- Argon’s like the fancy coffee at the gas station—nice if you get it, but regular air will still wake you up.
- I’ve put in plenty of windows with just air between panes, and honestly, if the seals hold up, most folks are happy with the performance.
- The real villain here is the failed seal. Once that goes, doesn’t matter if you filled it with unicorn breath... you’re getting fog and drafts.
- Argon does slow down heat loss a bit, sure, but it’s not magic. If your window frames are leaky or the install’s sloppy, you’ll still feel that draft in February.
- I tell folks: spend the extra bucks on good install and solid frames before worrying about what gas is in there. The gas helps, but only as long as the rest of the system is tight.
- Seen plenty of “premium” windows fog up after a couple years—usually comes down to rushed installs or cheap seals, not what’s between the glass.
- If you’re in a really cold spot, maybe argon’s worth it. For most people, a tight window beats a fancy fill any day.
- Argon’s nice, but not a game changer for most folks.
- If your seals go, it won’t matter what’s in there—your window’s toast either way.
- I’ve had both types over the years. My last place had “fancy” argon windows. After 5 years, one started fogging up. Turns out, installer rushed the job and the seal failed. Didn’t feel any warmer than my old house with regular air windows, honestly.
- If you’re in a super cold spot, maybe the extra insulation helps a bit. For my climate (mid-Atlantic), I noticed more difference after caulking frames and fixing drafts than from whatever was between the panes.
- Save your money for solid frames and a careful install. The gas is just a bonus, not the main deal.
- Unless you’re somewhere like Minnesota, I’d say don’t overthink the gas. Focus on making sure everything’s tight and sealed up. That’s where the real savings are.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen a noticeable difference with argon in colder climates—even outside of Minnesota-level winters. It’s not just about the gas, though. If you pair argon with a good low-E coating and make sure the install is tight, you can cut down on drafts and cold spots pretty well. The seal is still the weak point, no doubt, but I wouldn’t write off the gas completely if your winters dip below freezing for months at a time. Just my two cents after swapping out a bunch of windows over the years.
That lines up with what I’ve seen, too. I swapped out old double-hungs in my 1960s ranch for argon-filled units with low-E, and the difference in comfort was pretty noticeable once January rolled around. The seals do worry me long-term, but honestly, the draft reduction alone made it worth it for us. Sometimes it’s the combo of upgrades that really does the trick, not just the gas itself.
I’ve wondered about the long-term seal issue, too. From what I’ve read, argon does leak out over time, but it’s a pretty slow process—like, you’re still getting most of the benefit even after a decade or more. I replaced the original aluminum sliders in my split-level with argon-filled double panes last fall. The difference in drafts was immediate, but honestly, I think a lot of that came from just having new, properly installed frames and sashes. The low-E coating is supposed to help with heat gain in summer, but I haven’t been through a full cycle yet to tell.
One thing that surprised me was how much quieter the house got. I didn’t expect that from just swapping out the gas. I guess it’s the tighter seals and maybe the glass thickness? Anyway, I do wonder if argon is worth the extra cost compared to just air, especially if the seals are the weak point in the long run. Still, for now, I’m glad I went for it... even if I’m side-eyeing the warranty paperwork every time I think about those seals.
- Argon does sneak out eventually, but like you said, it’s not a mad dash for the exits—more of a slow shuffle over 15-20 years. Most folks will swap their windows before all the argon’s gone anyway.
- You nailed it on drafts. A lot of that “wow” moment is just tight new frames and sashes doing their job. Old aluminum sliders are basically wind tunnels in disguise.
- The sound thing is real. Argon’s not really the hero there—it’s thicker glass, tighter seals, and often a bit more space between panes. If you ever get triple-pane, it’s even quieter (and heavier... ask my back).
- Low-E coatings are sneaky. You won’t always “feel” them, but come July, your AC might thank you.
- Cost-wise, argon’s usually not a wallet-buster—maybe $10-$20 per window extra—but yeah, if the seal fails early, all bets are off.
Ever seen anyone go for krypton instead? I’ve only installed it once—felt like I was prepping Superman’s house. Still not sure it was worth double the price...
I’ve only seen krypton used in super high-end projects, mostly when there’s a really narrow gap between panes and they want max insulation. Honestly, the price jump seems hard to justify unless you’re already spending a fortune on other upgrades. Curious—has anyone actually noticed a real-world difference in comfort or bills with krypton over argon? I always wonder if it’s more about the specs on paper than anything you’d feel day-to-day.
Honestly, most folks wouldn’t notice a huge difference between argon and krypton unless you’re living somewhere with wild temperature swings or you’ve got a house built like a sieve. I’ve swapped out plenty of windows and, unless you’re chasing that last 1% of efficiency, argon’s usually the sweet spot. Krypton’s cool for bragging rights, but your wallet’s gonna feel it more than your toes, in my experience.
I’m with you—argon’s usually the sweet spot for most homes, at least from what I’ve seen. When I replaced my old single panes with double glazed, I did a bunch of research and ended up choosing argon-filled units. Here’s how I looked at it, step by step:
First, I checked the insulation value (the U-factor) on both air and argon-filled windows. Argon made a noticeable difference—nothing crazy, but enough that my living room didn’t feel drafty anymore. Then I factored in the cost. Argon was a bit more than plain air, but not enough to make me wince.
Now, if you’ve got a super tight house or you’re in a spot where it gets crazy cold or hot, maybe you’ll notice more of an upgrade with krypton, but honestly... I’d rather put that extra cash toward better weatherstripping or attic insulation.
One thing I did notice: make sure your installer does a pressure test or at least checks the seals. Even argon won’t help if it leaks out over time. Learned that one the hard way.
Even argon won’t help if it leaks out over time. Learned that one the hard way.
That’s the kicker, right there. I went with argon too, and like you said, the difference was noticeable but not dramatic—just enough to stop the living room from feeling like a wind tunnel in January. I had a buddy who tried to save a few bucks and just got air-filled units, but he ended up running his heater more often. Not a huge deal, but it adds up.
One thing I learned the rough way: if the installer rushes or skips checking those seals, you’re pretty much throwing money out the window (literally). Had to get two panes replaced after about three years because the argon had leaked out—fogged up between the glass, looked awful.
At the end of the day, argon’s a solid middle ground. Krypton seems like overkill unless you’re up in Alaska or something. I’d rather put my budget toward tightening up the rest of the house too. No sense in having fancy windows if your front door has a half-inch gap under it.