Are your energy bills sky-high? Does your home feel drafty in the winter and noisy in the summer? If so, you’re not alone. Thousands of UK homes suffer from these problems, which can make them uncomfortable and expensive to live in. Now imagine a home that’s warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and quiet all year round. That’s the dream, right? But how can you achieve it?
Triple glazed windows. That’s how. In this article, we’ll explain how triple glazing works, the pros and cons it offers, and whether it’s worth the investment.
Triple glazed windows have three panes of glass instead of two, with a layer of inert gas, normally argon gas, in between each pane. This extra layer of glass and gas acts as a super-insulator, keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It also blocks out noise, making your home a more peaceful and relaxing place to be.
Triple glazed windows are made from high-quality materials and are built to last. They’re also easy to clean and maintain. So, if you’re looking for a window solution that will save you money on your energy bills, reduce noise pollution, and make your home more comfortable, triple glazing is the way to go.
But before you pick up the phone and buy triple glazed windows from Windows & Doors UK, let’s check out the advantages and disadvantages of triple glazing, so you can make an informed decision about whether this is the right solution for you.
Triple glazing windows are the latest and greatest advancement in window technology, offering a number of advantages over traditional double glazing. From improved thermal performance to reduced noise pollution to increased security, triple glazing windows can make a significant difference in the comfort, efficiency, and safety of your home.
Let’s explore these advantages in more detail:
Triple glazed windows can help to reduce your energy bills by keeping your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
According to a study by the Energy Saving Trust, triple glazing windows can save you up to 20% on your energy bills. This is because triple glazed windows have a lower U-value than double glazed windows.
In terms of U-value, (the U-value of a window measures how much heat is lost through it) triple glazing has a significant advantage over double glazing and single glazing. Quite simply, the lower the U-value, the better the insulation:
Triple glazing windows can also help to reduce noise pollution from outside. This is because the extra pane of glass helps to absorb sound waves.
A 2021 study, published in Noise Control Engineering, investigated the noise reduction performance of triple glazed windows in a real-world setting. The study found that triple glazing can reduce noise levels by up to 40 dB in real-world conditions.
The study also found that triple glazing is more effective at reducing noise from traffic than noise from aircraft. This is because traffic noise is typically lower in frequency than aircraft noise.
A further study in 2022, published in Building and Environment, found that triple glazing can reduce noise levels by up to 50 dB.
Triple glazed windows are more difficult to break than double glazed windows, making your home more secure. One study found that triple glazing took burglars an average of 2 minutes to break through, compared to 1 minute for double glazing.
Another further study, published in Security Journal in 2021, found that triple glazing can reduce the risk of burglary by up to 30%. In fact, the Metropolitan Police recommend triple glazing as a way to improve home security.
The Police website states that triple glazing windows are “more difficult for burglars to break through“, and that they can “deter burglars from targeting your home in the first place“.
Studies or no studies, it just makes common sense that triple glazing is more secure than double glazing. Triple glazed windows are made from thicker and stronger glass than double glazed windows. Which makes them more difficult to break and enter.
Triple glazed windows are also more durable than double glazed windows, which means that they will last longer. Also, the UK Glass and Glazing Federation recommends triple glazing for its durability.
The Federation states that triple glazing windows are “more resistant to damage from extreme weather conditions” and that they “have a longer lifespan than double glazing windows”.
So, if you’re looking for windows that are built to last, triple glazing windows are a good investment.
Like night and day, black and white, disadvantages of triple glazing must follow advantages. So let’s take a look at why installing triple glazing might not be the right option for you:
Triple glazing is more expensive than double glazed units. This is because they require more materials to manufacture and install. The extra pane of glass and the thicker frames and hardware all add to the cost.
According to the UK Glass and Glazing Federation, triple glazed windows are typically 20-30% more expensive than double glazed windows. One study revealed the average cost of triple glazing windows is £1200 per window. This is compared to £1000 per window for double glazing windows.
Triple glazing windows are heavier than double glazing windows because of the extra pane of glass. Triple glazed windows can weigh up to 50% more than double glazed windows. This can make them more difficult to install and transport.
The extra weight of triple glazed windows can also be a concern for older homes with weaker structures. Always consult with a qualified contractor to determine if your home can safely support triple glazing windows.
Triple glazing windows can block out more light than double glazing windows. This is because the extra pane of glass reflects and absorbs more light.
Again, according to the UK Glass and Glazing Federation, triple glazing windows can block out up to 20% more light than double glazing windows. This can be a disadvantage for north facing homes or shaded homes that don’t receive much natural light.
Yes, triple glazing windows can help to reduce noise pollution from outside. They do this by:
As mentioned above, triple glazing can block out up to 40 – 50 dB of noise, which is equivalent to the difference between the noise level in a quiet library and the noise level in a busy street.
The exact amount of noise that triple glazed windows can block will depend on a number of factors, including:
Again, yes, triple glazed windows have better energy efficiency ratings than double glazed windows. This is because the extra pane of glass helps to trap heat in the winter and keep heat out in the summer. Triple glazing windows can help you to reduce your energy bills and make your home more energy efficient.
For the ultimate in energy efficiency, security, durability, and reduced noise pollution in your home, triple glazed windows beat a double glazed window and single glazed windows hands down. In short, they make your home a more comfortable, peaceful, and a healthy place to live.
If you’re considering installing triple glazing windows, speak with a qualified contractor to discuss your project. At Windows & Doors UK, we can help you to choose the right windows for your needs and budget, as well as ensure your new energy efficient windows are installed properly.
Whether or not triple glazing is worth it depends on your individual needs and circumstances. If you live in a cold climate or in a noisy area, then triple glazing may be worth the investment. However, if you live in a mild climate and your home is not exposed to a lot of noise, then new double glazed windows may be sufficient.
If you do decide to install triple glazing, bear in mind triple glazing is more expensive than double glazing, however, the long-term savings on energy bills can make them a worthwhile investment. And, of course, the added comfort and peace of mind that triple glazing provides is priceless.There are no commercially available windows that are better than triple glazing windows in terms of thermal performance and sound insulation. However, there are some new technologies being developed, such as vacuum glazing, which could potentially offer even better performance.
Yes, triple glazing can help to keep heat out in summer. The extra pane of glass in a triple glazed unit helps to reflect sunlight and prevent heat from entering your home. Triple glazing can also help to keep your home cooler by trapping heat inside the window unit and preventing it from radiating into your home.
Yes, there is a big difference between double and triple glazing.
Double glazing has two panes of glass, while triple glazing has three. This extra pane of glass makes triple glazing more energy-efficient, better at reducing noise pollution, and more secure. Triple glazing can save you up to 20% on your energy bills, and it can reduce noise levels by up to 40 dB. Triple glazing is also more difficult to break than double glazing, which can make your home more secure.
