In case you are not completely sure what they are, double glazed windows are those that have their panes reinforced. Double glazing includes installing two glass layers instead of one. This process comes with many benefits, and few drawbacks. Hopefully, this short guide and talking to professionals like Jayhawk Exteriors Inc will help you decide if these windows are right for your home.
Purpose
The primary purpose of windows is to let in the light and block air, dust and other things from entering the house. Windows do have an insulation role, but it is insignificant. They are only a few millimeters thick and not very heat resistant, so you may expect that your heating bill will increase if you live in a home with many large windows. The design of double, glazed windows, on the other hand, allows them to let light in, while acting as very good insulators.
Structure
As we said, double glazed windows are made with two panes of glass, separated by a layer of trapped air. The space between the glass layers is airtight, so there is absolutely no air lean between the layers, which means very little heat escapes. What is more, a desiccant is of often added between the panes, so any stray moisture is trapped, preventing the fogging. Double glazed windows can be either clear, tinted or covered in reflective coating.
Insulation
When it comes to double glazed windows, insulation works in more than one way. First, there are two layers of glass through which heat has to escape. Second, there is the trapped air between them. Heat is a property of moving molecules, the faster they move the hotter is the material, Heat is spread through molecules colliding with one another, in a process called conduction. Air molecules are thinly spread when compared to some gasses, liquid and solid materials, so the trapped air works as an excellent insulator.
Coatings
In addition, double glazed windows can be improved by additional coatings. If you live in area with a lot of sunny days, you might consider reflective metallic coating on the outside side of the outer panes. According to the people who own and operate Magnetite, this coating filters infrared radiation from beaming through, decreasing the heating effect of the sunrays. If the same coating is applied on the outside of the inner pane, it will stop infrared radiation from heat sources from leaving the room. Similarly to normal windows, double glazed ones can also be tinted to various degrees to reduce the amount of light entering the house.
Increased Security
According to statistics, most home break-ins involve breaching windows or doors. Double glazed windows make it more difficult for burglars to get in, as the security alarm can be set to activate on breaking the first layer. Eventually, a burglar may find it discouraging to proceed with breaking the second layer with the alarm siren blaring.
Noise Reduction
Finally, double glazed windows are much more effective in reducing the street noise than their single-pane counterparts. This can get especially important issue if you live in areas with heavy traffics, in the vicinity of a major road corridor, harbor or an airport. Your sleep and general disposition will improve with the installation of double glazed windows, combined with other noise reduction measures.
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