What Are Triple Pane Windows, And Why Invest? | Dallas, TX
Since the days of single panes of glass between a house’s interior and the outside, window construction has advanced significantly. Double and triple pane windows are now possible. Even quadruple pane windows are available, which offer 20-percent more thermal resistance than triple pane options, though at a high price.
Windows with more than one pane of glass offer improved U-factors (referring to heat transfer. The lower the U factor, the better the window’s ability to stop heat flow), and often include warm-edge spacers to prevent cold bridges (also known as thermal bridges), and utilize inert gasses (argon, krypton) to help prevent heat transfer and loss, filling in the gaps between the panes.
What Are Triple-Glazed Windows and How Do They Work?
As the U.S. Department of Energy leans towards R-5 windows, or hurricane-resistant windows, triple pane windows are becoming more popular. In areas like Dallas, TX, that can experience wild fluctuations in temperature, window insulation is essential. Window insulation prevents cooled, conditioned air or warmed air from the furnace leaving the house, and keeps the exterior temperatures from affecting interior comfort.
Insulated windows are made up of multiple layers of glass. The spacer is a metal or foam piece that separates the glass layers. By creating a spacer between the two glass panes, manufacturers can improve insulation properties by filling these pockets with inert gasses such as argon and krypton. Triple pane windows reduce condensation to negligible levels, and provide multiple barriers that prevent heat loss.
Why Should You Invest In Multiple Panes?
Multi-glazed windows, much like modern high-quality vinyl siding, have great insulation properties. They also reduce sound transmission and make your home feel more peaceful. They are more resistant to condensation, and they are harder to break through than single pane windows. The additional layers of glass can not only improve your home’s security, but also provide energy savings.
Triple pane windows have the same effect on walls and ceilings as upgrading from R-20 to R-40 windows. They can reduce relative heat loss and increase thermal comfort indoors.
One of the key reasons to invest in modern triple-glazed windows with vinyl frames, specifically, is that replacement vinyl windows increase energy efficiency more than other types of windows. Older windows tend to distribute cold and hot air inside the home and outside more-so than modern windows. This can be down to broken seals, rotting frames, and drafts, but also due to the poorer insulation qualities exhibited by single panes of glass. Only investing in single pane windows increases the work required to heat and cool the home, which ultimately leads to a higher energy bill for homeowners while your HVAC works harder to maintain a consistent, comfortable temperature.
Another advantage of investing in triple pane windows with vinyl frames is that they dramatically reduce noise from entering or leaving the home. Homeowners with triple-pane vinyl replacement windows can forget about interruptions from loud car stereos, traffic, noisy dogs, or the children playing outside across the street. Instead, you can focus on sounds inside the home. You can be sure that noise inside your home also doesn’t interrupt anyone outside — thanks to the sound transmission barriers created by the extra panes of glass and additional airspace.
These windows are very difficult to break into and offer homeowners a unique safety feature. Modern locking mechanisms on new triple pane windows are designed to deter intruders, while simultaneously being easy to open from the inside by homeowners.
With modern advancements, window replacement has never been easier. Modern windows come in a range of styles and colors and can be customized so that they match your home. Energy Window Solutions offers a variety of reinforced windows that exceed government standards and the entire process from construction to after sales care is managed by our team. We offer true factory-direct value to all of our customers.
Sometimes, the most cost-effective option is also the least effective. There is an initial outlay for triple glazing that can seem expensive at first, but the higher insulating power and self-recovering costs make the investment worth it for a lot of Dallas, TX, homeowners. The additional cost of purchasing windows with triple glazing is offset by lower energy bills over the lifetime of the windows.
Triple pane windows can improve the U-Factor by up to 52% more than dual-pane windows. This is due to a combination of an extra pane of clear glass, multiple cavities that have insulating spaces filled with Argon, and the additional glass surfaces where Low-E coating technology can be applied.
Double vs Triple Pane — Which Is Better for You?
Dual pane windows are made up of two layers of glass with an insulating agent and spacer (such as argon gas) between them. They are energy-efficient and allow your HVAC system to keep the air inside your home more efficiently. You will also enjoy a more consistent temperature throughout the year.
Double pane windows work well in most climates, except for areas with cold winters. In harsher climates, they may not offer sufficient insulation to keep your home warm in the coldest months.
In comparison, triple pane windows offer the highest energy efficiency and are the most advanced type of window readily available on the market. Triple-glazed windows are made up of three panes with spacers between them, and a gas insulator. This increases your home’s energy efficiency and helps you save money on your monthly energy bills. Triple windows can also be used to effectively add a layer of soundproofing.
Talking to a professional about modern replacement windows will help you learn more about the options available for your home. At Energy Window Solutions, we can help you find the windows you want at the price you need. Talk to us about triple pane windows via our website or give us a call to find out more. We have more than three decades of experience in the window industry and serve all of Dallas, TX with our expertise.