Is Triple Glazing Worth It?

Triple Glazing – What are the advantages and disadvantages?

As you would assume, of course triple glazing should offer all the benefits that double glazing does and more. However, as we have come to realize with many products in this ever changing construction and home improvement market, that isn't necessarily the case. If you are basing your decision to purchase double or triple glazed windows on energy efficiency alone, then the payback on your initial payment does take some time to show the benefits, and with triple glazing costing that much extra that double glazing, is it really worth it?.

The benefits of double glazing aren't limited to simply reducing energy bills but also the reduction in noise pollution, draught prevention, aesthetics and the amount of maintenance that will be required in time also need to be taken into account. These are advantages to both double and triple glazing, of course the results vary but do the differences really make that much of a difference on your home?

In countries such as Norway, Finland and Sweden triple glazed glass units are the most common form of glazing and I'm sure they feel that the triple glazed units benefits are far superior when compared to the double glazed glass unit option. Take what you will from triple glazed units being the standard choice in that area of the world, but keep in mind the dramatic change in climate the Scandinavian countries have compared to the cool temperate oceanic climate of Ireland.
The point that is being made here is that, although the U-Values and G-Values may be lower in the triple glazed units when compared to the double glazed units, is it really necessary to have triple glazed windows in Ireland? The Lower the U and G Value the better. U-Value is the measurement of heat loss through your glass and is expressed in watts per kelvin meter square Or W/Km2. G-Value measures the heat gained from the sun. 
Solar Gain passes through your glass in two ways:

1. Directly through the glass having Low Emissivity (aka Low E)/ Extra Clear glass allows easier passage for the natural light.
2. Heat is also absorbed by the glass which is subsequently radiated inwards.

As we can see from the above graph, triple glazing is evidently more energy efficient than double glazing, and although the cost of installing triple glazed units is higher, the savings on heating bills % should also be higher than the double glazed units. The main noticeable benefit of triple glazing is the reduction of cold spots beside windows in your home; improved wall insulation means that windows are a weak point and triple glazing cuts down on the cool patches in an otherwise warm room.  Triple glazing is also much better at reducing outside noise, and so particularly good for homes in busy or excessively noisy locations.

When analyzing your options, it's worth taking into consideration the Energy Rating of your home and also if you think the triple glazed unit choice is really worth the additional cost you will have to pay. If at present your home doesn't suffer from damp areas beside windows or needs an excessive amount heating during the colder seasons to keep the house warm, perhaps triple glazed units may not be necessary for you and a suitable option would be an A-Rated Glass Unit replacement.

Check out the link to see how our Double Glazed Units are made

You can call us on (01) 8021800 or email us at info@harvestenergy.ie to get your free consultation and quotation