How can I cheaply and quickly soundproof my basement to reduce noise from my son’s gaming disturbing my younger children’s sleep?
Asked by Ezra Green 
1 month ago
Last Updated: October 21, 2024
Hey there! So, I recently bought a house with an unfinished basement that my older son has claimed as his game room. He gets really into his online games, which is totally fine by me, but the noise tends to travel upstairs and wake up my younger kids. I don’t mind the sound itself, it’s just the disturbance to their sleep that’s an issue.
I’ve noticed that the noise seems to be traveling through the return ductwork, so I’m thinking about insulating it to help with soundproofing. Any other budget-friendly ideas you might have would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance for any suggestions you can offer!
Ask him to lower the volume. Problem solved.
Lenny, the problem isn’t with the unit itself, it’s just that sound carries. I noticed it when I was downstairs doing laundry and could hear my brother and his wife talking as if they were in the same room.
Hey Lenny, could you please change the WIFI password? Also, could you let him know that some people are trying to sleep and he needs to be more considerate? That should solve the problem without spending any money.
They actually have a thermal wrap specifically for duct work. The image you saw earlier may not be the best option. There’s also a duct wrap available that is similar to a hot water tank blanket.
Oh, I see what you mean now.
In my new place, all the voices seemed to echo loudly. It was quite jarring. But once we added some soft decor items like large area rugs and curtains, the noise level went down significantly.
Yeah I’ve considered most of those options, I do plan on covering the duct work eventually but can’t afford it all right now. I got really excited about rock wool until I saw the price tag! I did consider buying affordable acoustic panels and customizing them to fit the duct work to see the outcome
Oh yeah, adding acoustic panels to the ducts could be surprisingly helpful … kind of like insulating the inside. If it’s not too expensive or difficult … might as well give it a shot, right? The idea makes sense … the execution, who knows. 🙂
Have you heard of Quiet Rock and green glue for soundproofing? Insulation alone may not be very effective.
As mentioned, they advised him to maintain quietness. When it comes to soundproofing, there are numerous methods available, with varying effectiveness. The cost of soundproofing can increase rapidly. SONOpan is a relatively new option in the market, offering good sound absorption at a reasonable price. It’s worth exploring. However, this is just the beginning of soundproofing efforts. Using putty pads for electrical boxes, acoustic caulk, wall decoupling, and other techniques can also contribute. Applying spray foam insulation in the walls or using traditional bat insulation can provide some soundproofing benefits, although it may not be as effective as other materials. Sealing gaps between ducts, walls, and floors, as well as insulating the ductwork, can also help reduce noise transmission. Keep in mind that a significant amount of noise may still travel through the ducts themselves, especially if you have a ducted HVAC system.
Yeah I’m thinking of getting some acoustic panels to wrap around the duct temporarily
I’d consider a different approach. The issue lies more with the air inside the duct than the duct itself. The duct essentially serves as a pathway for sound waves to travel through. Trying to insert materials inside the duct to block sound is not a viable solution. While soundproofing the walls and ceilings and insulating the ducts can help with energy bills and reducing sounds caused by the ducts, it may not prevent sound from traveling through the ducts. Think of it like the ducts acting as a large megaphone within your home. The best way to stop sound transmission through them is to block them off. It seems like the affected rooms are connected on the same main route, allowing sound to easily pass from one room to another. One method to reduce this is by adding a separate duct directly to your son’s room from the main trunk. This should also be done for the air return. While it may not completely eliminate the noise from his room, it can help minimize the transfer of noise to other rooms through the ductwork.
It’s actually a single trunk line for the return and the basement (which is 100% unfinished) doesn’t have a return vent, which I found odd considering I’m an electrician, not an HVAC expert haha. If something is added on the outside of the duct work, like a chase eventually, would it really prevent noise from downstairs traveling up? My idea was to essentially ‘isolate’ the trunk with some kind of insulation barrier. Upon further inspection this morning, I noticed there are numerous gaps in it.
No returns in each room? So you just have one supply trunk going out? The air coming back into your furnace is from the basement, right? Do you have any pictures of this setup? Based on what you’re saying, it seems like only half of the system is set up. And it sounds like what is in place was never properly sealed. Are the branch lines to the bedrooms separate, or does one line serve both rooms? Sharing a picture or two would be really helpful here.
Is back in every room, but I meant only one return trunk line.. I’ll send a few pictures shortly
Hey , hopefully you can follow along with this.
Hey , the return is on the left and the supply is on the right.
Hey , there are 2 locations where it comes up to the main floor. One is between the master and guest bed, and they both have a shared return vent. The other location is in the 3rd bedroom and the living room. It’s the same situation where it comes up in a 2nd spot, but both returns are back to back and share the drop down.
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Make sure to insulate between the floor joists.
I saw that without proper support, it might not be very effective.
You know, the noise is probably bouncing between the joists and if there’s a duct there, it’ll definitely echo. Try insulating between the joists near the duct work and see if it makes a difference. Plus, improving heat and AC efficiency is a big deal.
