How Long Does Double Glazing Last?

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Trying to answer this question can be tough. So many environmental factors can affect the longevity of double glazed windows, so it really does depend. The lifespan of double glazing can be anything from 10 to 50 years depending on how well they’re made, installed and looked after. However, on average you’d expect double glazed units to last a minimum of 20 years. 

The good news is that over the last few decades, technology for manufacturing double glazing units has improved exponentially and the materials that are being used has improved greatly. Double glazed windows that are made today are far more thermally and energy efficient than those that were made in the 80’s, 90’s and early 00’s. 

As a result, it’s fair to say that a double glazed sealed unit produced today will have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years – and maybe even more if fitted in a sheltered location and not subject to extreme weather. 

What factors affect the lifespan of double glazing?

The three main factors that affect double glazing are location, quality of manufacture and quality of installation. These factors can halve or double the longevity of a double glazed unit, but one of the biggest culprits for causing problems is temperature. 

The insulating gas between panes of glass in a double glazed unit reacts to changes in temperature by expanding and contracting. This is called thermal pumping and often windows that are south facing and in direct sunlight for a number of hours, are most susceptible. 

Thermal pumping can put extra stress on the seals of a double glazed unit as it constantly expands and contracts. Over time, the seals will start to fail and as minute fractures begin to grow, air will be sucked into the unit, replacing the insulating gas and compromising their thermal efficiency.

How do you know if your double glazing needs replacing? 

Energy-efficient windows are a key structural part of a property that significantly contribute to reducing energy bills and ultimately, keeping your home warm. To ensure you’re not paying more than you should be for your heating bills, it’s really important that your windows continue to perform as intended.

If you’ve noticed that your heating bills seem to be creeping up, it could be that your windows are starting to fail. But there are a number of other ways to identify problems with double glazing units too – each of which are a dead give away that something isn’t quite right:

You can feel a draught around the frame

If you run your hands around the frame where it meets the sealed unit and it feels draughty and cold, either the seals around the frame have perished or the double glazed unit itself has failed. If the unit fails, the gas that insulates the panes of glass will dissipate which will dramatically decrease the U Value. If the seal around the frame has perished, this can easily be replaced, however if the unit has failed a new one will be required.

Condensation in between the panes of a double glazed unit

Condensation on windows isn’t usually cause for concern and there are many simple ways to tackle that, but condensation inside windows should be taken more seriously.

Each sealed unit usually contains a desiccant such as silica gel, which forms part of the spacer bar inside the unit. This is there to absorb the natural moisture that occurs between the panes to keep the unit fog-free. If however the seals of the unit begin to fail, more moisture will be drawn in through thermal pumping which will saturate the desiccant. It’s this over-saturation that causes condensation and fog to form and is usually a pretty obvious indicator that it’s time to replace the unit.

It is however worth noting that condensation is more likely to form in windows that are in direct sunlight. So a north-facing window might have failed seals but won’t show condensation for example. 

There’s white dust inside the double glazed unit 

You may not see signs of condensation but once the desiccant inside a seal unit becomes saturated it will start to degrade. As it degrades it will essentially fall apart and the particles will begin to drift around the sealed unit, settling on the inside of the panes of glass. This is a sure sign that your double glazed unit is compromised and will need to be replaced.

You can hear a lot of noise from outside

Not only does double glazing act as insulation against temperature, but sound too. When your windows are closed, the noise from outside should be reduced and muffled, maybe even shut off completely. If however you’ve started to notice more noise than usual, the gas could have escaped from your sealed unit, reducing the insulation.

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If you have a question about double glazed sealed units, or you’ve decided it’s time to get a replacement, get in touch with our expert team who’ll be able to advise on the best course of action. Here at KLG Glass we only make to order with an extensive range of glass and spacer bars to choose from, all ready and waiting to help you get the job done!

Is Double Glazing Worth It?

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If you’re thinking about replacing your windows, you’ve probably wondered exactly what are the benefits of double-glazing?

This is a sensible question to ask, and one that’s rarely answered fully. There are so many advantages, you can lose track before you’ve begun to completely appreciate the impact double-glazing can have.

To address this, we’ve put together a quick run-down on the many (sometimes underappreciated) benefits of double glazing including the insulation improvements and noise reduction qualities, to help answer the question does double glazing make a difference?

What is Double Glazing & How Does it Work?

For something that is almost standard in modern houses, it’s slightly surprising how many people don’t know how double-glazing works.

