Anyone tried those ultra-slim triple glass windows yet?

Had a similar experience here, actually. We replaced three front-facing windows with the ultra-slim triple panes last spring. Like you, I was a bit skeptical about the insulation claims, especially since the glass looked so much thinner than what I was used to. But the U-factor numbers on these are impressive - mine were rated at 0.18, which is a big step down from the old double panes (those were around 0.32 if I remember right). I’m in a 1970s split-level, so the original frames weren’t exactly square anymore, and that did add a few headaches for the installer. Ended up needing custom trim work just to get everything flush.

Noise reduction was probably the most noticeable change for us too. We’re near a busy street and it’s almost eerie how quiet the living room is now. Thermal comfort improved, but I’d say it’s more of a steady temperature rather than a dramatic jump in warmth - maybe that’s because we already had decent attic insulation?

On cost, yeah... sticker shock is putting it mildly. Between the windows themselves and the extra labor for retrofitting, it ran about 40% higher than standard triple panes I priced out. I think part of that is just new tech markup and part is our installer charging more for “unusual” jobs. Did you get any quotes from other companies? I noticed prices varied wildly depending on whether they’d worked with these slim profiles before.

One thing I’m curious about is long-term durability. The seals are supposed to be better, but with less material, I wonder if they’ll hold up as well over 20+ years. Anyone had these in for more than a couple seasons yet?

Man, the noise reduction is wild, right? I joked with my wife that the neighbors could throw a block party and we’d sleep through it now. I totally get the sticker shock, though - ours cost more than our first used car. I’m still not sure about long-term durability either. The seals look solid for now, but only time will tell. Wish they’d come with a crystal ball instead of just a warranty...

That sticker shock is real, right? I remember when we got ours put in, my dad joked that we could’ve bought a fishing boat instead. But honestly, the noise difference is wild - our place used to sound like a subway station at rush hour, and now it’s almost eerie how quiet it is.

I get your worry about long-term durability. I keep looking at those seals too, half-expecting them to just give up one day. Our installer swore up and down they’d last decades, but I’m still a bit skeptical. Stuff always sounds great in the brochure.

One thing I’ve noticed since we got them, though - our heating bill dropped more than I expected. Not enough to pay for the windows anytime soon, but it’s something. I guess time will tell if they hold up, but for now, I’m just enjoying not hearing the neighbor’s dog barking at 6am.

I guess time will tell if they hold up, but for now, I’m just enjoying not hearing the neighbor’s dog barking at 6am.

Honestly, the heating bill drop was the biggest surprise for me too - didn’t expect it to make that much difference, especially since our old windows were already double pane. I hear you on the seals; I keep checking ours after a heavy rain just in case. The quiet is nice, but I sometimes wonder if it’s almost *too* quiet, like I’ve lost track of what’s going on outside. Price-wise, yeah, it definitely stung. I’m still not sure if I’d do every window in the house, given how much it adds up.

Honestly, I get what you mean about the price. We did just the front-facing windows last fall because that side gets the worst wind, and I couldn’t stomach the quote for the whole house either. If I had to do it again, I’d probably stick with just the rooms we use most - living room and bedrooms - since that’s where we actually notice the difference.

I’m with you on the seals too. Every time there’s a big storm, I end up running my hand along the edges just to make sure nothing’s seeping in. So far, so good, but I don’t fully trust them yet either. Our old double panes were starting to fog up inside, so at least these look better for now.

As for the quiet, it’s weird, right? I used to wake up to traffic and birds, and now it’s almost like living in a vacuum. My partner loves it but sometimes I miss knowing when the mail shows up or if there’s a delivery truck outside. Guess it’s a trade-off.

If you’re worried about missing out on outside noise, maybe leave one window cracked every so often just to keep tabs on what’s happening. Or stick with a mix - triple glass where you want peace and regular ones where you don’t mind some sound coming through.

Anyway, glad to hear your heating bill dropped too. That surprised me more than anything. The upfront cost is rough but at least there are some perks you feel right away... even if it does take a while to break even.

Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing about the quiet - it’s almost too much sometimes. When we did our upgrade, I started with just the main living spaces, too. If anyone’s on the fence, here’s what worked for me: prioritize the draftiest rooms first (for us, bedrooms and the den), then check window seals every season - especially after a big temperature swing. It’s helped catch little leaks before they turn into bigger issues.

