Argon inside insulating glass

Reply to [B]Michalek[/B]:

> I am starting to renovate my house this spring and I am planning to replace also all my windows. I have visited a window manufacturer and he suggest me to install insulating glass filled with argon. Now my question is, does argon gas remain inside the insulating glass a lifetime or escapes earlier? Is it economically worth-having argon inside the insulating glass?

1.- Argon gas will remain inside the insulating glass (IG) during a IG's life time if the secundary sealant of the IG is the appropriate: polisulphide.

2.- Argon gas inside the IG allow economize refrigeration energy (in summer) and calefaction energy (in winter), since decrease the K-value (coefficient of heat transmition).

Carlos Pearson

Argon is often used as an insulation against the cold in deep water diving, its capbale of keeping a person warm in water just above freezing because of its density and poor heat conductivty.

Perhaps you should consider the installation of low-e coating inside insulating glass. Low-e has better thermal performance. Of course it cost a little more, but you will conserve more energy.

The use of argon glass can greatly improve the insulating power of "some" insulated glass products. The use of the gas without using a LowE coated glass in generally useless. Getting a high performance LowE glass with the air space filled with argon is the best way to go. As far as it's longevity in the unit that all depends on the manufacturer. Many concerns go into the construction of that unit. Check with the factory to see if they take great care in sealing up that unit. In the best case the unit should last about 20 years.

How can I prove that the argon gas present in the glass unit? If they are any testing devices or techniques? Thanks.

The gas inside the IG unit leaks at about 1% per year, it is known that under 75% of argon gas inside the IGU, thermal performance is affected. Therefore the IGU with argon gas should last for 20 to 25 years. It is definitely economically worth-having argon inside IGU and even better with krypton as with the latter, you can save up to 10% of your electricity bill. I would strongly recommand you to buy IG filled with krypton if you have the choice.