Difference Between Double Pane And Low E Windows

A double pane window has two sheets of glass and a gap of air in between the panes.

Difference between double pane and low e windows.

When you upgrade your current windows to double pane windows you re going to notice the difference. The term double pane refers to a window that has two pieces of glass while low e is a coating technique. Double pane windows increase the energy efficiency of homes because the panels set up a barrier to reduce heat loss in winter and heat gain in the summer. So it not only acts as a reflective low e window but also as a form of thermal insulation against drafts and heat loss.

With that said we highly recommend double pane windows over single pane windows if you live in a colder climate. The windows are usually single pane but can be installed double pane at a higher cost per window. A standard double pane window with argon gas is going to reflect 90 of the energy and only let 10 through. But the third pane doesn t really make that dramatic of a difference.

The thing is triple pane windows with their three panes of glass do a better job than double pane windows on preserving energy within your home. Low e windows are covered in a film like coating that traps warmth prevents drafts and reflects sunlight in the summer to aid in cooling the home. Low e has the ability to keep the temperature of the surface of the glass facing the interior very near that of the room itself regardless of outside temperatures. It requires a sheet of glass as a base material for its application.

The panes are typically separated by a gap that measures from inch to inch. Low e squared glass can keep the inside glass temperature within 1 f of a room with no windows. However the most common application area is in between the two panels of a double pane window. You can have glass with or without a low e coating.

If budget is a factor it makes sense to go with double pane windows for the best deal upfront. Double pane windows can be clear tinted or have a low e coating. This is but a small sampling of how specific the new generation low e coatings can get.