One thing I’d add - if you’re worried about losing touch with what’s going on outside, a simple doorbell camera or mailbox sensor might help. Not exactly the same as hearing birds, but at least you won’t miss deliveries.

Heating bill drop was a big plus for us, too. Still not sure it’ll pay off fast, but comfort-wise, it’s hard to beat.

Those mailbox sensors are a game changer, honestly. I didn’t think I’d care but after the 3rd “mystery package” incident, I caved. Not as charming as birdsong but at least you know when someone’s at the door.

I get what you mean about the quiet, though. After we swapped out our old windows for the triple glass ones last fall, it was almost… too still? Sometimes I miss the distant hum of neighborhood life. The first few nights, I actually thought my street had gone into hibernation or something. But man, the comfort is undeniable - no more drafts sneaking up on me while I’m watching TV.

We started with just the living room and master bedroom since those are the spots we hang out in most. My wife was skeptical about the price tag, and honestly, so was I. The install wasn’t cheap (and took longer than they promised), but our heating bill dropped more than I expected. Still not sure how many years until it pays for itself, but it’s nice not having to wear a hoodie indoors all winter.

One thing that surprised me: condensation basically disappeared. Used to get these little puddles on the sills every morning in January, now nothing. That alone is worth something to me - no more peeling paint or weird water stains.

If anyone’s on the fence about doing every room at once, I’d say start with where you feel the coldest drafts or where you spend most of your time. Bedrooms were a huge upgrade for us - sleeping through a windstorm without hearing a thing feels pretty luxurious.

Still kinda miss hearing birds in the morning though… Maybe time to invest in some fake birds or something?

sleeping through a windstorm without hearing a thing feels pretty luxurious.

That’s exactly how I felt after we did our upstairs - never realized how much outside noise I’d gotten used to until it was gone. The quiet is wild at first, but I’ve grown to appreciate it. I do miss the old creaks and distant traffic sometimes, but not enough to go back to drafty windows. Our condensation issues vanished too, which was a huge relief after years of repainting sills. As for birdsong, I’ve started cracking a window in the morning just to get a bit of that back... probably defeats the purpose, but hey, old habits.

Funny, I thought I’d miss the background noise more too, but now the only thing I notice is how much warmer the rooms feel. Triple glass made a bigger difference than I expected - especially in winter. Still, I do find myself opening a window for that “real air” feeling, even if it means letting in a bit of street noise. Old habits die hard, right?

That “real air” thing gets me, too. I’ve seen folks get these ultra-slim triples and swear they’ll never crack a window again, but honestly, there’s just something about fresh air - even if it means the neighbor’s dog joins the party. The warmth difference is wild though, especially in older homes where drafts used to be the norm. Curious if you noticed any condensation issues on the inside? Sometimes clients mention that after upgrading, especially if the humidity’s up.

Yeah, the condensation thing caught me off guard the first winter after we swapped out the old single panes for triples. Our house is from the 60s, so it went from drafty to almost too airtight overnight. If we keep the humidity up (like when I forget to turn on the bathroom fan), I’ll get a bit of fog on the corners. Not a dealbreaker, but definitely something to watch if you’re used to just letting the breeze handle it. And yeah, I still crack a window now and then - nothing beats that real air, even if it means hearing the neighbor’s lawnmower at 7am…

That’s exactly what happened to us after our window upgrade - suddenly the house felt like a sealed box. Here’s what worked for us: first, I grabbed a cheap hygrometer to keep tabs on humidity (turns out showers and cooking really spike it). Second, we started running the bathroom fan a bit longer, and sometimes the kitchen vent too. If you forget, yeah, those corners fog up fast. Cracking a window here and there definitely helps, even if it means hearing the neighbor’s dog bark at squirrels all morning. It’s a tradeoff, but the energy savings are worth it.

Totally relate to the “sealed box” feeling after a window upgrade. When we swapped out our old single panes for triple glass (the ultra-slim ones, actually), I was honestly shocked how airtight the place got. It’s wild how much difference it makes - suddenly, every little thing you do inside shows up in the air quality and humidity.

