How Does Double Glazing Work?

Double-glazing is made up of an inner layer of glass and an outer layer of glass, separated by a spacer bar, which creates a pocket of air in the middle. The pocket of air is made up of Argon gas, and acts as an insulating barrier that reduces heat loss. 

Argon gas is a much better insulator than glass, which is why double-glazing is so much better at retaining heat than a standard single-glazed window. In fact, a single pane of glass alone is so good at conducting heat that it’ll encourage heat to travel through and be lost on the outside. 

How Much Difference Does Double Glazing Make?

When it comes to saving money on your heating bill, heating your house more effectively and even reducing noise from the outside, double-glazing is one of the best investments you can make. 

According to the Energy Saving Trust, installing high quality, A-rated double-glazing in a single glazed house can save between £115 and £120 per year in a typical gas-heated home. For those of us who get cold easily, it turns out that around twice as much heat is lost through single glazing as standard double-glazing.

Feeling Creative? Why not visit our state-of-the-art interactive design page to design your very own window solution.

Single Glazing vs New Double Glazing

Double-glazing has numerous benefits over single glazing. This is because single glazing has no insulating layer of air to provide a barrier between the environment inside and the weather outside, giving double-glazing more advantages:

• Warmth 

Double glazed windows are able to retain more heat than single glazing. Single glazing is made up of a single pane of glass, which transfers more heat to the outside, leading to faster loss of heat inside the home. 

• Cost-effective and energy efficient 

Double-glazing is much more cost-effective than single glazing because it has an extra capacity for insulation and heat retention. With more heat retention comes less energy output, which means you’ll save more money on your heating bill. 

• Condensation

Single-glazed windows are notoriously bad for causing a build-up of condensation. This is because a single pane of glass can’t retain the heat as well as double-glazing, which means moisture in the air will condense on the cold glass surface. As there is less heat contrast between the inner pane of glass and the ambient temperature of the room, you’ll see a drastic reduction of condensation with double glazing.  

• Noise 

If you live in a noisy area, or if you have notoriously noisy neighbours, it might be time to think about investing in double-glazing. The extra layer of glass provides another barrier not just from the elements but from excess noise as well. 

If noise is a serious problem in your area, then talk to us about our  SGG Stadip Silence glass laminate, which reduces noise pollution by at least 35dB. 

• Safety

Double-glazing is safer than single glazing. This is because double-glazing is made up of an extra layer of glass, which is tougher and harder to break, making it more difficult for opportunists to break into your home.

Old Double Glazing vs New Double Glazing

You might have already experienced the benefits of double-glazing in your home, but with an average lifespan of around twenty years, it could be time to replace your old double-glazed windows with a newer alternative. Luckily, and thanks to several technological advancements, new double-glazing is even more beneficial to your home.

• Effectiveness

The effectiveness of double-glazing decreases over time, so you may start noticing that your old double-glazing isn’t as good at reducing your heating bill, retaining warmth or protecting your home against excess noise as it used to be. This is when you know you might need a replacement. 

• The Air Gap

Newer double-glazing has a thicker gap of air than older double-glazing. There could be a difference of as much as 10mm between double-glazing units from 10 or 15 years ago, compared to today, which could make it less effective at retaining heat inside the home. 

• Compression Seals 

Up to date glazing uses compression seals, which draught-proof your home far better than the magnetic alternatives often used in older double-glazing. Compression seals act as a spring force to hold everything in place, even accounting for the thermal expansion caused by temperature changes. 

• New Ratings 

Different types of double-glazing come with their own energy rating, which indicates how effective your window is at reducing energy output and retaining heat. These energy ratings were launched sometime around the mid-2000s by the British Fenestration Rating Council, which means earlier double-glazing doesn’t benefit from these criteria. 

Double Glazing vs Triple Glazing

The difference between double glazing and triple glazing is, you guessed it, an extra layer of glass. Double-glazing comes with two layers of glass with a pocket of air in between that’s filled with Argon gas, much like a sandwich, whereas triple glazed windows have three layers of glass with two pockets of air, more like a CLUB sandwich. 

The extra layer in triple glazed windows makes for more energy-efficient windows and gives you even greater value for money than standard double-glazing alone, This makes it a desirable option for many, and we recommend it for exposed houses in rural areas where winter temperatures can plummet quickly. 

How to Make Your House as Energy-Efficient as Possible

Making your home as energy-efficient as possible is a great way to reduce your fuel bills and help protect the environment. More than half of all UK household energy bills are for heating, which means that preventing heat loss  is one of the best ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home. 

We know that double-glazing goes a long way to reducing heat loss in your home. You could also draught-proof your doors and insulate your walls, roof and floors to keep as much warmth in your home as possible.

Need a little inspiration? View and download one of our brochures today.