Trying to decide between double-pane windows with regular air or the ones filled with argon gas. I’ve read the argon’s supposed to insulate better, but is it really worth the extra cost? My house gets super drafty in winter (old 70s build), so I’m hoping for a noticeable difference. Anyone actually notice lower bills or less condensation with argon? Or is it mostly hype?
We swapped out our old windows for double panes with argon a couple winters back—our place is also a drafty ‘70s ranch. Here’s what I noticed: the rooms definitely felt less chilly near the windows, and I didn’t get that annoying condensation on the inside glass as much. Our heating bill dropped a bit, but honestly, not a huge amount. If you’re already replacing windows, argon’s a nice upgrade, but I wouldn’t rip out perfectly good windows just for the gas fill. The install was pretty straightforward, too.
We did the argon-filled windows about five years ago when we were redoing the siding. Our house is a mid-60s split-level and always had that “cold spot” near the big living room windows in winter. I’ll say, after the swap, sitting by those windows actually became comfortable again. Condensation was a huge issue for us too—used to wake up to puddles on the sill some mornings, but now it’s pretty rare.
I agree with you, though—the heating bill savings weren’t anything wild. Maybe 10% tops? It’s nice, but not life-changing. Still, I’d take that over nothing. I’ve heard some folks say argon leaks out over time and you’re left with regular air eventually, but after a few years, I haven’t noticed any difference.
If your windows are shot anyway, it’s a solid upgrade. But yeah, if they’re still in good shape, probably not worth the hassle or cost just for the gas. That said… I do like not having to mop up water every morning.
We swapped out our old double-panes for argon-filled units about three winters ago. The difference in comfort was pretty noticeable—especially in the evenings when we’d hang out near the windows. I geeked out and used an IR thermometer, and the glass temp jumped up a few degrees compared to the old ones. Like you said, though, the energy bill didn’t drop dramatically. Still, not having to deal with condensation every morning was a huge win. I’ve read about argon leaking too, but so far, no sign of it here… Maybe it’s one of those things that takes a decade or more before you notice?
We swapped out our old double-panes for argon-filled units about three winters ago. The difference in comfort was pretty noticeable—especially in the evenings when we’d hang out near the windows.
I definitely get the appeal of argon, especially if you’re tired of waking up to windows that look like they just ran a marathon. I’m in a similar boat—my place is a 60s ranch with all the insulation of a cardboard box, and I went with argon when I replaced a couple windows last year. Honestly, the room does feel less drafty, but I can’t say my energy bill plummeted or anything. Maybe it’s more of a “lots of little improvements add up” thing?
I did notice the glass isn’t as cold to the touch in winter, which is nice when you’re sitting nearby. As for condensation, it’s way better than before, but not totally gone (maybe my cooking habits are to blame there). The argon leaking thing crossed my mind too, but I figure by the time it’s a problem, I’ll be worrying about other stuff—like the roof.
If you’re already spending the money to upgrade, it seems worth it for the comfort factor, even if you don’t see a massive drop in bills.
- Argon definitely helps with comfort—less cold radiating off the glass, like you said.
- Energy savings aren’t always huge, especially if the rest of the house is leaky or under-insulated. Windows are just one piece.
- Most folks notice less condensation, but it won’t fix humidity from cooking or showers.
- Argon leaking out over time is possible, but usually takes decades. By then, seals or frames might need work anyway.
- If you’re already replacing windows, argon’s a small extra cost for better comfort—makes sense to go for it.
Curious if anyone’s tried krypton-filled units? They’re supposed to insulate even better, but I almost never see them in standard installs. Wondering if the price difference is worth it or just marketing...
I’ve wondered about krypton too, but honestly, I’ve never seen it offered by any local installers around here.
Same deal at my place—when we swapped out our old windows last year, argon was the “upgrade,” but krypton was either not an option or way more expensive. Maybe it makes sense in super cold climates? Anyone actually notice a difference, or is it just splitting hairs at that point? I feel like air vs argon was already a stretch on our budget.“They’re supposed to insulate even better, but I almost never see them in standard installs.”
I’m with you—krypton always seemed like the unicorn of window upgrades. I asked about it when we did our windows a couple years back, and the installer basically shrugged and said, “Yeah, technically it’s better, but you’d never notice unless you lived in Alaska or something.” Price was wild too, like double what argon cost.
Honestly, argon already felt like a bit of a leap for our budget. I get that it’s supposed to cut down on heat loss more than air, but in a regular climate (we’re in Ohio), I’m not convinced the difference is dramatic enough to justify going even further up the price ladder. Maybe if your house is super drafty or you’ve got crazy temperature swings? But for most people, I think argon is as fancy as you need to go.
I will say, our energy bills dropped a bit after the new windows, but who knows how much of that was the gas vs just replacing leaky old frames. Sometimes I wonder if these upgrades are more about peace of mind than actual savings...
I had the same debate with myself when we moved in last year. The sales guy really tried to upsell argon, but honestly, the price difference compared to just air made me pause. We’re in Michigan—not exactly the Arctic—and our old windows were so drafty I think anything would’ve been an upgrade. Ended up going with standard double-pane with air. Our heating bill dropped a bit, but like you said, hard to tell if it’s the gas or just not having 40-year-old windows anymore. Sometimes I wonder if these “premium” features are more about marketing than real-world impact, especially in normal climates.
I get what you mean about the sales pitch—argon gets hyped up a lot. Here’s how I usually break it down for folks:
Step one, look at your climate. In places with super cold winters, argon can make a difference because it slows heat transfer a bit more than air. But in Michigan, unless you’re really trying to squeeze every last BTU out of your heating bill, that difference is honestly pretty small.
Next, consider the window itself. A modern double-pane with decent seals will already be a huge step up from old drafty ones—like you said, sometimes it’s just the upgrade from “leaky” to “not leaky” that saves the most energy.
Then there’s the cost. Argon isn’t crazy expensive, but if you’re replacing a bunch of windows, those little add-ons add up. And argon can leak out over time (very slowly), so after 15–20 years, you might just have air in there anyway.
If you’re not in a super harsh climate and your budget’s tight, standard air-filled panes are totally fine. Personally, I’ve seen more improvement from good installation and quality frames than from the gas between the glass.