You’ve heard of double-glazing and its benefits, but what about triple-glazing? While double-glazing is an effective solution, its triple counterpart does so much more.
If you’re unsure how to take the first step toward a more energy-efficient lifestyle, consider triple-glazed windows and doors. You can enjoy more benefits than just sustainable living by replacing your single-paned windows with triple-paned ones.
Before taking this step, read our guide to find out how it really works and make an informed decision.
What is Triple Glazing?
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Triple glazing is exactly what it sounds like – the process of creating a triple-paned window. A triple-glaze window has three panes with gas-filled gaps between each two panes. Most homeowners use this procedure to keep their homes warm and quiet.
The glass panes are typically thick and hardy, made from tempered glass. One of their aims is to provide impact resistance, reducing break-ins through windows. Then, the gaps between the panes are filled with insulating gases like krypton or argon.
The glass panes are also coated in a transparent layer of low-emissivity material to reflect heat away from the home. Finally, the edges of the glass panes feature spacer bars to keep them separated and airtight. These features contribute to the main benefits of triple-glazing: thermal and sound insulation.
Pros
- Reduces energy consumption
- Reduces external noises
- Provides superior thermal insulation
- Prevents mould and mildew growth
- Guarantees a consistent room temperature
- Increases home’s resale value
Cons
- Only compatible with deeper window frames
- Slightly reduces natural light
- Requires professional installation
- High initial cost
How Does Triple Glazing Work?
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To understand how triple-glazing works, you must first understand how each glass pane works.
The first glass pane faces the external environment, protecting against impacts and harsh weather conditions. The middle pane has a lower U-value and is coated in Low-E material, slowing heat and sound transfer to the next pane. Finally, the inner pane protects the building’s interior from the insulating gases, heat, and sound.
More importantly, a triple-paned window wouldn’t have its benefits without the air gaps. Better known as the insulated glass units (IGU), these gaps are each 0.6 to 1.2 cm wide. Here’s how these units perform in each use case.
Thermal Insulation
Heat is quite fluid, passing through the smallest cracks and holes. So, the hardiness of triple-paned windows is the main thing preventing rapid heat transfer. More than that, the argon or krypton gas trapped in the IGUs is a major contributing factor.
These gases have low thermal conductivity. That means they’ll drastically slow down the heat transfer, making the heat diminish before it even reaches the inner pane. Plus, these windows are coated in low-E material, which reflects heat away.
Sound Insulation
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Much like heat, sound can make its way into your home through any imperfection. If you live in a noisy neighbourhood, your single-paned windows will do nothing to help your headache. Luckily, the thickness and hardiness of triple-glazed windows will absorb most of the external noise.
Even if some sound enters the outer pane, it’s no match against the insulating gases inside. These gases will slow down the sound waves drastically. By the time they reach the inner pane, the sound will mostly be diminished.
Plus, triple-glazed windows have effective acoustic seals and framing. That means the sound waves will have no way to get into your home!
Energy Efficiency
As we’ve mentioned, triple glazing traps heat inside your home on colder days by slowing down the transfer rate. On hotter days, it’ll keep the unwanted heat outside and keep your home cool. That does more for your home than just creating a pleasant environment!
That’s right; triple glazing can even result in lower energy bills. Once your home retains an optimal temperature, your heating and cooling systems will stop working so hard. Lower energy consumption means less money coming out of your pockets.
So, it’s safe to say that triple-glazed windows are a long-term investment!
Conclusion
Triple-glazing is a long-term investment for those seeking a more sustainable and energy-efficient lifestyle. But it does so much more! Whether you want to dampen sound, prevent condensation, or reduce heat loss, triple-glazed windows are the one-stop solution.
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