Buying a new home comes with a mix of excitement, curiosity, and sometimes, odd questions that only seem strange until you realize they’re actually practical. One such question is whether you can test how soundproof a home’s walls are by simply yelling in one room while someone listens in another. It’s a funny image, but it’s also a valid concern, especially if you value peace, privacy, or quiet nights without hearing every step, sneeze, or snore through the walls.
The short answer is yes, you can absolutely try the “yell test,” but it’s more of a fun experiment than a scientific measure of soundproofing. It can give you a quick sense of how noise travels through the house, but if you want to know how well the walls truly block or absorb sound, there are better (and quieter) ways to do it.
What the “Yell Test” Can Actually Tell You
Soundproofing in homes depends on several factors, including wall construction, insulation materials, window quality, door seals, and even floor type. When you yell in one room and have your husband listen in another, you’re doing a very simplified version of a sound transmission test.
If he can barely hear you, that’s a good sign that the walls, doors, and insulation are doing their job. If he can make out every word, though, it means sound is traveling through the walls, ceiling, or floor more easily than you might like.
This quick test can help you gauge how well sound is contained within a space, but it won’t tell you which part of the structure is responsible for the sound leakage. Sometimes, noise travels through vents, electrical outlets, shared ceiling joists, or even small gaps between rooms that you can’t see.
Understanding How Soundproofing Works
Soundproofing isn’t just about thick walls; it’s about how a building manages vibrations. Sound moves in waves, and when those waves hit a surface, they either bounce back, get absorbed, or pass through.
Sandy Jamison, Listing Agent in Silicon Valley says, “In well-insulated homes, the materials used in the walls, such as fiberglass insulation, sound-dampening drywall, or resilient channels, help absorb and reduce these vibrations. In older homes or those built with lightweight materials, walls tend to carry sound more easily.”
It’s also worth noting that interior walls are usually less insulated than exterior ones. So if your yelling test involves two interior rooms, the results might be different than if you were testing between, say, a living room and a garage.
How to Do a More Reliable Soundproofing Test
If you want to go beyond shouting, there are more accurate ways to assess how soundproof a home really is.
1. Use a Speaker and a Decibel Meter
Play a consistent sound (like white noise or music) from a speaker in one room and measure how much of that sound is picked up in the next room using a decibel meter app on your phone. The greater the difference in decibel levels between the two rooms, the better the soundproofing.
2. Listen for Outside Noise
Close all windows and doors and listen. Can you hear traffic, barking dogs, or neighbors talking? This test helps you understand how well the house keeps out external sounds.
3. Tap and Listen
Tap on different sections of the wall. A hollow echo suggests minimal insulation, while a duller, heavier sound indicates denser material inside.
4. Check Seals and Openings
Sound travels through gaps, so check for spaces around doors, windows, and vents. Weatherstripping or sealing small openings can significantly improve sound control.
When Sound Matters Most
Soundproofing is more than just a luxury for people who record music or work from home. It can affect your comfort, privacy, and even your mental well-being. Thin walls might not seem like a big deal at first, but after a few months of hearing every phone call or midnight snack run, it can become exhausting.
If you’re buying a home in a dense neighborhood, near a busy road, or next to schools or train tracks, good sound insulation becomes even more important. Some buyers even ask for a professional acoustic test during home inspections, especially for newer constructions or homes advertised as “quiet.”
So, Should You Try the Yelling Test?
Absolutely. It’s free, simple, and it’ll probably give you and your husband a good laugh in the process. Just know that it’s more of a quick impression than a precise measurement. If you can hear each other too clearly, it’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s something worth noting.
You might use that information later to negotiate repairs, add soundproofing materials, or simply know what to expect in terms of noise. And if nothing else, it’s a great way to test the house’s echo before you move in.
At the end of the day, homes should sound like peace, not chaos. So whether you’re yelling, clapping, or quietly listening, what matters most is finding a place that sounds right to you.