A common misconception reduces it down to the basic idea that placing two panes of glass in your windows must be better than simply having one.

But the reason why double glazing works so well is more complicated (and more impressive) than that.

Between those two panes of glass is sandwiched a layer of inert gas. An inert gas is far less conductive than regular air. This means it allows less heat to transfer from inside the window to the outside. If you’d like to learn more about inert gases in double glazing, our handy guide will help.

Does Double Glazing Reduce Noise?

Double glazing is usually associated with keeping heat in. Not a lot of people think to ask ‘can double glazing reduce noise?’ as well.

This is something of a shame because if you’re struggling with traffic noise invading your home, double glazing could be a key weapon to tackle it. In the best-case scenario, double glazing could provide up to a 50% reduction in external noise being heard inside your home.

How does double glazing reduce noise?

That extra layer of glass and insulating air doesn’t just slow down any hot air as it tries to escape. It also creates an extra barrier to prevent noise from getting in. Sound won’t travel as clearly through that second pane of glass.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that the answer to the question ‘is double glazing soundproof?’ is always going to be yes. But, if you’re simply looking to minimise the impact of the outside world and keep your home a cosy, comfortable sanctuary space, double glazing is the answer.

Does Double Glazing Stop Condensation?

Another question that is frequently forgotten by anyone contemplating replacing their windows is ‘will new double-glazing stop condensation on the windows?’. Or, in the very least ‘will new double glazing reduce condensation?’

This is another ‘yes!’ for double glazing: it can significantly reduce the condensation you experience inside your home.

Condensation is a complicated problem, affected by things as varied as the age of your home, how it’s built and even how you use it. Condensation is caused when warm, moist air hits a cold surface (say, a pane of glass exposed to the outside elements). The rapid cooling of the air causes water droplets to form.

Thanks to the extra layers, the interior pane of a double-glazed window stays a lot warmer than a single pane would. The air doesn’t cool as fast or as far, and less moisture is released.

Will double glazing stop mould?

Condensation doesn’t just look unappealing – it can cause black mould to grow inside your home, too. And black mould, in turn, isn’t just unpleasant to look at – it could cause you or your family to become ill!

If you’re asking can double glazing stop condensation – the answer is not entirely.  If there’s a lot of moisture in your home, or a severe lack of ventilation, condensation may still form. However, you may see enough of a reduction to prevent mould growing. It should certainly make the condition more manageable.

Does Double Glazing Save Energy?

There is one question that anyone considering replacing their windows should already know the answer to. That being ‘does double glazing save on heating?’.

Afterall, no one wants to be wasting money on unnecessarily high heating bills. This is why so many people turn to double glazing in the first place, because it is so much more energy efficient.

How does double glazing reduce heat loss?

We’ve already mentioned the main mechanics of how double glazing reduces heat loss. The extra barrier layer of inert gas slows the travel of heat both into the house and out of it. Then there’s that second layer of glass.

But there’s also another often-overlooked aspect of double glazing to be considered: those fresh new window frames!

A well-fitting window frame, with a secure seal holding the pane in place, won’t be letting any warm air wiggle out and escape around its edges. It won’t be letting any cold air seep in either. This can effectively eliminate drafts around your windows. Another win for energy efficiency.

Will Double Glazing Add Value?

There is of course one last benefit any homeowner should consider before improving their home, and updating your windows is no exception: does double glazing increase property value?

Thanks to all the benefits listed above, updating your windows to modern double glazing will increase the purchase appeal of your home and add to its value.

With so many benefits to double glazing, it’s hardly surprising this is one of the most common home improvements people invest in. From the more obvious energy saving aspects, to minimising condensation, we may have even highlighted a few here that you’d never thought of!

Double Glazed Windows: Argon, Krypton and Xenon Gases

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If you’re keen to have a house that is energy-efficient, cheap to run and aesthetically pleasing, one design aspect you will need to tackle is your windows. The insulation in a house is only ever as good as its weakest spot, and for most houses the windows are the weakest spot of all.  Large panes of glass are the perfect surface for letting warm air flood out and cold air seep in.

Double glazing is one highly effective way of tackling these heat loss holes.

With double glazed glass, two panes are sandwiched together which creates twice as much surface area for the air to pass through. But doubling the surface area is not the only way to optimise the benefit of double glazing – that thin gap between panes in modern double-glazed units can also be pumped with an insulating layer of gas.

