Installing double glazed windows in your home means better insulation, resulting in a warmer house and lower energy bills. It is a big investment, so you have to choose the right double glazing for your home. This guide lists what to look for when investing in double glazing for your home.

Effectiveness

How effective is double glazing? This is the first thing you want to evaluate to make the most out of your double-glazed windows. Double glazed windows have many perks over single glazing.

• They improve insulation- they maintain warm air inside your house, resulting in cheaper heating bills and fewer draughts.
• It reduces condensation inside your windows, preventing the growth of mold.
• Soundproofing- double glazing provides more soundproofing; therefore, you will hear less noise from outside.
• More security- double glazing is hard to break into compared to single glazing.

How much you notice these benefits depends on the quality of double glazing. The most efficient double glazing from swish has gas between the panes and low emissivity glass to help bounce back natural light into your home.

Energy Rating

The energy rating system is A++ for the best and E for the worst when it comes to double glazing, and therefore different double glazing materials fall under that spectrum. The new building regulations demand that all new windows be at least C-rated to meet the required levels of thermal transmittance. You should look at the energy rating of the double glazing to gauge its performance and whether it will save you more energy bills.

One of the motivations to install double glazing is to reduce your energy consumption when heating and cooling your house. 67% of homeowners have reported that double glazed windows made their houses warmer, but only 35% think it reduced their energy bills.

The Energy Saving Trust suggests, if you replaced all your single glazing in a detached house with A++ double glazed windows, you would save more than £115 per year, which goes a long way.

U-value

When looking at the energy rating, you will also notice the U-value, which measures how much heat can pass through the glazing. Ideally, the higher the U-value, the lower the heat level can pass through the glazing.

Note the difference between energy rating and U-value. For instance, some double glazing has a low U-value but a high energy rating. The energy rating measures all window features, including the type of glass and gas and not only how well the materials insulate. Therefore, the window glazing might be better overall.

Soundproofing

Double glazing has two glass panes instead of one, so it will likely provide more soundproofing by blocking out the noises. Triple glazing, on the other hand, cuts down the noise more. 46% of the people who got double glazing reported that it minimized their exterior noise. However, it is best to ask the specialists if the double glazing will offer the kind of soundproofing you need.

Final words

Beyond the double glazing itself, look at other stylistic features such as color, handles, and other decorations to improve the aesthetics of your house.