Here at Ecovue, we're passionate about double-glazed windows. Aside from the fact they make our homes more energy efficient, they're also effective at reducing noise.
Double glazing your windows can prevent a 70 percent heat loss in the summer and provide a 75 percent heat gain in the winter. These savings on your power bill are just one of the many benefits to double glazing.
If this has your curiosity peaked, here are seven things you will need to know before having them installed in your home.
1. What Is Double Glazing
Back when windows were only made with a single pane of glass, they were terrible insulators. The reason for this is that they were only a few millimetres thick. It made it easy for cold and hot air to pass right on through. As you can imagine, this makes temperature control in the home very difficult.
Double glazing is the perfect solution to this problem. It uses two panes of glass with a small air gap between them. This makes the windows much stronger insulators and keeps the temperature inside the home much more regulated. It's also universally applicable, so whether you're upgrading casement windows, double-hung windows, or something else entirely, double glazing is a great choice.
2. How Does This Work
Now that you know what double glazing does, you might be asking how it works? Whenever there is a significant difference in temperature between the inside and outside, heat tends to flow through the weakest points in the home.
In the summer, heat will drift from the outside in, and in the winter it leaks out, for example. Double glazing slows this heat flow. The thicker glass makes it more difficult for heat to pass through it, and the air gap provides a barrier to block it.
From a scientific perspective, when it’s hot, molecules move quickly which fans out the heat just a fast. Air molecules are spread out so it’s hard for them to expand as quickly when faced with a solid mass. Having the air gap stops the heat movement in its tracks.
3. What Are The Different Types of Double Glazing
There are a few different types of double glazing. Which one is best depends completely on the weather conditions and the climate in which you live.
Standard Double Glazing
This is simply two panes of your standard glass. It’s suitable for most climates and weather conditions.
Smart Glass
Smart glass is a low e-glass. It has a protective anti-glare film to reflect the harsh rays of the sun and reduce heat gain during the stifling summer months. It greatly increases the insolation of the window.
Thermal Glazing
You want to get thermal glazing if you live in a really harsh climate. Thermal glazing uses smart glass in either double or triple glazing units and can increase the insolation of your window by about 68 percent.
4. Can I Double Glaze My Existing Windows
You can add a second pane of glass to the outside of many already existing windows. This can be a costly process, and it may not look the way you want it.
Most glaziers will recommend that you just go ahead and replace the entire unit. It will run you about the same cost, and you get a brand new, longer-lasting window out of the deal.
5. How Much Will it Cost Me
The cost of the glazing will depend on what type you choose, the frame, and the quality of the product.
Before deciding to have the unit installed, calculate how much you will save on your energy bill vs how long the procedure will take to pay off. Here is a list of factors that will affect your total.
- The type of glass: Plain glass or smart glass.
- The thickness of the glass.
- A double or triple glazing unit.
- Aluminium or timber frames.
- If you get any other glass treatments such as frosting or tinting.
As you can see, there are a lot of factors that determine the cost, which means there is a lot you need to decide. It will pay for itself in the end by making your home less acceptable to noise, and it increases the property value when you’re ready to sell the home.
6. Your Home Will Be A Lot Quieter
It may vary depending on the unit that you have installed and the materials that are used, but you’re sure to have less noise coming in.
Thanks to the vacuum or gas-filled interior space of the unit, sound is less likely to pass through than it might with ordinary windows or walls. Installing a unit will take care of those noisy neighbours for you. More sleep pays for itself, right?
7. The Home’s Property Value Will Increase
When you’re ready to sell your home, it will go faster than a home without a unit. People like saving money, so having an energy-efficient home that will save them a few bucks on the power bill is desired.
In short, glazed windows are a serious economic asset, and potential customers will jump on the chance to take advantage.
Consider Double Glazing Your Windows
There are a ton of pros that come with double-glazing your windows, the biggest one is that it makes your home more energy efficient and will lower that hefty power bill. There are a few different types, and each provides different benefits, depending on your climate.
Stop running your power bill up in the summer by leaving five fans on every night or by leaving the heat on all day during the winter. Just install a double-glazing unit.
Are you interested in upgrading to double-glazed windows? Why not get in touch today? Our experts will be happy to talk.
