Thermopane Windows: Types and how to choose the best for the southern zone

Windows are historically the "weak points" of any home when it comes to heat loss. Installing thermopane is a basic requirement today, but... did you know that not all thermopanes are identical or offer the same performance?

Termopanel or Thermopane? The same glass, two names

If you have been comparing window quotes in Chile, you may have noticed that some suppliers say "termopanel" while others say "thermopane". It is exactly the same product: Thermopane is the original English name (it started as a commercial brand in the United States), and "termopanel" is the adaptation used in Chile. Technically, both terms refer to hermetic double glazing (DVH): two glass panes factory-sealed with an insulating chamber between them.

So whether a quote says "thermopane windows", "termopanel", or "DVH", you are looking at the same technology. What really changes performance — and price — is the type of frame and glass, as we will see next.

Frames: Aluminum or PVC?

Although aluminum with "Thermal Break" exists, in the construction of Canadian Houses in the deep south of Chile, the undisputed king is structural PVC with UV filters.

• Intrinsic insulation: PVC is a naturally insulating material, unlike metal. Moisture does not condense on the edges.
• Airtightness: Thermo-fused joints prevent cold air and dust infiltration.
• Maintenance: It does not oxidize due to saline rain or lose color.

The Heart of the System: The Glass

The glass type is the final barrier:

1. Basic Thermopane (Hermetic Double Glazing - DVH): The standard thermopane: two raw glass panes separated by a dry air chamber.
2. Low-E Glass (Low Emissivity): An amazing evolution. They have a microscopic coating that allows the Sun to enter and heat the room, but "traps" that heat inside the house, causing your heating system to consume much less energy. Ideal for Puerto Montt, Pucón, or Coyhaique.
3. Argon Gas Fill: Instead of normal air, the space between the glasses is filled with this inert heavy gas, which drastically reduces temperature transfers.

There is no point in having spectacularly thermal walls if windows let energy escape. That is why at Canadian Houses we work exclusively with certified European lines of thermopane (termopanel), included in our turnkey houses and adapted to the aggressiveness of our southern winter. Protect your family from extreme cold and disproportionate power bills.

Together with good insulation, these panes are what make a 100% electric house in southern Chile viable, and they are part of the thermal standard we inherit from Nordic design adapted to the Chilean climate. See how we apply all of this in our construction of homes in southern Chile with the Canadian system.