That bit about the hygrometer is spot-on. I thought it was overkill at first, but tracking humidity is basically essential now. I’ve caught a couple spikes after running the dishwasher or even just boiling pasta. And yeah, those corners - especially on north-facing walls - are always where the condensation pops up first if I slack off on ventilation.

I will say, though, sometimes I wish there was a smarter way to handle airflow than just cracking a window and letting in every sound from outside (and in my case, way too much pollen some days). The fans help, but they don’t always keep up when everyone’s home and using showers back-to-back. Kind of makes me think about one of those HRV systems, but that’s a whole other expense.

Energy savings are real - I’ve actually been able to turn down the thermostat more than I expected, and the house holds heat way better in winter. But like you said, it’s a tradeoff. You solve one problem and create a new one you didn’t really expect. Still worth it for me, but definitely not as “set it and forget it” as some of the sales guys made it sound.

Anyway, glad someone else is seeing the same stuff. Makes me feel less like I missed something obvious during install.

That “sealed box” vibe is so real. When I put in ultra-slim triples last fall, it was like living in a thermos overnight. I used to think my old windows were just drafty, but wow, turns out they were basically air conditioning for the neighborhood. Now, if I forget to run the bathroom fan, it’s fog city on the mirrors and sometimes on the window corners too - especially when it’s cold out.

I hear you about the HRV systems. I looked into them but the price tag made my eyes water. For now, I’m just opening windows on opposite sides for a few minutes when I can, but yeah, pollen season is rough. The energy savings are legit though - my heating bill dropped more than I expected and the place actually stays warm even when I’m stingy with the thermostat.

Honestly, I wish someone had warned me about the humidity management side of things before install. The sales pitch made it sound like “just pop them in and forget about it,” but it’s definitely more hands-on. Still, I wouldn’t go back to single panes - no way.

- Had the same thing happen here - triple panes are airtight, but that means moisture’s got nowhere to go.
- I added a cheap humidity monitor in the main rooms. It’s helped me figure out when to crack a window vs. just running the fans longer.
- Noticed if I dry laundry inside or cook a lot, the windows fog up even faster.
- HRV is pricey, yeah, but I’m keeping an eye out for rebates - sometimes the local utility offers deals.
- Energy savings are real, though. My old single panes were basically wind tunnels in winter.
- Wouldn’t go back either, but yeah, it’s not a set-and-forget upgrade.

I totally get where you’re coming from. We just put in triple glass windows last fall, and the first thing I noticed was how much quieter and warmer it got inside. But yeah, the humidity thing caught me off guard. The windows started fogging up way more than with our old drafty ones - especially after a long shower or when we had a bunch of people over. I picked up a cheap humidity sensor too and it’s honestly been a game changer. Cracking a window for a bit usually does the trick, but it’s kind of funny how “airtight” can be both a blessing and a hassle. Still, wouldn’t trade back for single panes... not after last winter.

I get that the warmth and quiet are a big improvement, but honestly, the fogging would drive me nuts. Cracking a window works, sure, but doesn’t that kind of defeat the purpose of investing in super-sealed windows? I’ve heard some folks install small ventilation systems or trickle vents to handle humidity, but that’s more money and hassle. Makes me wonder if all that “airtight” hype is always worth it, especially in older houses where airflow was never really an issue before.

You’re not wrong - airtight windows are a double-edged sword. The insulation is great, but yeah, you end up trapping all the moisture from showers, cooking, even just breathing. In older homes, you’d get that “natural” draft (aka leaky frames) that kept things dry-ish. Now, with triple glass and tight seals, you pretty much have to think about ventilation as a separate project. I’ve seen folks go the trickle vent route - doesn’t look like much, but it helps. Still, it’s a bit ironic to spend all that money sealing up the house just to poke little holes in it for air, right?

That irony isn’t lost on me. I replaced my old, drafty wood windows with triple-glazed units a few years back, and the difference in comfort was huge... but the humidity spiked almost immediately. I ended up installing a small HRV (heat recovery ventilator) system. Not cheap, but it keeps air fresh without losing too much heat. Trickle vents help, but I found they’re not quite enough if you’ve got a busy kitchen or multiple showers running daily. There’s definitely a balancing act between efficiency and indoor air quality.