It is better to be aware of all the options before replacing the windows of your house. Owing to the variety of designs available, double glazed windows are hugely popular. The standard new builds also demand greater energy efficiency. Hence double glazed windows provide for maximized insulation in harsh weather conditions. You can buy energy Efficient Double Glazed Windows in Cardiff from reputable manufacturers.
What are Double Glazed Windows?
Double glazing refers to the windows made from two panes of glass. These panes have a space of 12mm to 16mm in between them. The glasses are set into a frame to create a sandwich with an air pocket that enhances insulation. The gap in the middle is filled with air, mostly argon gas, which efficiently traps the heat inside the room. Air is a better insulator than glass. The major component of the double glazed window is the sealed unit, known as the insulated glass unit or IGU. The glass panes sit in the frame of aluminum, UPVC or timber.
How does The Double Glazing Windows work?
Traditional windows have a single glass pane, working as a barrier between the inside and outside environment. Double glazed windows, on the other hand, uses two glass panes. These are sealed into one IGU unit with a space in the middle. The air gap slows down the thermal transfer of energy (cold or hot) by conduction. Instead of trapping the air, it slows down the movement of heat, thus reducing heat loss. Air cannot circulate between the panes. This slows down air convention and reduces the transfer of heat.
Hence, the two glass sheets play a crucial role in increasing energy efficiency. The more space in between them function as the insulating framework. It has air chambers with airtight seals that prevent heat loss.
How Does Double Glazed Window reduce heat loss?
As the cool air hits the outer glass pane, the air transfers to the layer between the two window panes. The argon gas reduces the thermal transfer rate by 34% by gradually slowing the heat conduction between two different temperatures. Consequently, the cold air does not reach the inner pane. Hence the Argon layer minimizes the transfer of temperature difference to the internal glass pane staying at a median temperature between the room and the middle layer.
On the other hand, the warm air that meets the window pane also slows due to thermal transfer. Eventually, the window retains most of the heat inside the room.
In double glazed windows, both the temperature for the outside and inside glass pane is different.
Understanding the R-Value
The R-value for every product determines the level of thermal resistance. The experts measure the insulating value of the window in different ways. One of the most common methods is evaluating the R-Value system. It measures the resistance of the material to energy transfer. The higher the number, the greater is the resistance and vice versa.
Some double glazed windows come with a low emissivity insulating film on the glass that instantly increases the R-value. This film boasts energy retention inside the house. Sometimes, the windows have thin transparent coatings made from metal oxide or silver and applied to the glass surface. This reduces energy transmission.
For more information on double glazed windows, consult Alan Hill Window Systems for their high standard services.