I’ve noticed the same thing—triple pane definitely cuts down on drafts and noise, but there’s a subtle shift in the light quality. It’s not pitch black or anything, but there’s a bit more of that “filtered” feel, especially on cloudy days. I went with a high solar gain low-e coating too, and while it helps, I still catch myself missing those bright winter mornings we used to get with the old single panes. On the flip side, the energy savings are real. My heating bill dropped almost 20% last winter, which is nothing to sneeze at.
One thing I’ve wondered: has anyone tried different window tints or coatings to tweak the brightness? I’ve read about “invisible” low-e coatings that claim to let in more visible light, but I’m skeptical—marketing always sounds better than reality. Curious if anyone’s actually compared them side by side.
We swapped out our old windows for triple pane with a low-e coating last fall. I totally get what you mean about the light—it’s not gloomy, but it does feel a bit more muted compared to the single panes. I actually asked our installer about the “invisible” low-e coatings, and he said they do let in a bit more visible light, but the difference isn’t dramatic unless you’re really picky. We didn’t do a side-by-side, but I’d say it’s more about subtlety than anything drastic. Still, I’ll take the quieter rooms and lower bills over a slightly brighter living room most days... but yeah, those crisp winter mornings aren’t quite the same.
- Honestly, I kinda notice the “darker” thing more than you did. Maybe it’s just my house’s orientation, but afternoons look a bit duller now, especially on cloudy days.
- The energy savings are real, but I sometimes miss the way sunlight used to spill across the floors.
- Wondering if it’s partly the window frame thickness too? Ours are chunkier than before.
- Not a dealbreaker, but I do catch myself turning on lights earlier than I used to... anyone else?
I totally get what you’re saying about needing lights earlier. When we swapped to triple pane, I noticed the living room felt a bit gloomier, especially on overcast days. For us, it’s partly the deeper window frames—less glass area than before. On the flip side, our heating bill dropped noticeably last winter, so I guess it’s a tradeoff. I started using warmer-toned LED bulbs in lamps around 3pm and it helps mimic that afternoon sun vibe a bit. Not quite the same as real sunlight, but it makes a difference on those gray days.
That’s interesting about the deeper window frames—never really thought about how much that could shrink the glass area. I’ve noticed the same sort of gloominess in my place since putting in triple panes, especially during those endless gray stretches. The energy savings are real, though, like you said. Do you feel like the warmer LEDs actually help your mood, or is it more just about seeing better? I keep wondering if it’s all just psychological or if there’s a legit difference.
I totally get what you mean about the gloominess. I swapped out my old drafty windows for triple panes last winter, and while the heat savings were obvious, I did notice the rooms felt a bit more “closed in.” Maybe it’s just because less light is sneaking around the edges or something? I’m not sure if it’s the deeper frames or just the glass itself.
About the LEDs—funny you mention that. I switched to those warmer bulbs after realizing the daylight ones made everything look kind of clinical, especially on gray days. I *think* the warmer light actually helps my mood, at least in the mornings. It’s not exactly like sunlight, but it feels less harsh, you know? Or maybe it’s just tricking my brain into thinking it’s a cozy evening all day. Hard to say if it’s psychological or not, but I’ll take any boost I can get during those long winter stretches.
Anyone else find themselves rearranging lamps just to chase that “sunny” feeling?
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I haven’t noticed my triple panes making things darker. The glass itself is pretty clear—at least with the low-E coating I picked. Maybe it depends on the window brand or size? My main issue was the cost and installation hassle, not so much the light. Warmer LEDs do help, though, especially in winter... but I still find myself missing actual daylight some days.
Interesting—my experience was kind of the opposite. I swapped out my old single panes for triple panes last fall, and I swear the living room felt a bit dimmer, especially on overcast days. Maybe it’s just the direction my windows face or the specific glass. I do love how much quieter it is, though... trade-offs, I guess.
I actually noticed the same thing after I swapped to triple panes in my 70s ranch. The difference in brightness wasn’t huge, but on cloudy days, it’s definitely a bit more muted now. I dug into the specs and turns out, some triple pane setups use low-E coatings that cut visible light more than you’d think, especially if you go with higher-end energy ratings. On the flip side, I can finally nap in the living room without hearing every car go by, so I’ll take the trade-off. Just wish I’d paid more attention to the glass options before signing off...
On the flip side, I can finally nap in the living room without hearing every car go by, so I’ll take the trade-off. Just wish I’d paid more attention to the glass options before signing off...
I’m right there with you on the napping front—my dog and I both appreciate not jumping at every delivery truck now. But yeah, it’s wild how much those coatings can impact the feel of a room. When I did my research (which, honestly, was mostly frantically Googling after the windows were already ordered), I stumbled onto all these different “low-E” ratings and “visible transmittance” numbers. Turns out, a lot of triple pane units hover around 0.5-0.6 visible light transmission, which is a decent drop from old-school single panes.
What threw me is that some window companies just say “low-E for energy efficiency!” without really explaining how much less light you’re actually getting. I figured more panes = better everything, but didn’t realize the coatings would be layered on each surface, so it adds up. On sunny days it’s fine, but on those gray winter afternoons? The living room definitely feels more cave-like than before.
Has anyone tried those “high-clarity” or “ultra-clear” glass options? I saw them mentioned in one of the spec sheets but it was like an extra $500 per window... which seemed nuts at the time, but now I’m second guessing myself. Wondering if they actually make a noticeable difference or if it’s just marketing.
Also curious if paint color makes any difference for you all? We have lighter walls and I think that helps bounce what little light we get around, but maybe that’s just wishful thinking.
Anyway, at least my heating bill doesn’t make me cry anymore. That’s gotta count for something...