How do double glazing work

But how is this type of window so much more efficient than a single pane window? Double glazed windows have two panes close together, hence the name double glazing. There is a glass pane on the outside, a glass pane on the inside, and a small space in the centre known as an air gap or tight air pocket.

When heat energy is transferred from hot spaces to cold spaces we call it convection, but it requires a good conductor. The trapped air in-between the glass cannot circulate, so it is therefore a poor conductor, reducing the rate of heat loss from inside the house. With less heat able to leave the room through the window pane, the room stays warmer for longer. For a double glazed unit, the exterior glass pane and interior glass pane will have varying temperatures.

Apart from being an excellent thermal insulator, double glazed windows help reduce the intensity of noise coming into a property, compared to single glazed windows. Sound is created through vibrations, and the energy from a sound wave travels from its source point until it gets to our ears. Therefore, if another glass pane acts as an extra layer, it will get in the way of the sound wave reducing noise from entering the room. The larger the gap between the glass panes, the greater the acoustic insulation advantages.

Trickle vents fitted to the windows for ventilation purposes can allow unwanted sound to enter the property. To fix this problem, you can try fitting special acoustic ventilators. When the air is warm, the molecules holding the moisture are spaced apart. As the air cools down, the water molecules get closer to each other.

Condensation occurs when moisture-laden air gets in touch with a cold exterior — like a windowpane. When you cook food, boil a kettle, or have a hot shower, the surrounding air gets filled with more moisture than usual, and condensation appears on the bathroom mirrors and kitchen windows. In the double glazed unit, the air in the gap holds a low amount of moisture that could manifest on the glass surface if the temperature difference changes. Each sealed unit contains a crystalline desiccant inside the spacer bar.

Interior condensation occurs when the sealed unit seals start to fail, and more moisture enters the sealed unit. The desiccant gets saturated and cannot hold any more moisture, and as a result, condensation occurs in the unit. The reason for seeing so much condensation manifesting on single glazed glass is that it is vulnerable to the cold, which triggers the dew point from water vapour in the surrounding air.

The best energy-efficient glass to use for double glazing is the low emissivity Low-E glass. Common applications for double glazing includes:.

Associated Windows are double glazing specialists located in Bristol. For more information on our products and services, please call or contact us online. Close menu. Latest News. How do double glazed windows work?

What is a spacer bar? Double glazing units thickness vs triple glazing thickness The overall thickness of a standard double glazed unit started at 20mm before expanding to 24mm. Double glazing U-value U-values are a way of measuring heat transmittance through a structure. Benefits of double glazed windows Double glazing offers homeowners a host of benefits, some of which are well-known and others which are not.

The better-known benefits of double glazing include: Improving the energy efficiency of your home. This is important for a number of reasons , such as lowering your energy bills. A warmer home in the winter and a cooler one in the summer. Less outside noise making its way into your home, resulting in a more peaceful home environment. Increased security levels, especially compared to single glazing.

Types of double glazed windows Nowadays, double glazing is available in a variety of forms to suit the requirements of virtually any homeowner.