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Let’s admit it – when it comes to that added layer of insulation at home, the one question that gets stuck in our minds is ‘whether to go for double or triple glazing!’
Perhaps your home is situated near a busy road and noise reduction is your top priority. Or maybe you’re trying to make the most of your commercial heat pump installation while also reducing your energy bills?
Whether it is for your commercial place, home, or an enclosed porch for winter, here we’ve put together a handy guide explaining all the facts and figures you need to make the right decision.
Read on!
Double VS Triple Glazing – What’s the Difference
When it comes to the physical differences between double and triple glazing, it’s quite simple – while double glazing has two panes of glass, the triple one, as the name suggests, has three of them.
Now, if you compare your windows this way, then making a choice would be much easier; opting for three panes is better than two.
However, apart from the number of panes, there are various other differences between how these two glazings can benefit your property while not burning a hole in your pockets!
Here are the top four aspects that you need to look out for when choosing between double and triple glazing.
1. Energy Efficiency
As we all know, the primary reason for changing from single to double glazing is the increased energy efficiency that comes with it. This means that, with triple glazing, the efficiency could be increased further.
Since the majority of properties lose heat generated by their commercial heat pumps through their windows, it’s crucial to opt for maximum insulation. In doing so, you will not only reduce the loss of heat as much as possible but also lower your heating bills.
Additionally, when it comes to measuring the amount of heat loss, it’s usually done in U- value.
While for single glazing the U- value is around 5.6, for double glazing it’s somewhere around 2.8 and 0.8 for the triple one – makes it easier to decide, doesn’t it?
Having said that, you need to remember that simply upgrading from single to double or triple glazing won’t help. You’ll still be wasting a lot of energy from various areas of your home. This means you need to look to insulate other areas, like the roof, loft, floors, doors, outdoor storage, etc. – that way, you can make sure you’ve all the cold spots covered.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to invest in other energy-efficient systems like underfloor heating and heat pumps. You can get in touch with commercial heat pump installation companies to help you with it.
2. Noise Level Reduction
If you’re living in a noisy area or near a busy road that has heavy traffic throughout the day, getting additional insulation will be your best bet.
Whilst double glazing can help reduce the outside noise, with triple glazing you can attain a superior reduction. However, there are certain aspects that you need to consider:
- The thickness of your glazing plays a key role in sound insulation. By selecting a glass with asymmetrical glazing (various pane thickness combinations), you can reduce the noise even further. This is because the thickness can block various frequencies. To achieve the best results, however, go for a thickness of at least 33%.
- The size of the gap that’s there between two panels is equally important; the bigger the gap, better is the noise reduction.
- Avoid installing trickle ventilators, as that’ll hamper the noise reduction achieved with above tips.
If you’re trying to decide between double and triple glazing in terms of noise reduction, it’s better to seek assistance from a professional regarding the situation and noise you’re dealing with.
Whilst triple glazing is considered to be the most effective, it could be slightly expensive; double glazing with the right thickness and gaps can be sufficient.
3. Cold Patch Elimination
Condensation and dampness is usually caused when the presence of excess moisture in air comes in contact with a cold surface, later turning into water.
Cold patches in your home can also occur when there’s a massive difference between the U- value of your floors and walls when compared to the windows. Since the U- value of walls is around 0.3, your windows need to go a long way in order to be equally efficient.
With triple glazing offering the most efficiency in terms of U- value (between 1.8 and 0.6), they can be your safe bet.
4. Price Comparison
When comparing two products, there’s sure to be some sort of cost implication.
As you can expect, triple glazing can be more expensive than the double one because of the various manufacturing techniques it entails; not to mention the raw materials required to produce it.
However, choosing triple over double glazing can be the best way to go about it because of the comfort and optimum energy efficiency it has to offer.
Note – You can’t see an ROI through double or triple glazing in terms of recouping money through lowered bills. You also need to look for other options like heat pumps for commercial buildings, radiators and underfloor heating.
Double Glazing or Triple Glazing – The Final Verdict
As mentioned above, there are various pros and cons of choosing between double and triple glazing. This means, it’s best to depend on your biggest priority or requirement and accordingly choose one that best suits your needs.
If you still need help, you can get in touch with professionals and seek their advice before making your final decision!
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