Good call on the triple panes for insulation. I've installed plenty of both, and honestly, if you're dealing with brutal winters (Minnesota definitely qualifies, lol), triple pane usually pays off in the long run. Laminated glass is great if street noise drives you nuts, but for pure warmth and energy savings, triple pane's the way to go. Your sister probably noticed fewer drafts too—makes a huge difference when you're binge-watching Netflix in January...
Triple panes are solid, but honestly, if your home's insulation isn't up to par, you're kinda throwing money away. I upgraded insulation first and stuck with double panes—still cozy, lower bills, and saved some cash for pizza nights...
Your approach makes a lot of sense—insulation really is the unsung hero in keeping a home warm. I've seen folks splurge on triple panes while ignoring drafty attics or walls, and then wonder why they're still chilly. Honestly, double panes with proper insulation can outperform triple panes installed in poorly insulated homes any day.
One thing I'd add though: sometimes triple panes do have their place. If you're in an area with brutal winters (I'm talking sub-zero regularly), that extra layer can noticeably reduce window condensation and cold drafts near the glass. But for most people, especially if money's tight, spending first on insulation upgrades gives way more bang for your buck.
And hey, pizza nights are definitely a worthy investment too... priorities, right?
"Honestly, double panes with proper insulation can outperform triple panes installed in poorly insulated homes any day."
Fair point, but have you ever sat next to a double-pane window on a -20°F night? Even with great insulation, that chill creeps in... triple panes might be worth it just for comfort alone. Plus, pizza tastes better when you're not freezing your butt off.
Fair point, but have you ever sat next to a double-pane window on a -20°F night? Even with great insulation, that chill creeps in...
Good point about comfort—nothing ruins pizza night like icy drafts. We've got doubles right now, and yeah, on those brutal winter evenings, blankets become mandatory furniture accessories. Curious though, has anyone noticed a significant heating bill drop after switching to triple panes?
We upgraded from doubles to triple panes about three winters ago, and honestly, comfort-wise, it was a noticeable improvement. Before that, sitting near the windows felt like punishment on those brutal nights—my wife joked that we needed to wear ski gear just to watch Netflix. Now, it's definitely cozier, and blankets aren't mandatory anymore (though still recommended for pizza night ambiance...).
As for heating bills, I tracked ours pretty closely before and after the switch. We did see a reduction—nothing massive, maybe around 10-15% overall—but it adds up over the years. Still, the biggest win for us was comfort rather than huge savings. Triple panes do cost quite a bit more upfront, so if you're strictly crunching numbers, it might take a while to recoup the investment. But if you're tired of drafts ruining your downtime, I'd say it's worth considering.