sep 8, 2021
Those sunny bay windows add so much curb appeal and are a delight to lounge in front of in cooler weather. They can also make your home unbearably hot in the summertime. Large and fully exposed windows can lead to higher cooling costs in the summer and have the potential to damage your home furnishings or even your health! Finding ways to prevent unwanted sunlight from coming into your home is challenging, but there are a few solution to try.
Too Much Sun Can Be Dangerous
Most people love spending time outdoors when the sun is shining. We know we must shield ourselves against overexposure. Despite how great the sun feels on our skin, there is a hidden danger associated with too much sunshine, ultraviolet (UV) rays.
UV rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation and can cause everything from sunburn to wrinkles and even certain types of cancers. So, heed your mother’s advice and wear sunscreen when you go outside. But did your mother warn you that you may still be at risk of UV rays while at home?
Most people believe windows block UV light, but that’s not true. In fact, according to the International Ultraviolet Association, close to 100 percent of UV-A waves easily pass through standard windows. Although not as destructive as UV-B rays, UV-A rays can still cause indirect damage to your DNA, promoting premature aging and some varieties of skin cancer.
And while a person’s physical health is of the utmost importance, UV rays can damage the items inside of a home as well. Exposing furnishings to UV rays can lead to unwanted fading. This process is called photodegradation and is due to the UV breaking down the chemical bonds of dyes. Sun damage is most apparent in drapes, curtains, rugs and upholstered furniture, but it can even affect hard surfaces.
How Do I Block Sun Heat From Windows?
Sunlight can raise the indoor temperature significantly. The rising temperature caused by the sun passing through a window is called solar heat gain. It’s a crucial issue for many homeowners, especially those with large and fully exposed windows.
If you’re wondering how to block sun heat from windows, you’ll be happy to know that there are several options.
Awnings and Shutters Can Block Sunlight Though They Change the Look of Your Home
The first approach is stopping the sun before it reaches the windows. This is done with some sort of awning, shutter or other physical object outside the home. Homeowners can see decent results with this method. However, there are several downsides.
Awnings and shutters change the appearance of the exterior of a home, often for the worse. Planting a bush or tree not only permanently obscures the view but is expensive and impractical and requires additional landscape maintenance.
Curtains or Blinds Block Light But Not Heat.
Perhaps the most popular solution is to stop the sun from the inside using curtains, shades or blinds. This option doesn’t physically alter the outside look of the home and can often even improve the interior appearance.
However, since these kinds of sun-blocking options don’t prevent the sun from passing through the window, any material used to block the sun will still get hot. This heat is then transferred into the room, even long after the sun goes down!
In addition, since using interior blocking methods requires the covering of the windows throughout the day, you lose the ability to look out of the window. You may also not be able to install a window AC unit.
Sun and Sound Windows Maintain Your Home’s Appearance.
Perhaps the best option is to leave the inside and the outside of the window alone and just change the window itself. Replacing a window entirely is costly and requires major construction. Soundproof window inserts are a better option, and won’t change the look of your home.
Sunlight isn’t the only harmful thing coming through your windows. Excessive outside noise is just as annoying. But you can significantly cut down on the level of noise up to 95% entering your home by installing window inserts from Sun and Sound Windows. You can even get them tinted in bronze or gray to help prevent sun damage! These windows minimize both noise and harmful sun rays, keeping your home cooler in the summer.
Call one of the numbers in the banner to get in touch with us and learn more, or fill out our online form to get a free estimate.
281-336-8685
