When the desiccant has soaked up all it can, it can lead to window seal failure. This is a material, like silica, that absorbs water. Typically double-pane windows come with a desiccant inside the spacer. This annoyance can prove insidious if it gets inside the window, between the panes where you can’t clear it off. Defrosting the car in the morning is a drag, and the windows in your house are no better off. Pro: Preventing CondensationĪ constant thorn in your side at winter time is the frost, fog, and condensation that forms on all your glass surfaces. A consequence is this could create a gap in the seal, meaning the gas would escape. That means it won’t expand and contract along with your window pane. The flipside of argon being inert is that it doesn’t move. Similarly, parts of your house will freeze and unfreeze as temperatures change, resulting in expansion, contraction and things not fitting as they did before. You know how sometimes your key won’t work in the winter? This is the result of the lock freezing. In fact, it’s one of the many gases we breathe every day as part of our atmosphere. That’s all to say it’s not harmful if it leaks, such as in the case of a crack, seal failure, or just regular depletion. You may remember it from chemistry class as one of the noble gases, ones that are stable and don’t bond with anything else to form compounds. Argon is inert, meaning it’s chemically inactive. If the idea of gas makes you nervous, you’ll be pleased to know that argon is completely safe. And being colorless and odorless, it’s the next best thing to air. It may seem random to fill windows with gas, but it makes sense: air can only do so much, and we need something in the middle to insulate the window as best as possible. Together this system forms a dependable seal. The gas is denser than oxygen, so it acts as a barrier between your home and the outside. This resistance to heat is also known as R-value.īut glass alone makes a poor insulator – that’s why that space gets filled with argon gas. Like the little waiting area between the double-doors at school, the gap between their two panes minimizes the transmission of heat. How Argon Gas Windows Workĭouble-glazed windows, also known as thermopane or insulated windows, provide superior insulation. In the market for new windows? We weigh the pros and cons of argon gas so you can make an informed choice before you buy. Argon is a gas commonly used an insulator in double-glazed windows. Blog > Pros and Cons of Argon Gas Windows Argon Gas Windows: The Pros and ConsĪs a kid you always drew windows as a rectangle and a plus sign – it didn’t seem like there was much more to them than that! However, there’s more going on with windows than just the glass.
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