New windows! Double or triple glazed?

[OfftoPenzance]

Hello all,

I need replacement windows in my 3-bed house. Seven windows in all. At present I have double glazing (although most of the seals have gone now!)

I'm wondering whether double glazed will be sufficient again, or should I 'future proof' by investing in triple glazed windows? Our local Council is fitting triple glazed in the Council houses here - seeing as they're pretty skint, they must think it's worthwhile!

DH and I are in our 60s. If we were going to stay here for the rest of our lives, I'd triple glaze, but I think it might be better to downsize in about ten years' time. In which case I might as well save my money and just install double glazing.

If you were buying a house, would you be hoping to find triple glazed, or if you're replacing your windows, will you be getting triple glazed? If you have triple glazed windows now, do you think they're worth the extra expense?

I live in the south east, so it's not TOO cold, but I want to be well insulated for when energy prices go up again.

I just can't decide! Perhaps other MNers can help me.... Many thanks.

What era is your house, and how good is the rest of the insulation?

Triple glazing in a drafty victorian house is a waste of effort unless you want the noise reduction. Beware windows being better insulated than surrounding walls, you will get condensation on the walls (see cold bridging)

It's a 1950s ex LA house.

It's a 'poured concrete' method of construction. It has cavity walls - although we recently discovered there's nothing much in the cavity! So decent wall insulation, and improved loft insulation, are also on the list.

The 'trickle through' thing you can get on replacement windows might be an idea, and have this open a couple of times a day to ensure sufficient ventilation.

There's a vent in the outside wall of every room, although some of these don't work/got painted shut. We're currently fixing these so they all open.

Stick with double glazing, even with that there is a likelihood you'll get condensation on the window reveal walls and lintel.

All new windows come with trickle vents now so the huge wall air bricks should not be needed any more (unless you still have a coal fire or create a lot of household moisture).

Thanks, that's very helpful!

You can look it up to see what the thermal improvement is. But I think it is only 10%.

Maybe if you want better acoustic performance to silence roads and outside noise. But probably better to get specific acoustic windows with special trickle vents rather than just go for triple glazed.

I think you are better off spending the money on wall insulation.