Why Upgrade to Double Glazing

Single glazing in properties is a cause for concern, allowing heat to escape and sometimes becoming draughty as it ages and deteriorates. Replacing single glazed windows with double glazing is one of the best options for your windows. This will lower your energy bills and cancel out more outside noise at the same time. There are many benefits of upgrading to double glazing, and also a couple of drawbacks, which are all detailed here.

Poorly insulated windows allow up to 10% of your home’s heat out. As single glazing doesn’t have an extra insulating layer, like double glazing, heat is lost, which causes your heating to run for longer periods of time. Heat is lost as it’s generated, making your boiler costs go up. With properly insulated double glazing, more heat is kept in, keeping your home cosy without having to overwork your boiler. According to Energy Saving Trust, replacing single glazed windows with A++ rated double glazed ones, you can expect to save up to £235 a year on your energy bills, which is nothing to be scoffed at.

Some single glazed windows can be draughty as well, allowing cold air in through gaps in the frame or cill. Double glazed windows are designed in such a way as to prevent this from happening as much as physically possible. It’s also a better way of controlling cold and damp conditions, which can lead to the formation of mould. The seals around the frame and window are more airtight, preventing this problem.

The thermal efficiency of single glazed windows is not great as the single pane of glass doesn’t trap any heat. The thermal transfer allows heat straight through the glass. With double glazing, an insulated barrier of gas infill prevents the transfer of heat as much, increasing the thermal efficiency, reducing heat transfer and loss. This also helps with outside noise reduction, with thicker glass and a thicker infill, noise pollution can be greatly reduced.

Condensation can also be reduced if you upgrade to double glazing. Single panes greatly suffer from condensation on the inside when the temperature difference is greater. Double glazing cuts down on this by having a gas infill buffer. Since the thermal efficiency is greater, less heat is lost, so less condensation is present.

The only disadvantages that you’ll have with double glazing is from the cost and the presence of condensation. Double glazed windows are whole units and need to be created as such, which comes at more of a cost. Depending on the material that you choose, this can come at a higher cost as well. Timber will be more expensive than uPVC, but the frame should complement the style of your home. Likewise, even though condensation is reduced with double glazing, some units can still form condensation on the inside pane if there is a big difference in temperature between the inside and outside.

If you’d like to find out more about double glazing, you can read our article about how much double glazing costs.