Been looking into replacing some windows at our cabin up in the mountains, and stumbled across this whole thing about gas-filled windows. Apparently, argon and krypton are popular for insulation, but I've read they might not perform as well at higher altitudes because of pressure differences or something. Honestly, it's a bit confusing... anyone else dealt with this? Quick poll: if you're living up high (say 5000 ft+), did you go with gas-filled windows or just stick with regular air-filled ones?
"Apparently, argon and krypton are popular for insulation, but I've read they might not perform as well at higher altitudes..."
Yeah, ran into this exact issue a few years back when we redid our place around 6,200 ft. Installer warned us about gas-filled windows potentially losing efficiency or even bowing due to pressure differences. Ended up just going with regular double-pane air-filled windows—no regrets so far. Winters still cozy enough, and honestly, didn't notice a huge difference in heating bills compared to neighbors who went fancy.
Interesting, hadn't really thought about altitude affecting gas-filled windows before. We're around 5,800 ft and went with argon-filled panes about three years ago. Haven't noticed any bowing or obvious issues yet, but now I'm wondering if they're actually still filled with argon or if it's leaked out over time. Like you said:
"didn't notice a huge difference in heating bills compared to neighbors who went fancy."
Makes me think maybe the extra cost wasn't totally worth it...
I've installed a fair share of argon-filled windows over the years, and your altitude (around 5,800 ft) is definitely something manufacturers consider. Usually, they adjust the internal pressure slightly at the factory if they know they're shipping to higher elevations. But honestly, even with those precautions, I've seen mixed results.
A few years back, we did a remodel for a client who was at about 6,200 ft. They went all-in on krypton-filled triple panes—really high-end stuff. Beautiful windows, no doubt about it. But about five years later, when we went back for another project, I noticed two of those panes had slight bowing. Nothing dramatic or structurally concerning, but enough to make me wonder if the gas had leaked or if altitude pressure had played a role.
The thing is, even if some argon leaks out (and realistically it does over time, even at sea level), you're still benefiting from the double-pane construction itself. The air gap alone provides decent insulation compared to single-pane glass. Argon does increase efficiency somewhat—it's denser than regular air and slows heat transfer—but in my experience, it's not always a night-and-day difference on heating bills.
"didn't notice a huge difference in heating bills compared to neighbors who went fancy."
This lines up pretty closely with what I've seen too. Unless you're dealing with really extreme weather conditions or you're particularly sensitive to small efficiency gains, the extra cost doesn't always pay off noticeably in monthly bills.
So don't beat yourself up about it too much...you didn't waste money per se; you just invested in something that's more subtle in its benefits than marketing materials might suggest. And hey, at least you haven't noticed any bowing or structural issues yet—that's a good sign your windows are holding up just fine.
Usually, they adjust the internal pressure slightly at the factory if they know they're shipping to higher elevations. But honestly, even with those precautions, I've seen mixed results.
We went with argon-filled windows at about 5,500 ft, and honestly, I can't say I've noticed a huge difference either. They're holding up fine structurally, no bowing or anything, but the heating bills didn't drop dramatically compared to our old air-filled double panes. Still, I figure every little bit helps, and at least they're solid windows overall. Seems like altitude might just level the playing field a bit between gas-filled and regular air.
I've noticed something similar at around 6,000 ft. We went with krypton-filled windows thinking they'd be a step up from argon, but honestly, the difference in heating bills was minimal at best. Structurally they're solid, no issues there, but I think at higher altitudes the insulation advantage of gas-filled windows just isn't as pronounced. Still glad we upgraded though—like you said, every bit counts, and they're definitely quieter than our old ones.
Interesting to hear your experience with krypton windows at altitude. We went through something similar a few years back when we replaced our old single-pane windows at around 5,500 ft elevation. Initially, I was pretty skeptical about the whole gas-filled window thing—seemed a bit gimmicky to me, honestly. But after talking with a few neighbors who swore by argon-filled windows, we decided to give them a shot.
Now, did we notice a huge difference in heating bills? Not exactly. Maybe a slight improvement, but nothing dramatic. The biggest change for us was actually comfort. Before, on really cold days, you'd feel that chilly draft just standing near the windows. After the upgrade, that draftiness was pretty much gone, so it felt warmer even if the bills didn't drop much. And yeah, like you mentioned, the quietness factor was a nice bonus. Didn't even realize how noisy our street was until we got the new windows installed.
Still, I sometimes wonder if plain old air-filled double panes would've done almost as well at this altitude. Maybe the pressure difference up here makes the gas less effective or something? I'm no expert, but it seems plausible. Makes me curious if anyone's tried comparing gas-filled directly against air-filled windows at higher elevations—would be interesting to see if there's any real-world difference or if it's mostly marketing hype.
Has anyone here actually done a side-by-side comparison or knows someone who has? I'd be interested to hear if there's any noticeable difference beyond just the theory.
"Still, I sometimes wonder if plain old air-filled double panes would've done almost as well at this altitude."
I think you're onto something here. We replaced windows at around 6,000 ft and went with argon-filled too, mostly because the installer recommended it. Like you said, comfort improved noticeably—no more cold spots near the windows—but the energy savings were pretty minimal. Honestly, I suspect good sealing and proper installation matter way more than the gas type, especially at higher elevations where pressure differences might reduce effectiveness anyway.