In a recent survey we conducted of 1000 Americans across the US, a shade above half responded that they have double-pane windows in their homes. Both weighted (adjusted to match national demographics) and unweighted answers amounted to the same proportion of 52% to 48% owning double-pane windows.

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After factoring in the margin of error, the results are too close to claim with absolute confidence that the majority of Americans have double-pane windows, but there is a positive trend.

Older Americans Are More Likely to Have Double-Pane Windows

While Americans as a whole were split almost down the middle on their windows, there was a significant difference in age groups. The youngest group of people surveyed (25-34) had the fewest positive responses with only 38.7% claiming to own double-pane windows. All other age groups hovered in the 50’s with the 55-64 group reaching the highest positive response at 57.8%.

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It’s not surprising that older groups have a higher proportion of double-pane windows. The longer people live in their homes, the more updates they have time to make, and windows are one of the most popular home improvements.

Slight Decrease in South; Slight Increase in Midwest

Different areas of the country didn’t show great changes among them. However, the Midwest trended toward owning double-pane windows while the South trended toward not owning them. The West and Northeast were both about evenly split.

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Part of the appeal of double-pane windows is that they are useful for both hot and cold weather. Any time there is an extreme difference in temperature between the indoors and outdoors, double-pane windows will help a home maintain a comfortable temperature. This means that whether a homeowner is facing a boiling Louisiana summer or a freezing Minnesota winter, double-pane windows will make a noticeable difference in a home’s comfort and energy efficiency.

Home Investment Increases by Income Level

As a homeowner’s income level increases, he or she is more likely to have double-pane windows. Americans in the $100,000-$149,999 income group were significantly more likely to own double-pane windows (63.5% positive responses) than the $0-$24,999 income group (44.2%). The income groups from $25,000-$99,999 all had middling responses from 51.1%-53.4%.

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The more disposable income people have, the more able and willing people are to upgrade the features on their homes. While double-pane windows are a more affordable window option than triple-pane windows, they are more costly than installing single-pane.

Double-Pane Windows Are Universally Useful

Double-pane windows were first introduced in 1952, and many older homes still have single-pane windows. Since the launch of the double-pane window, there have been significant improvements to its energy efficiency with tighter seals, specialized window coatings, and stronger frame designs. Double-pane windows can help ease a home’s heating and cooling loads, help maintain more stable interior temperatures, dampen outdoor sounds, provide better impact resistance, and more. With all these benefits, there’s no reason for homeowners to be stuck in the past with single-pane windows.

To upgrade your windows to replacement double-pane windows in Pittsburgh, contact Legacy Remodel.