We just moved into an older house, and the windows are pretty drafty. Last winter was brutal, you know, heating bills through the roof. Anyway, we're looking into replacements, and the sales guy was really pushing triple pane windows, saying they're way better for insulation and noise reduction. But they're also quite a bit pricier. Anyone here gone from double to triple pane? Did you notice a big difference in comfort or energy bills, or is it mostly marketing hype?
Triple pane windows definitely have their advantages, especially if you're dealing with harsh winters. The extra pane and gas-filled spaces between layers significantly reduce heat transfer, meaning your furnace won't have to work as hard. Noise reduction is noticeable too, though maybe not as dramatic as some salespeople claim. But honestly, if your walls aren't well-insulated or sealed properly, triple panes alone won't solve everything. Have you checked your attic insulation or done a blower door test yet? Sometimes that's where the real energy savings hide...
"But honestly, if your walls aren't well-insulated or sealed properly, triple panes alone won't solve everything."
Yeah, learned that the hard way myself. Dropped a chunk of change on triple panes thinking they'd magically fix my drafty old house... nope. Ended up crawling around the attic with insulation rolls and a staple gun—fun times. 😂 Curious though, anyone here notice a big comfort difference between double and triple panes, or is it mostly just energy savings?
Yeah, I feel your pain there. Went through something similar a few years back—thought triple panes would be the silver bullet for our chilly living room. Turns out, windows alone didn't cut it. Still had cold spots and drafts creeping in from who knows where. Ended up spending a weekend sealing gaps around doors and baseboards, plus adding weather stripping everywhere I could think of. Definitely helped more than just the window upgrade alone.
As for comfort difference between double and triple panes... honestly, it's subtle at best. I've got double panes in most rooms and triple panes in the bedrooms (figured it'd help with noise too), but I can't say there's a dramatic difference in comfort. Maybe slightly less condensation on really cold mornings with the triples, but nothing life-changing.
Energy savings are noticeable though—my heating bills did drop a bit after going triple pane in those rooms. But like you found out, it's not magic. If your insulation or sealing isn't up to snuff, you're still gonna feel it no matter how fancy your windows are.
Still, don't beat yourself up about it too much. Home improvement is always trial-and-error, right? At least now you've got better insulation in the attic—probably made more of a difference than you realize.
Good points about sealing gaps—people often underestimate how much heat escapes through tiny cracks. Triple panes do help, but they're just one piece of the puzzle. Proper sealing and insulation usually give you more bang for your buck overall.
Triple-pane windows definitely have their advantages, especially if you're in a colder climate or dealing with a noisy environment. But yeah, sealing and insulation often give you more immediate and noticeable results. I've seen cases where homeowners upgraded to triple panes without addressing the underlying sealing issues, and they ended up disappointed because the improvement wasn't as dramatic as expected.
If you're leaning toward triple panes, here's something to consider: what's your current wall insulation situation like? Upgrading windows without ensuring your walls are properly insulated can limit the overall effectiveness of your investment. I usually recommend people do a quick check first—maybe even hire someone for a thermal imaging scan—to see exactly where heat loss is happening. It can be pretty eye-opening.
Also, think about your window frames. Even the best triple-pane glass won't perform well if it's sitting in older, poorly insulated frames. Vinyl, fiberglass, or wood-clad frames with proper thermal breaks can make a huge difference. I've had clients who initially wanted triple panes but ended up going double-pane with upgraded frames and sealing, and they were really satisfied with the results (and saved some cash too).
One more thing to keep in mind is comfort level. Triple panes can help reduce cold drafts near the windows, making rooms feel warmer and cozier—especially noticeable if you spend lots of time near large windows or patio doors.
Curious though, have you checked out the energy efficiency ratings (like U-factor and SHGC) on the specific windows you're considering? Sometimes a high-quality double-pane window can outperform a lower-end triple-pane model depending on these ratings.