I get where you're coming from—had a similar situation a couple years ago when I redid the windows upstairs. Tried argon in half and just air in the others, mostly out of curiosity. Honestly, I didn’t see a dramatic difference in room temp or condensation, but my house is drafty in spots. I did notice, though, that the argon units seemed to fog up slightly less on really cold mornings... but the effect was pretty minor. Kind of makes me think all those little leaks around the trim and sill matter more than what’s between the panes.
You’re definitely onto something with the drafty spots making more of a difference than what’s between the panes. I geeked out over this stuff when I replaced my windows last fall—went with argon in the living room and just regular air for the spare bedroom, mainly because I ran out of budget (and patience) for the “premium” option everywhere. Honestly, unless you’re sealing up every nook and cranny, the gas between the glass is kind of like putting a fancy hat on a leaky roof. It might help a bit, but the real problem’s still getting in.
That said, I did notice the argon windows seemed to stay a tad clearer on those frosty mornings, but not enough to make me want to redo the rest. If you’ve got old trim or gaps around the frame, a tube of caulk and some weatherstripping probably gives you more bang for your buck than springing for argon every time. Funny how the “invisible” stuff—like tiny air leaks—ends up being the real culprit.
Honestly, unless you’re sealing up every nook and cranny, the gas between the glass is kind of like putting a fancy hat on a leaky roof. It might help a bit, but the real problem’s still gettin...
Yeah, you nailed it with the “fancy hat on a leaky roof” bit. I’ve gone down the rabbit hole with U-values and all that, but honestly, if you can feel a breeze coming through the frame, argon’s not gonna save you much. I swapped out a couple windows last winter and spent way more time sealing up the trim than worrying about what was between the panes. The argon does help a bit with condensation, like you mentioned, but unless you’re in a super cold spot, I’d say focus on the drafts first. Funny how the stuff you can’t see (like air leaks) ends up costing you more in the long run.
Couldn’t agree more about chasing drafts before worrying about what’s between the panes. I’ve been in plenty of houses where folks dropped a ton on new argon-filled windows, and you’d still feel a cold breeze if you got too close to the trim or sill. Doesn’t matter how high-tech your glass is if the frame’s leaking air like a sieve.
I get why people want the “best” windows—marketing makes argon sound like some magic bullet. But unless you’re living somewhere that gets real nasty in the winter, the difference isn’t as dramatic as people hope. Most of the time, the first thing I check is the caulking and weatherstripping. Nine times out of ten, that’s where the problem is hiding. I’ve seen 100-year-old windows outperform brand new ones just because someone took the time to seal them up right.
Not saying argon is useless—it does cut down on condensation a bit, and in some climates, that’s worth it. But if you’re feeling a draft, you’re just heating the outdoors, no matter what’s between your panes. I’d rather see folks spend money on proper installation and good seals than pay extra for something you’ll never notice unless you’re studying your energy bill with a magnifying glass.
At the end of the day, it’s about priorities. Fancy glass or not, if you can see daylight around your window frame, you know where your money’s going. Just my two cents from crawling around enough attics and basements to know the real trouble spots.
Is argon between panes really that subtle, though? I get the point about drafts, but I’ve actually noticed a difference after switching to argon-filled windows in my last apartment—less outside noise, and the glass didn’t get as cold to the touch in winter. Maybe it’s not night and day for energy bills, but for comfort, I’d say it’s more than just marketing. Curious if anyone else actually felt a legit difference or if my old place was just that bad before...
“less outside noise, and the glass didn’t get as cold to the touch in winter”
Had the same experience after swapping out old double-panes for argon-filled ones about 8 years back. The difference wasn’t dramatic on my heating bill, but the rooms felt less drafty and the windows didn’t sweat up as much in the mornings. Noticed the noise thing too—traffic sounds from the street mellowed out a bit, which surprised me.
I wouldn’t say it’s like moving into a whole new house, but for comfort, yeah, it’s noticeable. My old windows were pretty rough though, so maybe that’s part of it. One thing I did notice—argon doesn’t do much if the seals aren’t good. Had a couple panes fog up after a few years and had to get those replaced. Not cheap, but still glad I went for it.
If you’re in an older place or somewhere with cold winters, argon’s worth considering. Just don’t expect miracles on your energy bill.
Totally agree on the comfort side—
—that’s what most folks notice first. Argon does its job best when the seals are solid, like you said. Seen a few jobs where the panes fogged up way too soon because of sloppy sealing. Honestly, argon’s a nice upgrade over air, but if the frames or install aren’t up to par, you’re not really getting your money’s worth. I’d say if you’re already swapping windows, argon makes sense, but it won’t fix bigger draft or insulation issues by itself.“the rooms felt less drafty and the windows didn’t sweat up as much in the mornings”
Honestly, argon’s a nice upgrade over air, but if the frames or install aren’t up to par, you’re not really getting your money’s worth.
This is exactly what I ran into when I bought my place last year. I got all hyped about the argon windows, but then found out a couple seals were already shot... so much for “energy efficiency.” It’s like putting fancy tires on a car with a leaky gas tank. Argon definitely helps with the morning condensation (no more puddles on the sill), but if your windows are old or the install’s sloppy, you’re just paying extra for a fancy label. Worth it if you’re doing a full window swap, but don’t expect miracles.
- Kinda get what you’re saying, but I’m not convinced argon’s just a “fancy label.”
- My neighbor’s place is almost identical to mine, but with regular air windows—his living room is always draftier in winter.
- Maybe it’s not all about the install? Seems like the gas does *something* if the seals are good.
- Still, I guess if your seals are busted, nothing really helps...
I’ve actually wondered about this myself. When we redid our windows a few years back, the installer talked up the argon fill like it was the secret sauce. I was skeptical, but figured why not—if I’m already paying for new windows, might as well try it. That winter, the difference wasn’t dramatic, but the living room definitely felt less chilly around the glass. Still, a few years later, one window seal failed and fogged up... and honestly, after that, it didn’t matter what was in there. Drafts everywhere. Makes me think the gas helps, but only as long as everything else is solid.