"Triple panes sound nice, but the price jump is pretty steep...maybe someday."
Went through the same debate last year. Ended up biting the bullet and installing triple panes in just our bedroom (north-facing wall). Honestly? Noticeable difference—way less condensation and drafts. But doing the whole house would've wrecked our budget. Maybe worth it selectively, but definitely not necessary everywhere.
Honestly?
We did a similar thing—triple pane in our main living area only, since that's where we spend most of our time. Definitely agree with you on the condensation point; it's noticeably better. But honestly, if your walls aren't well-insulated already, triple panes alone won't magically fix everything. Learned that the hard way... insulation matters just as much (if not more) than window upgrades.
That's a really good point about insulation. I upgraded to triple pane windows throughout my entire house a few years ago, and while it definitely helped with drafts and condensation, it wasn't the miracle solution I initially hoped for. Turns out, my attic insulation was pretty lacking, and once I addressed that, the difference was night and day. Triple panes are great, but they're just one piece of the puzzle.
Something else I've wondered about—does anyone have experience with noise reduction between double and triple panes? My neighborhood's gotten busier lately (new construction nearby), and I'm curious if triple pane windows would noticeably cut down on outside noise compared to double panes. Would love to hear some firsthand experiences on that front...
I recently switched from double to triple panes in my bedroom because of street noise. Honestly, it helped a bit, but wasn't a huge difference. Thicker curtains or soundproofing blinds might give you more bang for your buck...
"Honestly, it helped a bit, but wasn't a huge difference. Thicker curtains or soundproofing blinds might give you more bang for your buck..."
I actually had a similar experience when I upgraded to triple-pane windows last year. I was mainly doing it for energy efficiency reasons—trying to keep the heat in during winter and AC costs down in the summer—but I was also secretly hoping they'd magically block out all the neighborhood noise. Turns out, like you said, it made things better but wasn't exactly a miracle cure.
One thing I've noticed, though, is that even if triple panes don't completely silence street noise, they definitely help with insulation. My bedroom feels noticeably warmer in winter and cooler in summer compared to before. So while the sound reduction is modest, the energy savings have been pretty solid (at least judging by my monthly electric bill!).
Also, you're right about thicker curtains or blinds making a big difference acoustically. We added some heavy blackout curtains after installing the windows, and I swear those made more of a noticeable improvement in cutting down noise than the extra pane of glass did. Plus, they're cheaper and easier to swap out if you change your mind later.
Still, I'm optimistic that triple panes will pay off in the long run through energy savings alone. They're definitely not just hype—but maybe not exactly what you'd want if your main goal is silence from loud streets or neighbors. If noise is really bugging you, pairing triple panes with curtains or even those acoustic window inserts could be worth considering... just depends on how sensitive you are to sound (and how much you're willing to spend).
I had a pretty similar experience when we upgraded to triple-pane windows a couple years ago. Honestly, I was expecting a bit more in terms of noise reduction too, but I agree—it wasn't exactly night-and-day. Still, I wouldn't call it hype either. The energy savings have been noticeable enough that I'm glad we went for it.
Funny enough, I found the same thing you did about curtains. We ended up adding thick, insulated curtains later on, and they definitely made a bigger dent in the noise than the windows alone. Plus, they're great for blocking sunlight if you like sleeping in on weekends...
If noise is your main issue, I'd probably lean toward investing in curtains or even those acoustic inserts first. But if you're looking at long-term comfort and cutting energy bills, triple panes are still worth considering, imo.
- Had a similar experience—triple panes didn't really blow me away on noise reduction either.
- Agree curtains made a surprisingly bigger difference (plus sleeping in is always a win...).
- Energy savings are solid though, especially in winter.
- Wouldn't call triple panes hype exactly, but if noise is your main gripe, curtains or acoustic inserts might be smarter first steps.
Had a similar experience with a client recently—installed triple panes hoping it'd cut down street noise significantly, but honestly, the difference was subtle at best. Ended up recommending some heavy blackout curtains, and they were pleasantly surprised by how much quieter (and darker) the room felt. Triple panes definitely help with energy bills, especially in colder climates, but if noise is your main concern, I'd suggest starting with curtains or acoustic treatments first...cheaper and often more effective.
Interesting point about the curtains...makes me wonder if triple panes are mostly marketing hype for noise reduction. I've always been skeptical—do they really justify the extra cost, or is it just clever upselling? Glad you found a practical workaround though.
We recently faced this exact dilemma when replacing windows in our first house. Honestly, I was tempted by the triple-pane hype at first, mostly because the sales pitch made it sound like a game changer. But after chatting with neighbors who'd upgraded, I realized the difference in noise reduction wasn't as dramatic as advertised—especially considering our neighborhood isn't super noisy anyway. We went with quality double panes and added thick curtains instead...saved a decent chunk of change and haven't regretted it yet.