Every time a noisy air-conditioning unit sits on the other side of your bedroom wall, the sound might be a bit too loud. In case the humming, squeaking and knocking of your air conditioner keeps you up at night, you will find things you can do, short of replacing the unit, then to minimize the noise. If you’re really determined, you can effectively soundproof the entire room.

Media Matters

Sound waves travel through several media, including atmosphere and solid objects. In the case of atmosphere, any openings in the wall between you and the atmosphere conditioner let in sound. Reverberation, or echo, is critical, also. With mass, or even solid objects, the less dense an object is — your outside wall, like — the more it transfers sound. You might have discovered that masonry houses generally are far more soundproof than frame constructions.

Noisy Air

Sealing openings around doors and windows not just blocks air leaks, it blocks sound. Caulk openings, inside and out. Windows and outside doors should shut tightly, so replace faulty locks and weatherstripping. Fill holes and cracks in exterior masonry, and interior masonry and plaster. Use acoustical caulk or foam backer rod to seal the gap between the floor and the baseboard, and precut foam pads to insulate electrical outlet covers. Even a tightly sealed window may be a large source of infiltration. Sound cannot travel through a vacuum, so look at replacing windows with vacuumed-sealed double glazing. Many manufacturers offer specially made, sound-reducing window versions. Do not caulk closed an escape window.

Softscaping

Any air conditioning sounds which enter the bedroom echo hard surfaces, magnifying the acoustical impact. Wall-to-wall carpet makes a large cut in sound reverberation. Hanging soft furnishings on the wall is an age-old way of insulating against both sound and hissing. Hang tribal rugs, tapestries and quilts to beautify and quiet the bedroom. Heavy curtains you may shut at nighttime play their role, also, as does a large, upholstered headboard and upholstered seating.

Mass Is Key

An effective way to dampen noise is to add bulk between you and the atmosphere conditioner. Insert sound-deadening density by installing a layer of acoustical masonry to your inside surface of this outside wall. You might need to remove afterward replace trim moldings from the procedure. After you complete the drywall and reinstall the woodwork, caulk the gaps. For superior soundproofing, use acoustical caulk between the old wall and the new drywall to decrease the transfer of sound waves to the panel. Heavy, solid-core doors additionally are far more soundproof than hollow-core doors, as are solid-wood window frames.

Whole-Room Soundproofing

If you still can not get peace, repeat soundproofing steps on all the walls along with the ceiling. Insulate electrical outlets, switches and overhead junction boxes with acoustical wrap. The undertaking can get complicated, so consider having a licensed contractor perform the job. As an example, you’ll also need to remove all of the moldings, recut them, and then reinstall them above the new drywall. Electrical boxes also must be reinstalled on top of the new drywall.