I’ll definitely give that a try! Thank you!
If the noise is coming through the ductwork, make sure to install baffles at any duct openings to deflect the sound around corners. Think of it like a sideways mirrored periscope. Additionally, insulate around the ducts. If needed, adding a layer of drywall on the ceiling can significantly reduce the noise. For even better results, consider installing two layers with “green glue” in between.
I came across that last night, and I might experiment with plywood and a rubber coating
Anything solid will carry sound vibrations. This is why they use ‘green glue’, which is somewhat thick like yogurt and prevents sound waves from vibrating between two sheets of drywall. One sheet offers over 50% deadening, two sheets are better but not 100%, two sheets with green glue are even better but still not 100% (reaching 100% can be very costly).
I don’t need complete soundproofing, I just want to avoid hearing conversations at a normal indoor volume as if they are in the same room!
A single layer of drywall on the ceiling should suffice. Consider adding sound bats between the studs if desired. Putting a rug upstairs can also help. If sound is traveling through the air ducts, you must block the pathway. (P.S. I have experience working in radio and recording studios, so I know a thing or two.)
Insulate the entire basement between the floor joists. Place a layer of plastic to hold it in position as you work, and you’ll be amazed at how much better it is for just 120 dollars. A single layer of drywall isn’t sufficient, but with insulation and an extra layer of drywall, you can hardly hear noise from upstairs or downstairs.
It’s important for kids to get used to sleeping with noise around.
Came seeking DIY advice, not parenting tips for my kids.
Where is the return vent located in relation to where your child is playing and where the kids are trying to sleep? Do you have a return vent in every room or just a couple of large vents in the main area?
Upstairs, do you have hardwood, tile, carpet, or something else?
You should consider installing safe and sound insulation (designed for soundproofing and fire protection) between the floor joists. Later on, you can add a drywall ceiling.
I’ve heard that noise cancelling insulation works really well.
Consider using headphones with a built-in microphone for gaming sessions.
He has it, it’s not that he’s too loud, it’s just how the sound travels poorly in the house
I had a similar situation with my oldest child, during the ‘dark times.’ We ended up creating a makeshift sound booth for him – using lots of moving blankets (heavy velvet curtains would have been better, but were not available at the time) and hung curtain rails from the ceiling (you could even use plant hooks or whatever your basement ceiling allows). We also added an area rug. I wouldn’t have asked him to keep it down, it was a relief to know he was interacting with the outside world and having a good laugh!
Thanks a bunch! I was actually thinking about creating a small space for him as well!
Yes, exactly! It’s like a cubicle.
Hang curtains or a blanket between him and the ducts to muffle the sound. Try turning him around so he’s not facing the ducts. Placing anything to create a barrier between him and the ducts will help reduce the noise. Use area rugs or other items that absorb sound to minimize echo. You can also use a fan in the room and point it away from where he is sitting.
If you want air blowing on you, or if you want to drown out the noise, you can turn on your exhaust fan or anything that creates white noise. There are probably apps and other solutions that can help with that. These are quick fixes, but for a longer, semi-permanent solution, you could create a little cubicle for him using whatever materials fit your budget – like a fort or a tent. Drop-down ceilings and many other options are available. You might want to consider getting a different headset for him, one that allows him to hear himself so he doesn’t speak too loudly. There are soundproofing blankets and materials that you can use as well – simply staple blankets to the walls and ceiling to dampen the sound. You could also try changing the direction of the vent by taking it off and turning it around, or putting a scoop over it so it directs the air and noise in the opposite direction. I’m not sure if sticking carpet tiles on the vent would be safe or effective, depending on how hot it gets, but they could help reduce echo.
In Canada, the unit was located in the basement and the air was directly pulled from it. There were two main lines with vents going up to the upper 2 levels. I don’t recall mine having a return vent, I simply changed the filter in the unit itself. Central air was added later and it had its own line branching out to the other vents. So technically, I could run them both at the same time, haha.
For a temporary and cost-effective solution, consider placing rockwool between the rafters and securing them with strapping. It should only take 2-3 hours of work and would be a good starting point if you plan to finish your basement someday.
I recommend strapping at 16 inches on center for easier Sheetrock installation later on.
Using resilient bar and sonopan might be excessive and expensive at the moment.
Have you thought about adding insulation and then securing a sheet of plastic over it? The ones without the paper backing are more affordable, and the plastic will prevent fiberglass particles from dropping on you, ultimately reducing the noise levels.
Most FG insulation isn’t great for soundproofing. There’s rockwool insulation specifically designed to reduce sound… and you don’t have to deal with the itchiness of FG. Much easier to work with overall. The cost is a bit higher, but definitely worth it for the ease of use… no need for long sleeves, gloves, or a mask… just use an old bread knife to cut and it’s a breeze.
Wow, good to know! The price is pretty steep though, around $70.00 for a pack from what I’ve seen at HD.
Consider installing sound insulation in the ceiling beams
How about relocating your son to a different area of the basement?