The easiest way to determine what type of windows your house is equipped with is with a quick visual check. Double-glazing literally means two panes of glass, so you will see this type of construction with a small gap for air in between. The air gap typically contains a type of inert gas that does not conduct heat, like argon, to help insulate the home. A misted-up new upvc door window is due to the seal on the glass, which has nothing to do with the frame itself. Indeed, as long as the frame is in good condition, you simply just need to replace the glass unit. When performing double glazing repairs, it is a great opportunity to upgrade the glass to A-rated energy-efficient to get better insulation and lower your heating bills.

When argon is used inside double-glazing, heat has an even more difficult time trying to cross through, making it more effective. Not only will it save you money on energy bills, but the improvement to your home’s energy performance can also improve your property’s value. Well, as Bristol’s leading installer of double glazed windows, we thought we’d shed some light on the subject. At Thermotek, we understand the needs of the Australian consumer better than anyone. Made in Melbourne, our products are for Australian builders and homeowners. We provide the highest quality, long-lasting double glazed windows and doors.

If your window is exposed to extreme temperatures, this may cause it to fail quicker. This means that south-facing windows will fail sooner than north-facing ones as they will get hotter due to being exposed to more sunlight, which can cause the seal to fail.

What Is The Process Of Installing Double Glazed Windows?

Some double glazed windows can even be filled with gases that conduct heat less well than air, such as Argon and Krypton. These increase the cost slightly but improve energy ratings even further. Double glazing is a feature you can apply to any windows and glass doors to keep your home from losing heat in winter, or gaining heat in summer. Instead of a single pane of glass, double glazed windows and doors utilise two panes of glass separated by a layer of air or argon gas. As winter approaches, Australians are turning on their heaters to combat the cold. Running your heater all the time is a major contributor to energy wastage. You lose a large percentage of heat via your windows and doors, leaving you needing more and more energy.

The air pocket that sits between the two sheets of glass creates a seal against the outdoors. When you have a single glazed window, you have just one pane of glass that acts as the barrier between the outdoors and your home. Due to the heat-conducting properties of glass, this kind of window is extremely inefficient. With a single glazed window, one glass pane serves as the barrier between your home and the outdoors. As we will talk about later, this is inefficient due to the heat conducting properties of glass. Any replacement windows in existing homes must have an overall U-value of at least 1.6 W/m2k.

Increasing Security

Triple glazing improves the thermal efficiency and acoustic insulation of windows even more – however it is a lot more expensive. Unlike double glazing, where the cost is usually repaid by energy bill savings, the increased thermal insulation of triple glazing does not reduce energy bills enough to cover the costs. The process of installing new glass panes won’t differ much between glaze types. Triple-glazed windows will be heaviest as they contain three layers of glass, but overall the process is similar. However, you do want to make sure you choose the right glass for your environment, budget, and window size. Different glass gives you different levels of energy efficiency, insulation, light protection, and weather sturdiness.

You can also get condensation on the inside of the units when clothes are being dried in a room when it is cold and wet outside. The moisture begins to rot, and eventually, mould and mildew growth. Your double glazing also won’t insulate as well because air and heat energy are able to pass through once the seal fails. Your glass absorbs the sun’s thermal energy and will then heat your home up, making it harder to keep your house cool and forcing you to rely more on your air conditioner. Curtains and blinds may stop visible light, but that isn’t the problem. The short-term insulation methods above are perfect if you’ve just moved into a period home and want to keep warm over the winter. They are also perfect if you’d prefer to wait until spring to have your windows replaced with double glazing.

The glass panes absorb some of the energy resulting in less sound getting through. To increase acoustic insulation capabilities you can choose thicker glass panes or acoustic glass which is better placed to stop sound waves. Argon gas is the insulating gas commonly used in the air gap inside a double-glazed sealed unit. It is the substance that lends double-glazed windows much of their potency as it slows the transfer of heat between panes of glass, thereby insulating your home. Argon is by no means the only noble gas that is used to this effect in window construction. A range of others can be used including krypton, nitrogen, xenon and even oxygen. Our glass of choice for the retrofit service is always Fineo’s vacuum-sealed glass.

You can hear a lot of noise from outside

Alternatively, there are cheap DIY options to add a layer of clear plastic film to the inside of the window. Window film is not a very efficient way to prevent heat from escaping through your single glazed windows. The double glazed sealed unit may be an integral part of the window but the frame is also a vital part that supports the unit. Wooden frames that are rotten and cracked cannot be fixed and uPVC that is yellowing or warped can’t be salvaged. Always check your manufacturer’s warranty, if they have failed within warranty you can get your windows repaired or replaced. With double glazing, the movement of thermal energy is slowed down because of the air space between the double glazing.