If you’re looking to replace your windows, you may hear a variety of different terms used to describe them. One of those terms is double-glazing, and you may wonder what that means and how that’s different from your current windows. As you look to make this investment in your home, it’s important to understand more about the different types of windows that are available in order to make the best choice for your home.
Double-glazed windows are a type of energy-efficient windows that provide better window insulation than standard single-pane windows, and they may be an excellent option for your home. Pinnacle Home Improvements is a home improvement company that features a team of window replacement contractors committed to providing exceptional quality and customer care.
In this article, we provide more information about double-glazed windows and the benefits they provide, allowing you to determine if they’re the best upgrade to enhance your home for years to come.
What Is Double Glazing in Windows?
Double glazing, in terms of windows, refers to windows that have two panes of glass together in a sealed unit. Sometimes called double pane or double layer windows, they’re part of an insulated glass unit (IGU) that’s contained in the same frame. The frames for double-glazed windows can be made from vinyl, aluminum, or wood, allowing you to choose the material you find most suitable for your home.
Double-glazed windows feature two sheets of glass that are separated by a bar that creates an air gap, which is filled with an insulating gas such as argon or krypton. This non-toxic gas provides added window insulation and noise reduction, creating an additional buffer from the outside world. Double-pane windows are perfect for upgrading your home to a more energy-efficient status, helping you save money on your energy costs.
History of Double Glazing for Windows
Years ago, homes featured single-pane windows, which are just a singular sheet of glass in the frame. Unfortunately, homes that still have these types of windows will let in cold air from outside and rattle on windy days.
Most modern homes will have double-pane windows, which are said to have been around even in the 1870s in Switzerland, Scotland, and Germany. Back then, the double-glazed windows were fitted with another layer of glass with clay holding it in place.
In the 1930s, modern double glazing started to become more prominent. Charles D. Haven was credited with creating a thermopane system that used two panes of glass that had a gap of air between them. This set was then sealed together with rubber strips, and while there were delays in manufacturing due to the war, double-pane windows began becoming more popular starting from the 1950s.
Today, they are now the standard in new construction. If you have an older home, it’s likely that you have single-pane windows, and you should deeply consider making this upgrade to protect and enhance your home.
Benefits of Choosing Double Glazed Windows
Choosing double-glazed or double-pane windows has plenty of great benefits for you and your home. Take a look at these distinct advantages you’ll gain when you need to have your windows replaced:
Improved Energy Efficiency and Reduced Energy Bills
Windows are more energy efficient when there are two sheets of glass. Many homeowners who have single-pane windows have high energy bills because that one sheet of glass simply isn’t as adept at insulating. If you’d rather be saving on the electric bill, then choosing double-glazed windows is a smart move.
They’re far more insulated, which helps to lock in your heated or cooled air. In turn, your HVAC system won’t need to work so hard to make you comfortable. It all brings balance, and you’ll soon start seeing the rewards of these efforts by having lower energy bills.
Enhanced Soundproofing from the Outdoor World
There are no completely soundproof windows, though double-pane windows do drastically improve the level of noise you may hear from the outside. Once you have your windows replaced with double-glazed windows, you have a more peaceful and quieter interior. It’s a game-changer if you live on a busy street that gets lots of traffic or if you’re in an area where there’s lots of new construction.
Even if you live in a quieter neighborhood, you might hear the sounds from your local school or park, or the neighbors next door. While they aren’t soundproof, you’ll feel like your home is more private with this upgrade. Adding double-glazed windows will dampen all of these sounds and allow you to live in peace, which you’ll especially appreciate at night when you go to sleep.
Increased Curb Appeal and Property Value
Making improvements to your home will boost its property value, though when you choose a window replacement, it’s one of the smartest investments you can make in your home. Double-glazed windows are an affordable option, and if you’re planning to put your home on the market in the near future, you’ll attract more homebuyers by making this upgrade.
Many people are concerned with energy efficiency and reducing their expenses. With new energy-efficient double-pane windows, they’ll see your home as a greater asset. Additionally, older homes may have character in their architecture, though old windows can make them look archaic and outdated.
There are many window designs for double-glazed windows that can complement their architecture while bringing it into modern times. You can even have them cut into custom shapes or replace smaller windows with larger ones to create a brighter and airier interior.
