With a double-glazed window, you have two panes of glass installed within the window frame instead of just one. The two panes are within millimeters of each other and separated by a spacer built into the frame. The space between panes can be anything from 6mm to 20mm on average with the most efficiency seen when the space is between 10mm and 20mm, and optimally 12mm. When you have two panes of glass per window, you see both an immediate and a long-term effect on energy efficiency as that cushion of space between the panes acts as a thermal insulator. Typically, air or a gas, such as argon, is inserted in the space as a further form of insulation and to reduce or eliminate condensation build-up between the two panes.
In the winter, you can stand next to a single-glazed window and then next to a double-glazed window and instantly feel the benefit. The temperature at or close to a single-glazed window is going to be pretty close to whatever the temperature is outside the home. This translates to colder temperatures throughout a home as that chill will seep inside throughout as your generated heat seeps out. Conversely, when you are next to the double-glazed window the temperature there is going to be much closer to the ambient temperature inside the house - that extra pane of glass and the gas in the space provide excellent insulation keeping the heat in and not letting it escape outside. Of course, in the summer you'll have less cool, air-conditioned air escaping and less heat radiating to inside your home - it is a two-for-one savings, providing that cost effectiveness year round.
An added bonus of double-glazed windows is noise reduction - you'll hear less of the sounds from outside the home from people, animals, nearby airports and road traffic. Of course, you can open the space up between the panes to take advantage of the noise reduction benefit if that is more important to you than energy efficiency - just keep in mind that as the gap grows past 20mm, you lose more and more of the insulating benefits.
In and around the Kent area, everyone knows that chilly dampness can threaten the coziness of your home, especially if it includes a conservatory, so it makes perfect sense to invest in double-glazed windows and doors, if any are glass - for all homes being newly constructed, and for replacement in existing ones. The trusted experts for double glazing Kent windows is Alpha Conservatories and Windows, a well-established family-owned and run business serving the Kent area for more than 30 years. Double your savings with double glazing Kent from Alpha Conservatories and Windows.