Originally, this gas would have simply been air, but these days noble gases such as argon, krypton and xenon are usually used. These gases are heavier than air, meaning that heat is transferred through them much more slowly. Odourless and non-toxic, these gases are excellent insulators and add a much-needed efficiency boost to any window.

As mentioned, there are three gases commonly used for this purpose: argon, krypton and xenon. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks and choosing between them can seem complicated.

So, here’s a quick rundown of the qualities each of these choices have, to help you decide which gas best suits your windows.

Argon Windows

Your first option is Argon. This is the most commonly used gas in double glazing, possibly because it is the third most abundant gas in the world. In fact, it makes up nearly one percent of the earth’s natural atmosphere.

Are Argon windows worth it?

Argon is the industry standard for filling double glazing because of its ratio of cost to impact. In our opinion, argon windows are definitely worth it.

Despite being the least expensive of the gases available, including it in double glazing will significantly lower the U-Value of any window. Being around 35% less conductive than regular air, argon can increase the energy efficiency of a window by anything up to 30%.

Another, less recognised benefit of argon windows is their improved soundproofing ability. They are also less prone to clouding (interior condensation) because argon has less moisture in it than air.

How long do Argon windows last?

As well as being an effective and inexpensive choice by comparison to other gases, argon windows are also a durable choice. Fitted correctly, an argon filling should last for the entire lifetime of a window – no more than 5% of the argon gas should be lost over 25 years.

How do Argon filled windows work?

As with all noble gas filled windows, argon windows work because the gas held between the panels is denser than air. This means that less heat is transferred through them and lost to the outside. It also means that, in summer, less heat is absorbed into the room which is a blessing when temperatures turn tropical outside!

Krypton Windows

A slightly less popular option for double glazing is to fill it with krypton gas. This gas is denser than argon, which means it is even more insulating and energy-efficient. This efficiency does come at a cost though, and it is a significant step-up in price from argon.

Why is Krypton gas used in windows?

As we mentioned above, Krypton is used because it is so much denser than air, and highly energy efficient.

It is particularly well-suited to triple-glazed glass. This is because it works best in gaps between panes that are around ⅜ of an inch. In bigger gaps, it can lower energy performance because convection channels can form which can actually help the heat move between the panes rather than stop it!

Are Krypton windows worth it?

In certain circumstances, krypton can definitely be worth it. In particular with an older property, that was built to accommodate a single pane window system. This usually means a much smaller window space.

Argon works best in wider windows that have gaps of up to ½ inch between panes. This could prove too thick for a narrow window in a period property, but that would be perfectly suited to thinner, Krypton-filled panes.

Is Krypton gas better than Argon?

The choice between Krypton and Argon is best left to the individual as all circumstances and requirements are different. This is because it is that much more expensive, and the increased level of performance is usually nominal, particularly in small-scale or residential buildings.

Xenon Windows

One of the newest and most specialised gas-filling options is xenon. This gas is quite the “cutting edge” when it comes to building innovation and an impressive insulator.

Why use Xenon in windows?

If you are looking to install an exterior glass wall, or multiple panes of glass in a large commercial building for example, its performance potential make it your best choice when it comes to heat-loss prevention. As the gas it much heavier than the two previously mentioned, it’s even harder for heat to escape.

Are Xenon windows more expensive?

This higher level of performance means that yes, xenon windows are considerably more expensive than other options. Though, over time the heightened level of performance does mean that your heating bills will be lower as a result – weighing up where you’ll benefit most is the key when it comes to buying xenon-filled windows.

 Are xenon windows worth it?

There is an old adage about getting what you pay for and, with xenon, you get absolute premium performance. Problem is, you rarely need performance that high.

Installing xenon windows in a residential property is akin to buying an Aston Martin car and only using it once a week to pop to the shops. If you really wish to splash your cash, the investment might appeal but, for most, the extra expense just isn’t necessary.

We hope this post has shed some light on the mechanics of double-glazed windows, and how every feature of your window should be considered before you commit to a new set.

How to Stop Condensation Forming on Windows

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Curling up in a warm and cosy house while the world outside is icy cold, is one of winter’s greatest pleasures. But that joy can easily be lost when you start to see spots of condensation speckling your window panes. Not only does it make that frost-struck world harder to see, it can cause a niggling worry. Something about it just doesn’t feel right.

This is why we’ve chosen to share some facts about condensation on double glazed windows; including why it appears, the best way to tackle it and how you can prevent it even appearing in the first place.

