Still, double pane windows are more durable against minor cracks and other defects until you can replace the window. Cracks or holes in one pane compromise the gases inside and lessen the window’s energy efficiency. Today, they fill most double pane windows with a single gas denser than air – in most cases either argon or krypton.Īdditionally, providing space between the two panes allows for some room for error – that is, a barrier between your home’s interior and the elements if one of the panes were to break. As time went on, researchers discovered that if they filled the space with dense material, it maximized insulating benefits. In the beginning, double pane windows utilized another layer of ambient air to separate the two panes. However, it took researchers some time to perfect the technology. Truly, the insulative capabilities rest within the space between the two panes. Though the insulating benefits of double the amount of glass seem obvious, a true double paned window outperformed blown glass and stained glass windows that are much thicker. Finally, a seal holds the panes into the casing at the edges. Then, a desiccant between the panes prevents condensation from building up in the interior. Space left between the panes provides additional heat and sound barrier between your home and the outdoors. What is a double pane window? Why are they so beneficial?ĭouble pane windows, at their most basic, are windows with two panes of glass instead of the traditional single pane. What Are Double Pane Windows?Īlthough single pane windows are still on the market, most experts recommend the use of double pane windows. By the late 1970s, the energy crisis in the United States had reached its peak, prompting the US government to begin performing research on higher performing glass to solve its energy woes and putting energy efficient windows into the hands of more consumers. Both developments sparked a revolution in window-making that would eventually change the industry forever. By 1952, Andersen Lumber Company introduced a consumer window with welded, insulated glass. In 1947, Pittsburgh Plate Glass produced a double-paned, insulated glass window for passenger train cars. Single pane windows were the industry standard, and homeowners wanting to provide extra insulation had to install storm windows that attached to the exterior of the home in order to prevent heat transfer and provide protection against the elements. As each window failed, double-glazed insulated glass units designed to prevent heat transfer replaced them.Īs late as the early 1950s, however, homeowners had but one choice when looking for new or replacement windows for their homes. In the 1920s and 30s, owners and builders of skyscrapers everywhere from New York to Chicago to Los Angeles were looking for a way to reduce the heat loss and energy costs that plagued the taller buildings’ vast expanses of single pane glass. These glass wind eyes became known as windows, and the next evolution in windows didn’t come for another hundred years or so. The Pittsburgh Plate Glass company made plate glass windows available to the masses, banking on the affordability of their automated process. However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that sheets of clear glass became available in the United States. These vents, covered only in shutters, paper, or hide leather, served their purpose. Northern Europeans went so far as to cut small holes, known as wind eyes, into their homes for ventilation. Since the early European cathedrals utilized lead-soldered stained glass, people have been looking for a way to allow the outdoors – along with natural light – inside. Windows, as we know them, have been a long time coming. How did windows, as we know them, come about? Why are double pane windows so popular? Most importantly, why should you choose double pane windows over the alternatives? This brief guide to double pane windows will answer these questions and more. Though vendors commonly offer single pane, double pane, and even triple pane windows, the double pane is the industry standard for a reason. If you’re in the market for new windows and looking for a window installation service, you may be aware of the multiple types of windows available to you.
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