Why Use Triple Glazed Windows?

If you are considering replacing your current windows, triple glazed windows are the way to go. Windows in your average home last 20 to 25 years and are expensive to replace. You want the best energy efficient windows available. Even though triple glazed windows cost more, they are a sound investment, adding value to your home and lowering energy costs.

Like the name implies, triple glazed windows have three layers of glass, giving them two separate air spaces. Some have a low-e glazing or coating added for insulation. There are also gas-filled windows with insulating gases between all three panes. The advantage of triple glazed windows is that they lessen or reduce drafts and leaks. They also absorb heat from the sun, cutting down on the amount of energy needed to heat the home.

The insulation found in triple glazed windows also acts as a sound barrier cutting down on the amount of outside noise coming inside. It also provides relief from interior condensation building up on the windows. Federal tax credits are given if you purchase energy effective replacement windows and doors for your principal residence. New construction and rentals do not qualify.

You may qualify for a 10% credit with a $200 maximum on windows; the windows must be Energy Star compliant. The credit is for the windows only, not the cost of installation. You can use the tax credit on your 2011 federal tax return in 2012 as long as you purchased the windows before December 31, 2011. There is a cap of $500 on federal energy tax credits for the years 2006 through 2011.

Be sure to keep the papers certifying The Energy Star ratings and the Manufacturer’s Certification Statement. You’ll need them in case of an IRS audit.