What can cause condensation on windows?

The basic cause of condensation is moist, warm air hitting a cold, hard surface.

Warm air is able to hold a lot more moisture than cold air can, so when air cools suddenly any moisture in it is lost quickly, forming droplets. Windows are pretty much magnets for condensation. Being the thinnest point between the inside and outside, they are usually the coldest surface in the room. As a result, they’re often the first area in a home where condensation begins to form.

Is condensation on windows normal?

The good news is that condensation isn’t complete unusual, and doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything wrong with your windows. However, condensation can cause serious damage to window frames and the surrounding area, so it is always best to tackle it as soon you see it.

Can condensation on windows cause mould?

The other reason you shouldn’t ignore condensation is that it can lead to the growth of black mould around your windows. As well as looking unpleasant, black mould can be harmful to your health and it is sensible to take reasonable precautions to prevent this becoming a persistent problem.

What can help prevent condensation on windows?

Your first thought for tackling this issue may be about how to absorb condensation from windows. But short of taking a towel and dabbing the glass glass, there is no reliable way of removing that moisture.

This is why it’s a much better idea to take steps to prevent the condensation forming in the first place. Particularly if you notice it appearing regularly throughout the crisp winter months.

If you’re looking to prevent condensation in your home, the first thing you should try to do is reduce the humidity in the air.

Condensation is a sure sign that there is too much moisture being generated and it’s becoming trapped in your house. Minimise this, and you will lower the chances of that unwanted water appearing.

The second thing you need to address is ventilation. A regular flow or movement of air will stop it fixing on to cold services, whilst also helping to maintain an even temperature.

One final, effective way to reduce condensation on old or single pane windows is to replace them. Double and triple glazed windows sandwich pockets of heat reflective gas between the panes of glass. This provides an extra layer of insulation, keeping the cold external air away from the warm air inside your house.

If you already have double glazing, you might be wondering why condensation keeps forming in the same area. This could be due to a fault with the sealed unit and it may no longer be air-tight causing the insulating gas with in the unit to “leak” out, as such the unit may need to be replaced.

The benefits of double glazing are two-fold, not only with they help reduce condensation, but can help lower your heating bills as well – so they’re definitely worth considering if you haven’t already.

How to treat condensation on windows

That covers the basic principles for combating condensation in your home. There are plenty of ways you can put these in to practice, but here are some simple tips that we recommend you try:

Don’t leave clothes to dry inside your house

Clothes dry when the water they were washed in evaporates. But that water is just evaporating into the air, which is where it will stay until it meets some cold, hard glass. If you can, get your clothes onto a washing line outside or invest in a tumble dryer.

But, make sure you get a dryer that can be vented to the outside via a hole in the wall or a condenser dryer which holds on to the moisture that is sucked out of the clothes. Otherwise, you’re still just replacing one source of moisture for another.

Turn on your extractor fans

Kitchens and bathrooms are usually the biggest culprits for causing condensation. All that steam, from your scalding hot shower or simmering pans, quickly fogs the air and will turn to water droplets on any cold surface it hits.

This is why you usually find an extractor fan in either or both rooms. These will suck up the worst of the warm, damp air out of the house. Keep them on for fifteen or twenty minutes after you’ve finished cooking or showering for full effect. If you don’t have an extractor fan in your kitchen or bathroom, opening a window whilst cooking/showering will ensure there’s adequate ventilation to minimise a build-up of steam.

Pop lids on to your pans

Another kitchen tip is to put lids on the pots and pans you use on the hob – particularly when you are boiling or steaming food.

This way, any evaporating water will simply condense against the lid and won’t escape to add humidity to your home.

Move your pot plants outside

Plants can bring a lot of life, light and freshness to your home. Unluckily, they can also bring moisture, especially if they’re situated on a window sill or in a conservatory. If you’re really struggling with condensation, consider removing any flowers or large plants for a while.

Invest in a dehumidifier

This is a machine that will suck a lot of the moisture out of the air. Just make sure to regularly empty the drip tray (where all the moisture will wait as water). If you don’t, you will just create another “source” of moisture to dampen the air. The gathered water can also begin to go mouldy, which means the spore and bacteria will start to circulate as the dehumidifier operates. This is definitely not something you want to happen.

Windows covered in condensation don’t just look bad, they can seriously damage your window frames and even impact on your health. We hope this post has give you some simple solutions for tackling it and shown it is not always bad news when you spot some condensation on your windows.