While most people would agree that single glazing is not efficient in terms of energy bills or sufficient for keeping a home warm, some are still unconvinced that upgrading from double glazing to triple glazing will make a significant difference to their home’s thermal efficiency or heating bills. We discuss whether triple glazing is worth the extra money.
What is triple glazing?
As the name suggests, triple-glazed windows are made up of three panes of glass, as opposed to one for single glazing or two for double glazing. The cavity between each pane of glass is often filled with an inert gas such as argon to help further improve the thermal efficiency of the window.
What are the benefits of triple glazing?
1. Energy efficiency
Triple glazing is the most energy-efficient glazing option for windows, having the lowest U-value of any domestic window. Triple-glazed windows are approximately 40% more thermally efficient than “A” rated PVCu double glazing so energy savings are far higher.
2. Reduces draughts
Triple-glazed windows and doors will reduce draughts and cold spots in rooms that currently have less thermally efficient windows and doors. They can also help to reduce condensation levels in the home.
3. Improved sound quality
Triple glazing grants better acoustics in a room and also provides more soundproofing, meaning you will hear less noise from outside the house.
4. Durability
Triple-glazed windows are extremely durable and are stronger than double-glazed windows. This means that triple-glazed windows are less likely to break due to accidental damage.
5. Security
An added bonus of this strength is that triple glazing is harder to break into, providing extra security for your home and peace of mind for you.
What are the disadvantages of triple glazing?
The main drawback of triple glazing is the cost, which leads a lot of people to ask ‘is triple glazing worth the extra money?’ Triple-glazed windows cost around 20% more than double-glazed windows, so it is certainly a valid concern for homeowners looking to make the switch.
Triple glazing is also much heavier than double glazing, which means more strain is put on the structure of your window or door frames, and can possibly damage your walls if they are not properly supported.
Is triple glazing worth the extra money?
There is no doubt that we should be making the necessary improvements to make our homes more energy efficient where we can, for the good of both the planet and our energy bills.
Whether triple glazing is worth the upgrade from double glazing is really a case-by-case basis, dependent on factors such as your budget, the condition of your walls and how thermally efficient your house currently is.
One other option for those looking for the benefits of triple glazing without the drawbacks is to install windows that use Pilkington K-Glass. These give you the energy efficiency of triple glazing.
These are the windows we install here at Therm-Eco as standard, and you can read more about this on our additional services page.