Bit by bit, we are being persuaded to shift from double to triple glazing as we are all interested in improving the energy performance of our high-quality windows. Whether you like to replace old windows in your existing home or if you are interested in a new residential construction, choosing right type of windows is very important.
Having strong, durable and high-quality glazing windows with low-e coating has many benefits especially because it uses materials with more energy efficient properties. High quality windows make it easier to control the overall temperature of the building and minimize energy loss.
A home that doesn’t have glazed windows emits heat directly through the window. A single pane of glass is a poor insulator as it lets heat straight out the window. Double glazing is comprised of a layers of glass pane with gas trapped between which allows less heat loss to occur.
Glazing of a window is one of the best things one can do to maximize the energy-efficiency of your home or building. It is important to install products with low-emissivity coatings in commercial and residential buildings to have a stronger control over sun heat gain.
Those with single glazed glass panes notice how hot their rooms become during summer and colder during winter. It’s even so easy for noise from outside to penetrate and break the glass. But even though double pane products have better capabilities to regulate internal temperature and reduce energy loss when compared to single pane windows, it also comes with its downsides.
The Drawbacks of Double Glazing Windows
§ Poor energy-efficiency – double pane windows have poor energy efficiency due to its structure and low thermal protection capabilities. One one layer of insulation gas does not perform well in harsh climates. It pertains to heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer which result in extra heating and air conditioning costs.
§ Condensation – Sometimes the sealed units in double pane window could be poorly done and cause condensation to appear on the interior side of the window. This undermines insulations properties of the products.
§ Conductivity – Double glazing is not the best option when it comes to insulation. It is not effective in keeping the temperature inside a house at a stable level because it lets the outside weather influence it.
Double glazed windows used to be the “standard” choice for homeowners until triple glazing windows came into the scene.
What are Triple Glazed Windows?
The system of triple glazing window is made up of three panes of glass set within a frame with gaps in between filled with Argon gas. Predominantly, it improves the thermal performance of the windows and sound insulation.
With all these benefits, it’s logical to assume that triple glazing is going to be more beneficial option than double glazing. However, things are not that simple. The rough and ready method for comparing the performance of windows is the “U-value” measurement.
Every window – single, double, triple or quadruple – has a Window Efficiency Rating (WER). There are usually three factors that are tested. They include:
§ Effective Air Leakage (L factor) – this is the base of a quality window. Air leaking in causes cold draughts and air escaping means heat loss. Therefore, you’ll be spending more on your energy bills to compensate. The lower the L factor, the better the window and frame perform against air leakage. Ideally, you’re looking for a value of 0.00 W/m2.K
§ Thermal Transmittance (U Window) – similar to the air leakage test, this measure how good a window is at preventing heat from escaping inside. The lower the transmittance, U value, the less heat can be lost through the window. The ideal value would be 1.00 W/m2.K
§ Solar Factor (G Window) – when sunlight passes through a window, heat in the house will increase. This is known as solar gain. A window with a high solar gain will be effective in allowing heat from the sun into your home. This can be handy during winter months.
The combination of these three factors provides you with the energy index Rating.
Pros of Triple Pane Windows – Are triple glazed windows worth it?
§ Triple plane windows have a lower U-value and a higher R-value, making them more energy efficient
§ The extra pane of glass makes it a better insulator, therefore, it can preserves the set temperature inside the building resulting in energy savings
§ Triple glazing windows are better at soundproofing, hence, increasing comfort level and adding value to your property
Cons of Triple Glazing Windows
§ The higher initial cost of triple pane windows when compared to cheaper double glazed option
§ Require additional work during installation process
How Much do Triple Glazed Windows Cost?
GL Advanced Windows offers premium quality triple glaze windows at a price that is comparable with what other companies for double pane windows. Generally, our prices will start at $170 USD (230 CAD). We do not offer double pane windows because of their poor thermal insulation properties.
Additional features, like colored frames, window grills, soundproofing and sun heat gain control would add to the cost of the windows.
Nonetheless, GL Advanced Windows is focused on providing budget friendly prices for premium quality products to our customers.
Are Triple Glazed Windows Better than Double Glazed?
The answer to this is yes. Triple glazed windows are performing better than double glazed in every way, including energy efficiency, sound insulation, structural strength, durability, and overall quality.
Double glazed windows have only one advantage that makes it a more popular option on the market – they are cheaper. But since GL Advanced Windows has very customer friendly prices, it is worth looking into switching from double to triple glazing and improving the comfort level as well as energy performance of the house.
Quadruple Pane Windows
Triple glazing windows recently used to be the most notable new innovation. This was up until the new quadruple pane windows entered the market. Quadruple pane windows are the most advanced type of windows right now. It is basically four high-performance glass panes that were set to revolutionize the window industry.
Pros of Quadruple Glazing Windows
§ Provides more efficiency than a house wall and gives off a ‘U’ value of 0.4W/m2.K
§ Quadruple glazing windows make the insulation better by using four panes of glass with three spaces filled with noble inert gas
§ Improves energy performance of the house and reduce carbon footprint
§ Helps block outside noise
Cons of Quadruple Glazing Windows
§ Quadruple pane windows are quite expensive
§ Quadruple pane windows are also heavy and require tougher, more durable window frame and sash
§ It can be harder to install large quadruple glazed windows due to their weight
Triple VS Quadruple Window Glazing – Which One Is Better?
Now that we know the triple pane windows offer two layers of insulation and quadruple pane windows offer three, how effective either of them is highly depends on the area one lives in.
There are some technical problems when it comes to adding more and more panes of glass. In fact, quadruple glazing windows can reduce energy efficiency as the amount of sunlight the window can absorb is reduced.
However, when it gets down to the two, triple glazing windows are the best and portray great thermal qualities. If you’re living in warmer areas, triple glazing would be recommended as quadruple glazing would conserve too much heat during summer time. Furthermore, triple glazed windows can effectively stand up to the wind and rain in colder regions.
There’s more to triple glazing than just its heating and insulation properties. If you happen to live near a busy road, airport or noisy factory, then the acoustic properties of triple glazed units will be just what you need. The argon gas contained in the three deep glass layers of triple pane units are heavier than air. Not only do they improve thermal performance, but they also provide an effective acoustic barrier.
Quadruple Glazed Products
Despite the common knowledge idea “the more, the better” it is not always the case with windows. Many would think that since quadruple glazed products are more energy-efficient windows than triple glazed ones, they would help to save thousands of dollars in utility bills. Unfortunately, the upfront purchase cost of quadruple windows does not pay back in saved utility costs. Quadruple pane windows save around 7-9% in utility bills in comparison to optimized triple pane windows but they have a negative return on investment data. In addition to all of the above, they are also heavier hence harder to install and have worse visual transmittance qualities. The size of the windows is restricted by its weight, so we could not provide very large quadruple glazed windows. Quadruple pane windows are not suitable for every project while optimized triple glazed windows would be a more beneficial fit for residential building and commercial projects.
Overall, triple glazed windows have great energy efficiency properties and better ROI capabilities when compared to quadruple windows. It explains why triple pane windows are gaining popularity in the United States and Canada.
