Choosing the perfect windows is not a simple matter. It is undoubtedly an investment for many seasons. That is why it is worth spending some time and choosing windows with the best parameters. Most investors wonder if it is worth buying triple-glazed windows. The answer is not clear cut. If we consider, for example, a passive house, the ratio of the comprehensive costs of building a passive house to the price of triple-glazed windows is beneficial. Not necessarily with traditional brick houses. Therefore, in the article below, we will suggest what to pay attention to before buying and how to choose windows to suit your utility needs.
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Heat transfer coefficient
The heat transfer coefficient is one of the most important parameters of windows that are worth paying attention to. The coefficient can be found in the technical data of the window under the specific symbol. We can generally assume that the lower the Uw coefficient, the greater the thermal insulation (and thus the lower the heating energy losses). In the Polish trade, we can also find PVC windows with a maximum coefficient of 1.8. However, windows with a parameter of 1.2 – 1.4 are much more popular. We consider this value to be standard nowadays and typical double-glazed windows correspond to it.
Triple-pane windows and energy saving
Triple-pane windows are a more energy-efficient solution that allows you to reduce the heat transfer coefficient below 1 Uw. Triple-glazed units are additionally filled with noble gas (argon), which reduces thermal permeability. Better quality products with additional fittings and a low-emission coating have a coefficient of less than 0.6. It is typical window joinery adapted to be used in passive houses.
When is it worth choosing triple-glazed windows?
The choice between a double-glazed and a triple-glazed window boils down to a choice between warmer and more expensive windows, and a cooler but cheaper window. This distinction results from a simple fact: each subsequent pane (and each space between them) is an additional thermal insulation layer, ensuring better window parameters, but also an additional production cost.
Three-pane and double-pane windows
Therefore, when purchasing windows, pay attention to the Uw value of the windows, which the manufacturer informs about. This coefficient determines the degree of heat transfer through the windows and the lower it is, the warmer the window is. For example, a double-glazed window popular on the market can achieve a Uw value of 1.5 to 1.1 W/m2K, while e.g.
PVC triple-glazed windows have a value of 0.63 W/m²K – they are so they are almost twice as warm. However, in order to achieve such a Uw coefficient, the warm triple glazing alone is not enough, you also need a technologically advanced structure of the window profile, which must also be warm, otherwise, it will constitute a thermal bridge.
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