Meta description: Get more information on how insulation works, how you can use double pane glass to increase insulation and the varieties of insulating glass available in the market.
When making a functional home, you always have to make sure that you construct it using the best materials available. And the most important thing is to make sure that whoever lives in that house once it is ready, lives comfortably season after season. Come rain come sunshine, blizzard, or heatwave; the occupants must be safe and sound.
Doors and other exit points in your home that air can move in and out are the central focus to make sure these natural elements don’t interfere with the comfort of your home. You could use the most durable steel in the market in the making of your doors and window frames, but do you know that the type of glass you choose for your windows can also help you regulate the internal temperature of your home? And that is why we are here today. To school you on the padding of your home using double pane glass installations. But first, let us dig a bit into the science of how insulation works.
How does insulation work?
Before you get to see how these double pane glass can help you insulate your home, let us take a brief science class on how this phenomenon works. If you can recall your early years at school, there are three main ways that heat moves from place to place- convection, conduction, and radiation. Conduction is the movement of heat through solids and convection through gases and liquids. Radiant heat, on the other hand, travels in a straight line heating anything along its path, primarily solids that absorb their energy. These mechanisms occur every day, and because of the different seasons, the need for regulation arises, especially in our homes.
No one ever wants their home to be too hot or too cold, and that is why we install doors and windows that we can open and close. This opening and closing only gets half the job done, but it is not a permanent solution, and that is where insulation glass comes in. This double pane insulating glass comprises a few components- two pieces of glass, a spacer, and gas to fill the space. The glass panes are then set parallel to each other, divided by a space and filled with an inert gas. The three are made into a single unit that is sealed to keep the air in. This system works hand in hand to regulate the movement of heat from the outside of the home to the inside. That way, the house remains warm during the colder season and cooler in the hot seasons.
Insulated glass types available in the market
IGU’s are sold in various kinds. These classes differ by the thickness of the sheets, the number of glass panes, the kind of inert gas used, and the size of the space between the glass. Below are some of the types available for purchase.
Low-emissivity glass unit
Sometimes the need to protect our interior spaces from the harmful rays the sun sends our way. And two of these rays are the infrared and the ultraviolet. These two play a major role in heating up the earth as well as our homes. It is for that reason; engineers were prompted to create a coating film on top of glass units to keep these beams out of our establishments. In addition to reflecting the rays coming from the sun, this film also reflects the internal heat waves maintaining the internal temperature. This film is made in two varieties, a low E solar control with a soft coat, which provides UV protection by reflecting cold and cool air into a room. There is also a Low-E passive hard coat, which lets small amounts of IR rays through.
Argon-filled insulated glass unit
These glass units are the ones that contain argon as the gas between the two glass sheets. The low-conductivity of argon as compared to other inert gases makes it the best option to reduce both convective and conductive heat transfers. They are way superior to the vacuum insulated glass units.
Dual seal silicone insulated glass unit
These types of insulating units have relatively low moisture penetration properties making them more long-lasting and highly effective in regulating heat transfers. This, therefore, makes them one of the best pieces to install. Especially if your property is a commercial building where you aim to carry out repairs and replacements at a minimal.
Double pane glass vs. clear glass
Both double pane glass and clear glass are installations aimed to regulate the temperatures of our indoor spaces. The double-pane glass does a better job because of the gas or vacuum space. If you compare their durability, the double-pane lasts longer as compared to the transparent glass, which may break on contact. The maintenance of the double-pane, however, can be challenging if there is a leak in between the glass sheets, and you are forced to clean in between the glass panes. With that said, the price of installation and maintenance of the double-pane is a bit on the higher end compared to the clear glass.
Double-pane glass vs. triple-pane glass
One is good, two is better, and three is best, right? In terms of functionality, the triple-pane glass is better because of the double space between the three glass sheets. And it also aids in soundproofing too. In terms of maintenance, the double-pane takes the lead. And the overall cost, the double-pane, is cheaper as compared to its counterpart. When it comes to the triple-pane glass, the extra weight will need additional modifications to the structure to support them.
Double-pane glass vs. Low-E glass
Both techniques are highly rated for energy efficiency based on the U-factor, visible light transmittance, and solar heat gain factor. The Low-E glass is, however, a coating, and the double-pane consists of two glass sheets. This means the double-pane can be clear, laminated, and can even have the Low-E layer.
Which type of insulation glass provides the best insulation?
Following the comparisons made above, the ranking goes from clear glass, double-pane, triple-pane being the best of the bunch. This, however, will depend on the establishment you wish to erect, the climate of the area, and the money you are willing to spend. Remember, the better the functionality, the more expensive the glass unit.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
