Unwanted sound can be a nuisance. Noise is distractive and averts one’s attention. Road noise can ruin a good drive, may it be from screeching tires, wind, engines , loud music from other vehicles or stalls, ventilators, etc. The source of noise could be either external or internal. The external noise is transmitted through radiations and vibrations from the engine that cause windows and doors to rattle and gaps like door seals and rain gutters. However, it is really sad that noise is everywhere, and it is hard to dodge.
If you cannot stand the noise anymore, you don’t have to get a new car. Instead of running the whole expense, consider soundproofing.
Soundproofing refers to creating/putting barriers between the noise and the places you don’t want the noise to penetrate. Soundproofing blocks the noise by absorbing the sound waves to a specific degree.
Some are lucky to have their cars soundproofed by the factory, while others aren’t.
Importance of soundproofing
- It reduces all the external noise.
- It Enhances safe driving.
- It makes you more comfortable.
- It improves the auditory in your car.
How Do You Soundproof Your Car?
1. Install Automotive Sound Deadening Mats
It is almost unbelievable how the floor of a car isn’t as thick as one may think. With its proximity to the ground, road noise easily travels into the vehicle through the floor.
The normal standard floor mats trap dust, increase comfort and improve the car’s beauty; they don’t help much when it comes to soundproofing because they’re thin and aren’t tailormade for soundproofing. On the other hand, dampening/sound deadening mats are thick and last long to absorb the noise hence reducing the undercarriage noise.
In addition, note that installing the mats differs from one product to another. Some have to be cut before installation, while others are pre-cut.
You don’t have to throw away your usual mats. You can place them on top of the deadening mats. Check out Noico car Sound deadening mat which is one of our best pick.
2.Apply Liner Insulation
When combined with deadening mats, liner insulation reduces a large amount of noise. When installing, first install the sound dampening mats and apply the liner insulation directly over the mats.
Despite it being a powerful soundproofing method, it is also used for thermal insulation. It reflects and absorbs vibrations from the source of noise and forms a barrier. Have a look at Kilmat for car noise insulation, dampening, sound deadener etc.
3.Replace Rubber Seals On Windows, Doors, And The Roof
The noise would easily travel through doors because most door interiors are thin and empty(without the door handles, windows, and locks). Also, in many car models, especially the outdated ones, doors have little or no insulation. Replacing the rubber seals is one of the effective ways of soundproofing. In this case, too, the use of dampening materials serves the same purpose as insulation.
Also, the noise would be entering through the gaps on your windows and doors. Sealing the gaps will then help reduce the noise.
On the roof, also use the sound deadening material. Please get rid of the cloth headliner carefully because it is necessary to reapply it after installation. Measure the roof next and apply the deadening material. You should clean your roof before applying the insulation to remove any dirt using a clean cloth with alcohol. This also improves adhesion.
For a convenient application, I would recommend the use of a peel-and-stick backing to insulate.
For an easy installation, get you an all-in-one-kit that contains everything you need.
4.Check For Uneven Wear On Tires And Change Them
The tires you ride on every day could be the main contributor to the noise you are receiving in your car. Riding on worn-out or uneven tears could be dangerous because they don’t hold the asphalt firmly, which would lead to one losing control of the car.
Sometimes little stones get stuck in your treads and damage them. This makes the treads irregular hence causing vibrations and noise. Cheap tires, unaligned and low-quality tires also contribute to the noise.
Therefore, one should check and replace their tires regularly to control the noise.
There are factors to consider when selecting tires suited for soundproofing:
- Choose the narrowest wheels for your car to reduce the noise. This is because wider wheels have more contact with the road, causing your tires to collect more vibrations, leading to more noise.
- Choose more rubber or bigger tires. More rubbers, the more the chances of reducing the noise because rubber is a sound absorber and acts as a cushion for contact and the vibrations between your vehicle and the road.
Choose
Tires that have a decibel rating and a three-wave symbol(noise rating). The decibel rating shows the number of decibels used by the manufacturer when testing the tires, i.e., the more the decibels, the better. On the other hand, with the three-wave symbol, a line means less noise and great performance, and a three waves mean more noise with low performance.
5.Undercoating To Muffle Noise
Undercoating with rubber protects the car from corrosion. Despite it being strong against sand, water, salt, and chemicals, it also absorbs noise on the road and from the engine.
It mostly comes in spraying cans, therefore, making it easy to apply. You just will be needed to spray it on the surface you want to isolate and leave it to dry.
6.Use Car Soundproofing sprays
These are designed for those places that are hard to reach. They would be the right solution if you were left with gaps after installing liner insulation and deadening mats.
The sprays come in aerosol cans that are easy to apply.
They could also come in professional cans that need compressors and paint guns for use.
7.Play Background Sound
Soundproofing improves the sound quality of your car. Therefore, you can fight the noise with more noise. That means playing louder background music to curb the road noise. You can do this by installing new sound systems.
It adds to the fun, but it is unsafe.
8.Remove Moving Objects.
Ensure that all the mobile parts of your car are firm and secure so they don’t vibrate, for example, cup holders.
Also, remove all the loose items from your dashboard, i.e., keys and mobile phones.
Ensure that you don’t leave gaps behind when and after insulating your car.
Conclusion.
Are The Soundproofing Methods Effective?
First, you will get weird effects, but it works. The success you get with soundproofing depends on the techniques you use. Also, the level of noise reduction depends on the type of the car you are using, that is, older models, will be harder to soundproof.
To sum up, all these strategies may not quite remove all the noise, but they make your car quieter and more comfortable.
