Double glazing is a staple of modern homes these days - and for good reason. Double glazed windows will boost your home’s energy efficiency, save you money, keep you warmer and reduce your carbon footprint. While these are all fantastic benefits, many homeowners put off upgrading their window panes because of the upfront costs. As such, you want to be sure that double glazing services are the right choice for your home. To find out more about what a reliable glazing company can do for you, keep reading.
A Brief History of Double Glazing
Over the past century, double glazing has become immensely popular, but let’s take it back to the beginning. It was first thought to be invented in Scotland in the 1870s, where Victorian homeowners attempted to create methods to improve the insulation of their homes during the colder months.
However, despite early developments during this period, double glazing didn’t boom in the UK for a few more decades. Post-WW2 homes were cold, draughty and extremely hard to keep warm, and it wasn’t until 1965 that the government passed the first national building regulations. Encouraging builders to invest in energy saving technology and materials was one of the rules introduced to help cut costs. Before long, uPVC windows were introduced to the UK from Germany and took the nation by storm. In fact, by the 1990s, double glazing had increased from being installed in just 16% of homes in the 1970s to over 60%!
Does Double Glazing Prevent Heat Loss?
Conduction refers to heat being transferred through a material, so when a property has single glazing, heat hits the glass and is then passed through the glass to the other side, which significantly increases the heat loss from the house.
However, double glazing works against this heat loss, as the heat is instead transferred to the air between the panels. As argon gas is a poor conductor of heat, the second pane of glass prevents the conducted heat from convecting, thus eliminating the transferral of heat outside of the home.
Does Double Glazing Reduce Outdoor Noise?
When sound waves hit glass, it vibrates the window pane which in turn vibrates the air on the other side of the pane and passes the sound onto those in the room. Therefore, when a home has single glazing, there isn’t much protection from outdoor noise as it can easily travel through. That’s why, if you live in a noisy area, double glazing is a must-have.
Does Double Glazing Reduce Condensation?
Condensation is a huge problem for homes with old single glazing, and can cause mould, damp and other structural problems. Double glazing helps to prevent condensation from spreading as the glass panes are kept warmer. The air gap between the two panes of glass helps to keep the internal pane as close to room temperature as possible thanks to the lack of heat loss through the window.
What are the Benefits of Double Glazed Windows?
Now that we understand how double glazing works, it’s time to look at how it can benefit you and house home. Here are just a few of the advantages of having double glazing installed.
Energy Efficiency
Although double glazing can be a costly investment at first, they make a huge difference to the energy efficiency of your home - so much so that in 2002, the UK government updated their building regulations to state that all replacement windows must be a minimum of C-rated double glazing (unless the building is listed or in a conservation area).
Double glazing helps homes to retain most of the heat it gains from sunlight during the day, so in the winter, the heating doesn’t need to be turned on as much. Similarly in the summer, a cooler home means you’ll be much more comfortable.
Increased Property Value
Making any improvement to your home will have a positive impact on its value, and double glazing is no exception. Even if you aren’t planning on selling, double glazing is known to make your property more attractive to prospective buyers when the time comes. It’s made all the more appealing because it requires no maintenance, so homeowners aren’t forced to do lots of work on the home when they move in.
Environmental Impact
For those concerned with reducing their carbon footprint, double glazed windows are the way forward. Minimising energy use by installing double glazing is much kinder to the environment as it lessens the strain on the country’s energy suppliers with wasted heat loss. By spending less on your energy bills each month, you’ll inevitably reduce your carbon footprint.
Count On Our Double Glazing Services in Chesterfield
For bespoke windows and double glazing installations in Chesterfield, choose Grassmoor Glass. Our team are experts when it comes to all things double glazing, and can provide everything from fittings to repair work to suit your needs. For more information about our services, please
get in touch today.
