Living in Australia means hot summers, cold winters, and extreme household energy prices. Which is an expensive combination! A warm day on the beach is a beautiful thing.
Sweltering inside because the cost of air conditioning is too high; not so great. Power prices in Australia are the most expensive in the world. And there is no solution in sight to fix the energy crisis.
You might be considering double-glazed windows as one way to cut your household energy costs. They keep extreme heat and cold outdoors and maintain a comfortable temperature inside. They even prevent dangerous mould growth – common in Sydney’s humidity.
Are you keen to know more about double-glazed windows, to know if they’re right for your home? Check our list of advantages and disadvantages right here.
What Are Double Glazed Windows?
Double-glazed windows are insulated glass units (IGU). The IGU has several glass panes in the one window system. These are generally double-glazed, that is, with two panes of glass.
A still layer of gas or air and a spacer separate the glass panes in these systems. The spacer is made of a metal or polymer strip, usually with a drying agent, to dry out any moisture in the space. It is then all placed in a window frame, made wider to fit the extra pane.
Now we know exactly what they are. But what about the pros and cons of double-glazing over normal windows? Let’s take a look.
The Advantages
The advantages far outweigh any disadvantages. Let’s see what they are before we compare them.
1. Energy Efficiency
Double-glazed windows absolutely come out on top when it comes to energy efficiency. The sealed air or gas gap between panes of glass in the IGU system acts as thermal insulation. They lock in the cool air from your air conditioner in summer, leaving the unwanted heat outside.
In winter, they stop heat from escaping from your toasty home. By locking in the effect of temperature control, means you can use your heater and cooler less. If the house was a comfortable temperature when you left for work in the morning, that’s pretty much how it will be when you return in the evening.
No matter how hot or cold the day has been.
This adds up to enormous savings on energy. Australians already pay the highest power prices in the world. In 2018, they jumped another 12%, which is six times the average pay increase.
With no long-term solution in sight for power prices, consumers need to look for ways to offset household energy costs. One way to do this is to install double-glazed windows. It means dramatically reducing your power bill.
2. Prevent Mould Forming Indoors
While Sydney’s humidity is part of its charm, it can bring problems. Like dangerous mould, which can trigger asthma attacks and even infect the lungs in serious cases. Double glazing reduces condensation so prevents mould from happening to begin with.
3. Noise Reduction
An impressive advantage of double glazing is it keeps noise at bay. The sound of busy Sydney traffic and walkers-by won’t affect your sleep-in with double-glazed windows. Your neighbour’s party won’t keep you up in the evenings.
4. Safety and Security
Double-glazing of windows improves both safety and security. They are harder to break than normal windows. That means they are safer if you have small children and also makes break-and-entering a whole lot harder.
The Disadvantages
The disadvantages of double-glazed windows often boil down to priorities. Let’s explore that a bit more.
1. Choosing Between Functions
If you want the highest insulation, 150mm space between panes is best. That’ll block out the sounds of planes and human voices. But it can reduce the thermal insulation of the windows.
Talk to your window supplier about your needs and priorities. They’ll help you find the best performing window for your situation.
2. The Cost
The main disadvantage of a double-glazed window is the expense. There is no denying that they cost more than single glazing. The cost of indoor climate control of your home should be in the figures you use to compare double and single glazed windows.
Once you add the extra cost of climate control to single glaze, they end up being the more expensive choice. You can also offset costs by choosing a quality supplier with reasonable pricing. Like Ecovue.
Choosing Double Glazed Windows
The best energy efficiency comes from double glazing with a space of 10 to 20mm between panes. The space between panes can be anything between 6mm and 20mm, with 12mm being a good minimum for the best thermal performance.
What else should you look for in a supplier? We think there are three indicators of a great supplier. Quality, price, and warranty.
Find A Quality Product
Look for a provider with experience, a quality product, and accreditation with industry associations. At Ecovue, we have been supplying the market with products from leading UK manufacturers since 2009. We are gold members of the Australian Window Association.
We care about supplying a high-quality product, which is why all our windows are AS2047 tested. Our windows and doors surpass European standards for thermal performance, safety, and reliability. They check every door and window before it leaves the factory.
That’s the sort of quality you get from manufacturers with 35 years of experience in the market. Whether you want bay windows, tilt and turn windows, or one of our other products, you can guarantee outstanding quality.
Get The Best Price
Double-glazed windows have a reputation for being pricey. We say that’s a myth. Our uPVC double-glazed windows and doors will only cost you 10%-20% more than commercial grade aluminium windows and doors.
Ask About the Warranty
Find a supplier with a decent warranty on the windows you buy. Our uPVC window and door frames come with a 10-year warranty. We treat them with an anti-UV formula to make sure they withstand the harsh Aussie sun.
Make Your Home a Double-Glazed One
Living in Australia usually means a home filled with sunlight and views of nature. It can also mean stinking hot summer days. To bathe your house in natural light and enjoy the view without compromising thermal efficiency, think double-glazed windows.
Choose Ecovue for the highest European quality. From people who understand the Australian climate and market. We pride ourselves on providing first-class customer service, from the first contact to the final installation. We’d love to discuss your individual requirements.
Get in touch with us for a free quote today!