Reduction in Condensation
Another common woe with older windows is that they tend to develop condensation. This is a sign that the air inside your home is warmer than the air outside. When your window is cooler, these droplets of moisture will develop, leading to this dampness. As condensation continues to form day in and day out over the years, it can ruin your window frames. It may cause mold and mildew growth, too, which can make you and your family sick.
Upgrading your windows to double-glazed windows will reduce condensation. The interior panel of the window will stay at the same temperature as the air inside your home. While replacing your windows is an investment in your home, doing so will save you from more costly expenses, such as repairing the damage caused by mold, mildew, or even wood rot if you have wooden window frames.
Added Security Features and Durability
Double-pane windows provide another layer of protection that helps to keep criminals from gaining entry into your home. There are added options that can also make these energy-efficient windows even safer and provide greater peace of mind. They’re truly built to last and can withstand a lot more than single-pane windows, making them a great choice.
Long-Term Cost Savings
It’s not easy being a homeowner, especially when you feel like you have to spend money to upgrade everything. Window replacement is certainly an investment, and you might be putting it off because you don’t want to add to your expenses. However, putting off a vital upgrade like this, especially when you have older windows that aren’t energy efficient, will lower your home’s value.
Investing in your home to keep its value strong is crucial, and the only way to protect your investment is by upgrading the things that will serve your home well. You might want a swimming pool, but you don’t need it. As for windows, you need them to be functional and secure, and you need them to properly insulate your home and protect its structural integrity. Older windows won’t be providing these things for you and will wind up costing you more the longer you put off their replacement.
Outdated single-pane windows aren’t energy efficient. Choosing double-glazed windows helps you to stop wasting energy. After installing double-pane windows, you’ll notice a decrease in your electric bills. If you don’t think energy efficiency is a big deal, consider the condensation forming on your windows. As that continues, you’ll leave your home vulnerable to far more costly damages that could have been prevented by replacing the windows.
The advantages of double-glazing windows can make a huge difference for your home in many ways. From the way your home looks to providing greater enjoyment and peace of mind while living in it, you’ll be glad that you invested in what matters most for your home.
At Pinnacle Home Improvements, we’re always happy to review your window options and answer all of your questions. Contact us today to learn more about our double-glazed window replacement services and get a free quote.
Should You Get Double-Pane Windows?
You may be considering double-pane windows and triple-pane windows, and wondering which one will serve you better. Both are energy-efficient options that can help reduce outside noise in your home. Deciding can be complicated, which is why we help you learn about your options during our consultation.
Double-glazed windows are a prime choice for superior insulation as those two layers of glass and the gas filling insulate your home, reducing heat transfer for greater interior comfort and much lower energy bills. Triple pane windows also provide these advantages, though even more thoroughly, though they come at an even higher cost.
If you’re planning to move at some point, you may not want to dive into triple-pane windows. Double pane windows are the perfect middle ground, offering excellence in energy efficiency, insulation, noise reduction, reduced condensation, aesthetic appeal, and all at an affordable price.
Some homeowners pick and choose the glazing options for various windows in their homes to give them that extra protection where it’s needed. For example, if you have one window that gets tons of sunlight and you don’t want to keep your curtains closed every day, installing a triple pane window at that one point may benefit you best.
Triple pane windows are a grander investment comparatively, and for any homeowner planning to move, it’ll be a more economical option to choose double pane windows. However, if you live in an exceptionally cold climate with harsh winters, triple-pane windows will be a blessing for your home that will keep you comfortable while keeping down your energy costs.
Pinnacle Home Improvements’ Double Glazed Window Solutions
At Pinnacle Home Improvements, we have a vast selection of double-pane windows in a variety of styles that are sure to suit your home’s design. We use top-quality materials and never compromise on doing things right when it comes to installing these windows in your home.
Contact us, and we’ll set up a consultation where we’ll show you an array of options and answer your questions about double-glazed windows and how they can help your home. When you’re ready to get rid of your old windows, we’ll help you with your selections from glass cuts to trim colors to ensure you get windows you’ll love installed.
On the day of installation, we carefully remove the old windows, then properly dispose of them before installing your new energy-efficient windows. Once they’re firmly in place, our installers will inspect each one to ensure they open and close correctly and that they have been installed according to the local building codes.
Double-glazed windows are easy to care for by cleaning with warm water and a mild detergent, though you’ll want to dry them off with a soft cloth to remove the moisture. We also recommend that you inspect your windows once a year to check the seals and look for gaps or cracks in the frame. Contact Pinnacle Home Improvements to learn more about double-glazed windows and how to schedule your window replacement.
