Last updated: December 14, 2021 at 14:37 pm
We all hate the constant noise of outside hustle and bustle. Whether it’s your neighbours, constant traffic or even just passers-by, outside noise can be irritating, distracting and downright frustrating. Many people believe that there is no way to address this problem, and that they should just try to ignore all the noise from outside.
However, triple glazed windows might just be the window soundproofing that you are looking for.
In this article:
We’ll explore the effectiveness of triple glazing for noise reduction, and whether the benefits are worth your time and money.
IN THIS ARTICLE
What is Triple Glazing?
Triple glazing is a type of window that utilises three panes of glass. These pains are normally separated by argon. Triple glazed windows offer a further level of insulation against heat and sound as compared to double glazing, because it becomes harder for both heat and sound to escape.
Triple glazing works by manipulating the air. The gaps between the glass panels are so small that air cannot circulate, which means that heat cannot be transferred via convection. Furthermore, the argon gas which sits between panels is a very poor conductor of air, which further reduces the amount of heat loss through a window. Triple glazing is therefore seen as a very effective energy saver.
Triple glazed windows come with a wide range of benefits. Firstly, you’ll notice much better noise reduction than other forms of windows, as well as a warmer home. These are great benefits that many say they can’t live without once they experience a home with triple glazed windows. Condensation will also be reduced, helping to combat mould on your windowsill, which can be a major problem for almost every home. Finally, your home will be safer and more secure thanks to triple glazed windows, as they are much tougher and more difficult to break into than other kinds of window.
The only real downside to triple glazed windows is the cost. Not only are the windows themselves expensive, but you’ll also have to pay a lot to have them fitted, as new panes will also be needed. If you’re looking to upgrade, you should make sure to weigh up the pros and cons, to make sure you’re spending your money on something that’s going to benefit you.
Triple Glazing Noise Reduction Explained
Triple glazing can help to dampen the noise of pretty much anything outside. Whether it’s your neighbour’s lawn mower, or an ambulance’s siren, triple glazed windows will do a pretty good job of suppressing the sound, so your peace and quiet isn’t interrupted.
Sound travels as a wave, which means that anything they hit will vibrate. These vibrations are what cause sound. The sound you hear depends on what the wave hits, which is why there are so many different sounds. You might think that sound can’t travel through walls, or glass for that matter, but because it just vibrates the particles, it can actually get through pretty easily.
This is why you may be able to hear traffic from outside, even when your windows are shut, and your doors are locked. And the thinner or less dense the material, the easier the noise will travel through.
Triple glazing is so successful at reducing noise because of the number of layers that it has. Unlike single- or double-glazed windows, the wave will have to travel across three layers of glass. Each time it hits a new panel, the wave will be weakened, reducing the amount of noise you’ll able to hear. This means that most noises won’t even get through to your home. But, if they do, the noise will be significantly reduced, and chances are, you won’t even notice it.
Triple glazing is a huge benefit for anyone who lives in an urban or very busy area. The noise reduction you’ll gain from other types of window could be drastic, helping your home to become quieter and more peaceful, allowing you to go about your day without worrying about what’s going on outside.
Noise Reduction to Expect
Of course, you may be wondering if the noise reduction is worth the costs of buying triple glazed windows, which can be extremely expensive. Here is a comparison with other types of windows, to help you make such a decision:
Compared to Double Glazed Windows
Depending on the quality of your double glazed windows, and the level of noise outside your home, the difference between double and triple glazed windows may be very negligible. There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, triple glazing is only noticeable when there is considerable noise outside your home. Two layers is normally enough to stop this noise.
Furthermore, many double glazed windows make use of glass panes with different thicknesses. This distorts the actual shape of the wave, which helps to reduce noise. So, if you’ve got these types of panes, and don’t live in a very loud area, the switch to triple glazed windows for the soul purpose of noise reduction may not be worth your time and money.
This being said, if you have double glazed windows of a poor quality, or really suffer with noise outside your home, the triple glazing could be worth your money. Three panels will nearly always be a better noise suppressor than two, so if you feel that you’ll get your moneys worth, then the switch will be worth it. You’ll also receive many other benefits from switching to triple glazed windows, such as a warmer home.
Compared to Acoustic Windows
Acoustic windows are a type of window made from laminated glass, and bound together by an internal layer which helps to absorb sound wave and vibrations. Acoustic glass is specifically designed to keep noise out of your home.
The use of lamination, as well as multiple panes really helps this, and it does an excellent job of keeping outside noise from reaching the inside of your home. Taking this into consideration, acoustic windows will probably be better than triple glazed windows if your priority is keeping noise out of your home.
Acoustic windows will make a noticeable difference to the level of noise in your house, so they’re really the best choice for anyone living in a built-up area. Although, if you want a better all-rounder, triple glazing will be better for you. As well as great noise reduction, you’ll also receive great insulation and amazing home security with triple glazed windows.
Compared to Laminated Glass
Laminated glass is great at reducing noise, thanks to its design, consisting of a layer of PVB in-between two glass panes. This effectively gives you three layers of noise protection, much like with triple glazing. The PVB not only dampens soundwaves, contributing to great noise production, but it also stops the glass from shattering. This makes this glass a great choice when considering safety.
Triple glazing is, in most cases, going to give you better sound reduction than laminated glass. This is because there are bigger gaps in between the layers, which help to dampen sound waves more than laminated glass. Laminated glass is still a great choice though, and reductions in noise will only really be felt if you live in a very noisy area.
So, triple glazing certainly holds up against its competition. One thing to bear in mind is that the primary aim of triple glazed windows is insulation, not noise reduction. So, other types of window may provide better sound protection than triple glazing, but triple glazing will be of better value overall, because it has multiple functions.
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Is It Worth It?
Whether or not triple glazed windows are worth it is completely dependent on your circumstances, as well as your needs.
If you live in a quiet area, where it’s rarely cold and you don’t hear anyone outside anyway, then triple glazing probably won’t be the best investment for you. You won’t feel the benefits as much as someone in different circumstances, and you may feel like you’ve wasted your money.
However, if you live in a busy city, and your energy bill is very high, then triple glazing might just be your saving grace. It’ll tackle multiple issues at once, and these benefits will be in your home forever.
Conclusion
Overall, it’s clear that triple glazed windows are an absolutely amazing choice if you’re looking to upgrade any time soon. Not only will they provide great noise reduction, that can compete with other window types, like acoustic. And will even outperform other windows, like laminated glass and double glazing, but it will also provide you with a range of other benefits.
Triple glazing is very expensive to have fitted into your home. However, it’s a one time purchase, and the long-term benefits will outweigh the costs. Not only will your energy bill be permanently reduced, thanks to increased insulation, but your home will also be more tranquil, as well as secure.
Triple glazing is a great option, and one that you should certainly consider if you’re thinking about upgrading your windows any time soon.
