You’ve seen your neighbors getting new windows. You’ve heard about savings on your energy bill. But you’re still wondering, “Are double pane windows worth it?” Is it an expense of an investment.There’s a reason that 59% of homes in the US are now multi-pane. Read to explore why.
What Are Double Pane Windows?
Double pane windows are composed to two panes of glass, instead of just one, within a window frame. Double pane windows may seem to be only “twice as much” as a single pane. But like so many other things in life, it’s what’s inside that counts.
How Do These Windows Work?
These windows aren’t just two pieces of glass. High-quality windows have an invisible, insulating argon or krypton gas that has been pumped into the space between the panes and sealed in there.
When it’s warmer outside, this gas expands and window panes bend slightly but safely out. This expansion creates an additional barrier between your indoors and the outside.
Just like you might put your arms around yourself or contract into a ball under the blankets on a chilly night, this contraction helps avoid heat from escaping through the window.
How does this compare to a single pane window? A single pane does expand and contract a little. But there’s no insulation to moderate the temperature between in doors and out.
If you touch a single pane window after the summer sun has been on it for a few hours, it will feel hot to the touch. But a double pane will feel cool.
What Are the Benefits of These Windows?
To evaluate whether or not double pane windows are worth it, we must first look at the benefits of these energy-efficient windows over single pane, many of which are clearly researched and documented by the US Department of Energy.
The benefits include:
- Tax & rebates
- Energy savings
- Money-Saving
- Security
- Reduced carbon footprint
- Reduced wear and tear on your air conditioner
- Increased home value
- Visual appeal/Pride
- Comfort
We’ll look at several of these in depth in the next sections.
Rebates
The Energy Star Tax credit for replacement windows ended in December of 2016. But as a California resident, you may still qualify for various state, city and local rebate programs intended to reduce energy costs in communities and the state.
Energy/Carbon Footprint
Getting double pane windows is a method of insulating your home. Adding this form of insulation has been shown to reduce energy consumption in the average home 12%.
Depending on what percentage of your energy cost is heating and cooling and the efficiency of the windows, this could be a much higher percentage for you.
If you’re looking for ways to reduce your impact on the environment, double pane windows are a great way to live smarter and more eco-conciously. You’re burning fewer fossil fuels and reducing green house gases that can be attributed to you and your family.
Money-Saving
According to Energystar.gov, the average home can save nearly $500/year when upgrading from single pane windows to energy efficient double pane. A home that upgrades from lesser quality double pane windows could save around $100/year.
But this is only the beginning of the real financial impact of double pane windows.
Security
It’s not easy to put a price tag on security. But it’s an important part of the equation. Single pane glass is incredibly easy to break. Something as small as a rock can shatter it, creating a massive entryway into your home.
Double pane is built with safety in mind. It’s not unbreakable. But it would take more than a little rock or limb to break it. And since the glass is double pane, the outer glass is likely to break first, alerting the home occupants and neighbors about the break-in.Thieves target homes that can be accessed easily with one swift break.
Because people are less likely to check things out if they only hear a sound once, single pane homes are prime targets. One break and they’re in with single pane.
AC Unit
Whether you have window units or a central heating and cooling system, you want it to last as long as it should. Installation and hardware costs can really dip into that emergency fund or go onto debt.
Most units today use a thermostat and come on automatically to adjust the temperature. If the temperature in your home is rising and falling more than a few degrees throughout the day, this can tax your system.
In San Diego, an air conditioner should last you a long time because of the more temperate climate. Get the most out of it by using this effective strategy to balance indoor and outdoor temperatures.
Noise-Insulation
Living in a hot spot central location in San Diego is great. But sometimes the trade off is that you’re near a noisy street, significant pedestrian traffic or the metro.
Maybe you just have noisy neighbors who throw parties into all hours of the night. Or the dog who lives two doors down thinks that 2 AM is the perfect time to sing an opera.
Whatever the noise, high-quality double pane windows that are installed correctly will reduce noise from the outside and keep inside noise from bothering the neighbors.
They’re a great way to live and let live. If it’s a little noisy outside, all you need to do is close the windows.
Comfort
Because your home is more insulated, you’ll feel more comfortable as day moves into night and vice versa.
Sudden temperature changes can make you feel colder or hotter than can be explained by the change because your body has to adapt.
With these windows, the climate remains more constant and comfortable.
Visual Appeal
Installing energy-efficient windows makes your home more attractive if you currently have old and worn windows. This gives you and your family an additional sense of pride.
Your home becomes a pride in the neighborhood, increasing the appeal of your street because your home is there. You’ll want to invite people over more and tell people about your new windows.
It happens every time. US Window & Door doesn’t mind.
Home Value
Purchasing more energy efficient windows can increase the value of your home between by up to $24,000
The amount of increase was dependent on:
- Quality of windows installed vs ones replaced
- Installation
- Initial value of your home
- Whole house or partial upgrade
In other words, the quality matters. Upgrading to double pane windows that aren’t energy efficient may add only cosmetic value to your home. But top windows like Milgard get top dollars.
The value added to your home is roughly 80% the cost of the windows. In real estate, this is considered an exceptional return on investment unless you’re immediately selling the home.
You reap the rewards for 2, 5 or 10 years and then typically get the money back when you sell your home because your home is worth more.
Replacing Some Vs All Windows
If you’re replacing some but not all of your windows, you can expect some improvement in energy usage and cost for utilities. But the savings is minimal.
If you’re doing it because you know that you deserve great looking windows that you can brag about, go for it. If you’re in it for all of the other benefits, then a full home upgrade is the best way to get a return on your investment.
How Does Quality Affect Whether It’s Worth It?
It was stated above, but this deserves its own section. To get the greatest benefits, you should choose high-quality, energy-efficient windows with a trusted installer.
Double pane windows that aren’t quality and installed correctly can become a nightmare.
Improperly fitted windows and glass can leave gaps through which air escapes. And your energy savings literally goes out the window.
Condensation can collect between the panes reducing visibility and leaving streaks that you can’t clean. Rain can enter through the windows.
These things don’t happen when you work with a trusted window vendor and installer.
So Are Double Pane Windows Worth It?
Deciding whether they’re worth it is a very complex decision. Get a free estimate and then compare the cost to the benefits to see just how fast this investment pays you back.
There are reasons that so many San Diego homeowners are switching to more energy-efficient windows like double pane. They love the earth. They love to save money. They want to increase their home value.
They’re also crazy about how great their home looks and want to show it off to everyone.
When you run the numbers, you’ll be ready to invest in the future of your home, your finances, your family and the planet.
Contact US Window & Door today to get a free estimate.
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