A comfortable and cosy home is one of the many things that contribute to our happiness as human beings. While the list of things that come together to make a house comfortable is long, ambient temperatures are among at the top. After all no matter how great your furniture and decor is, if your house is too cold or too warm you will probably not like it very much. Although fitting your house with air conditioners and high-quality insulation materials helps to keep your house warm during winters, a lot of heat is lost through your windows and doors.
This is where double glazing comes in. It improves the insulation capabilities of your house, keeping the cold at bay and the heat inside the house. The good news do not end there. Double glazing improves sound insulation, security and even increases the value of your house. However, if you are here you have probably heard of the benefits double glazing has to offer. Today we will look at how it achieves all these benefits.
What is double glazing
Before we can look at how it works let’s look at what it is. A double glazed window is made up of two glass panes placed closed together. The space between the two panes is either left as a vacuum or filled with an inert gas. The two panes are separated by a spacer which also keeps the inert gas or vacuum inside the gap. It is also known as insulated glazing.
How does it reduce heat loss
The great insulation abilities of double glazing come from the small space between the glass panes. When the air is sucked out and the space left as a vacuum there is no air to conduct heat from the inner glass pane to the outer pane. The space can also be filled with an inert gas such as argon. These gases have a lower heat conductivity than air. This way very little heat is transferred from the inner pane to the outer pane. This increased insulation reduces heat loss by a whopping 70%.
A single glazed window pane is directly in contact with the warm air inside the house and the cold air outside the house at the same time. The pane conducts heat from the house to the outer environment. The now cooler air on the inner side of the pane falls while the warmer air below the pane rises to take its place. This movement of air causes a draft inside the house. For double glazed windows, the inner pane is not in direct contact with the colder outer pane. This reduces heat loss by conduction, therefore, eliminating the cold draft on the inside.
How does it reduce condensation
The air inside the house gains moisture from appliances such as the shower and even the air we breathe out. As the windows conduct heat to the world outside, they become cooler. The moisture in the house then condenses on the cooler window panes resulting in the water droplets we see on windows. Since inner pane is almost as warm as the air in the house, moisture does not condense on it. This helps you to avoid the multiple problems that are brought about by condensation. You do not have to deal with rotting frames or mould and mildew.
Noise Reduction
While double glazing was developed to reduce heat loss it came with other great qualities. One of these qualities is noise reduction. While people who live in quiet neighbourhoods might not really need noise reduction. On the other hand, if you live near an airport, workshop, or you just have noisy neighbours then you could do with a better noise barrier. The double glass layer and air pocket provided by double glazing provide better insulation from noise than single glazing. Sound is an energy form and it travels through sound waves. The glass panes absorb some of the energy resulting in less sound getting through. The more the layers of glass the more sound is absorbed. To increase acoustic insulation capabilities you can choose thicker glass panes or acoustic glass which is better placed to stop sound waves.
Increasing Security
It is no doubt that windows are a particular weak point that burglars and other criminals can use to break into your house. All it takes is just a rock and they are in. While double glazed windows does not turn your house into a fortress, they are way harder to break. The added glass pane also makes more noise which makes it easier for you or your neighbours to hear the burglars. Double glazed windows are also constructed in a way that makes it harder to force them open from the outside. The security of doors and windows can further be enhanced by fitting them with multipoint locks which are more secure. These properties make it harder for someone to get into your house without your knowledge you can, therefore, sleep better at night or even take that trip without constantly worrying about your safety and that of your valuables.
Boosting Property Value
As you can see once you install double glazing your house not only becomes comfortable but it is safer, energy efficient and offers increased noise protection. These qualities are very attractive to buyers and they are willing to pay more for your house. Today there are qualified and experienced technicians who can install it on any house even older style houses without losing the original look and feel.
Looking above it is easy to see why double glazing gets great reviews and why it is great for you. With double glazing, you can enjoy warm winters, a safer house and even the peace and ambience that a home should provide. However, it is important to get a qualified person to make the installation. This ensures you get beautiful windows and doors that not only accentuate your house but are also free of any problems. Get in touch with us for the highly qualified technicians, high-quality service and the best prices around.