Had a similar issue last year—installer rushed the sealing, and sure enough, condensation showed up within weeks. Ended up having to redo the whole thing myself. Definitely worth taking your time to seal it right the first go-around... saves headaches later.
Went through something similar myself when we moved into our high-altitude place a couple of years back. The original windows had regular air fill, and we noticed condensation and even some slight warping within a month or two. After doing some digging, I learned that at higher elevations, the pressure difference can really mess with standard sealed units, causing them to fail prematurely.
Ended up replacing them with argon-filled windows specifically rated for altitude. The difference was noticeable—no condensation, better insulation, and even a bit less noise from outside. You're totally right about the sealing though; even the best gas fill won't help if the installation isn't airtight. Taking the extra time to get it sealed properly makes all the difference in the long run.
"Ended up replacing them with argon-filled windows specifically rated for altitude."
Interesting point about the argon-filled windows. Had a similar issue when I moved up to around 7,000 feet—regular double-pane windows started fogging up within weeks. But I'm curious, was it definitely the gas fill that made the difference, or could it have been mostly the improved sealing and installation? I upgraded mine too, but stuck with standard air-filled units and just paid extra attention to sealing. Haven't noticed any condensation yet...
Haven't noticed any condensation yet...
I've installed plenty of windows at high altitudes, and honestly, I'm a bit skeptical about the argon making a huge difference. From what I've seen, fogging usually comes down to sealing quality and pressure equalization more than the gas itself. Had a client at around 8,000 feet who insisted on argon-filled units, but they still fogged up after a year because the installation wasn't done right. Meanwhile, another homeowner nearby went with standard air-filled windows, sealed them meticulously, and they're still crystal clear years later. So yeah, I'd lean toward sealing and proper install being the bigger factor here...
Yeah, your experience lines up pretty well with mine. I've seen argon-filled windows do great in some cases, but honestly, it's usually the install quality that makes or breaks it. Had one homeowner swear by argon, only to call me back a year later because of fogging—turned out the seals weren't done right. Sounds like you're already on the right track if you're not seeing any condensation yet... good sign for sure.
"Had one homeowner swear by argon, only to call me back a year later because of fogging—turned out the seals weren't done right."
Yeah, I've run into something similar. Helped my brother-in-law install argon-filled windows at his cabin up around 8,000 feet. Everything seemed fine at first, but after a harsh winter, two of them started fogging up pretty badly. Turns out altitude and pressure changes can really mess with seals if they're not spot-on. Regular air might've been simpler in hindsight... less hassle overall.
Interesting points about altitude—I hadn't thought of that. Makes me wonder if manufacturers even test those seals at higher elevations much, or just assume sea-level conditions. Seems like regular air might save some headaches in those cases...
Good question about testing at altitude—I wouldn't be surprised if some manufacturers just slap a "high-altitude approved" sticker on and call it a day. From my experience, windows filled with special gases like argon can sometimes cause headaches up in the mountains because pressure differences mess with the seals. Regular air might not have the same insulating punch, but at least you won't end up with foggy windows and warranty arguments down the road... learned that lesson the hard way on a cabin job a couple years back.
"Regular air might not have the same insulating punch, but at least you won't end up with foggy windows and warranty arguments down the road..."
Funny you mention that—I ran into a similar headache up in Colorado a few winters back. We went all-in on argon-filled windows thinking we'd save big on heating bills. Sure enough, within a year, half of them had condensation trapped inside. Manufacturer blamed altitude (of course), so we ended up swapping them out for plain air-filled units. Honestly, the insulation difference wasn't even noticeable...lesson learned I guess.
Interesting experience—I've always been a bit skeptical about the whole argon-filled window hype, especially at higher elevations. A friend of mine in Utah had a similar issue. He installed krypton-filled windows (supposedly even better than argon), and within two winters, he was dealing with fogging and seal failures. Manufacturer gave him the same altitude excuse, which honestly seems like something they conveniently leave out of the sales pitch...
From what I've seen, unless you're living in an extremely cold climate or have a super energy-efficient home already, the difference between gas-filled and regular air windows is pretty minimal. The extra cost and potential headaches might not be worth it. Personally, I'd rather invest that money into better insulation elsewhere or upgrading my heating system.
Glad you shared your story though—makes me feel better about sticking with plain old air-filled windows for now.