The cooler weather is arriving, and winter is well on its way. For many, a nice chill in the air is something to look forward to in the fall, but it’s a different story if that chill makes its way indoors.
One of the great things about a fall chill is that it doesn’t follow into the house. After all, our homes are supposed to be our safe places where we can feel comfortable – and that includes feeling warm and cozy. When it begins making you feel uncomfortable, it’s a problem, and it’s one that homeowners don’t have to live with.
When your home is constantly chilly no matter how high you have the heat set, or you feel cold drafts every time you walk by a window, it can make your time at home incredibly uncomfortable. It can also cost you a lot on your energy bills.
To combat this, it might be time to look into replacement windows, specifically triple glazed ones. These windows are growing in popularity, primarily in colder areas, and for a good reason. Triple glazed windows have three panes of glass, and most will have an inner chamber of insulating gas between each pane to improve thermal insulation even more.
There are many benefits of triple glazed windows beyond the obvious, and we’ve listed them to help you decide if these are the right windows for you.
Improve Insulation
The main reason homeowners choose triple glazed windows is for their high insulation performance. The increased insulation compared to double glazed windows makes a big difference in the comfort levels, even in areas that experience the coldest winters. Imagine not feeling that chill when walking past windows or not dreading getting out from under blankets because of the cold that will hit you!
Their superior performance also means it’s likely homeowners will see a decrease in their energy bills. This can vary depending on the geographic area and condition of the windows that are being replaced, but the increased insulation of triple glazed windows leads to many homeowners seeing a noticeable drop in their energy bills.
Less Condensation
When colder weather arrives, many homeowners find their windows covered with condensation. This happens when moist indoor air comes in contact with cooler surfaces, like window glass. The moisture that is in the air condenses to form water droplets, and sometimes even frost. The chances of this happening rise as temperatures drop or indoor humidity levels rise.
Triple glazed windows combat this effect as they are designed to reduce the heat loss that occurs with other windows. Because the temperature of the glass on the inside of your home is higher than with double glazed windows (and especially single pane windows), there is less opportunity for moist air to turn into condensation.
Sound Reduction
While it’s the high insulation performance that first draws homeowners in to look at triple glazed windows, a much-appreciated benefit is their enhanced sound transmission. As we spend so much time in our own homes, we sometimes don’t realize the level of outdoor noise and its impact. From kids playing and heavy traffic to garbage trucks, people mowing their lawns or running their snowblowers, and construction or renovation projects, the amount of noise that enters our homes from outdoors can significantly impact our health.
Studies have shown that noise has much more of an effect on health than previously thought. According to a report in Harvard Medicine, researchers have shown noise pollution leads to hearing loss, tinnitus and hypersensitivity to sound, but that it also can cause or exacerbate cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, sleep disturbances, stress, childhood learning delays and more.
With the extra pane of glass and insulating gas chamber that comes with triple glazed windows also comes a significant reduction in that outdoor noise. Whether you’re looking for peace and quiet so you can get your work done or you’re trying to watch TV and can’t hear it over the sound of kids yelling or neighbor’s saw running during a renovation project, these windows can provide relief.
Improved Security
Will triple glazed windows on their own make your home more secure? Probably not. But combined with other safety measures, their presence will be a deterrent to potential burglars. The added pane that triple glazed windows have that helps reduce noise pollution also makes them more difficult to break and look more sturdy and secure overall, which can discourage burglars. They are a great addition to a wider home security strategy.
Some of these benefits will mean more to some people than others, and some will have a bigger impact on your home or your health. Replacing windows is expensive and triple glazed windows come at a higher cost than double glazed windows do. It’s important to look over the benefits and costs associated with both and see which option is the right one for your family and your home.
