View topic - Windows with Argon instead of air - should i say anything?! • Home Renovation & Building Forum

Jun 30, 2009
5:47 pm

Hi everyone

We have just received our first lot of WRC windows and doors for the new house we are owner-building from our window supplier and I realised that they have been double glazed with Argon rather than air!

We never specified argon filled DGUs and the window schedule always referred to an air gap. As far as I am aware, we were also only ever quoted based on air...

We have only received about a third of the windows so far (holding off on having the rest delivered until we need them) and the standard setup appears to be 5mm clear/12mm argon/5mm clear...we will have a couple of very large windows being glazed on site, which i think are something more like 10mm clear/14mm air/10.38mm low-e (comfort plus).

Does anyone have any advice as to whether I should point this out to the suppliers and/or whether I should be concerned at all about this?

Any advice would be appreciated!!

Thanks
Adam

ECOECO

Jun 30, 2009
6:35 pm

BuildingACT

Hi everyone

We have just received our first lot of WRC windows and doors for the new house we are owner-building from our window supplier and I realised that they have been double glazed with Argon rather than air!

We never specified argon filled DGUs and the window schedule always referred to an air gap. As far as I am aware, we were also only ever quoted based on air...

We have only received about a third of the windows so far (holding off on having the rest delivered until we need them) and the standard setup appears to be 5mm clear/12mm argon/5mm clear...we will have a couple of very large windows being glazed on site, which i think are something more like 10mm clear/14mm air/10.38mm low-e (comfort plus).

Does anyone have any advice as to whether I should point this out to the suppliers and/or whether I should be concerned at all about this?

Any advice would be appreciated!!

Thanks
Adam

Argon is slightly better than air for insulation. Over time it slowly leaches out and is replaced by air. It's a small benefit. Some DGU manufacturers do argon as standard.

No need to be concerned at all...

Ed

BuildingACT

Jun 30, 2009
7:13 pm

ed @ EcoClassic

Argon is slightly better than air for insulation. Over time it slowly leaches out and is replaced by air. It's a small benefit. Some DGU manufacturers do argon as standard.

No need to be concerned at all...

Ed

Thanks Ed! At th moment I'm concerned bout 1001 things, so glad it's one less thing to worry about! haha

Casa2

Jun 30, 2009
7:42 pm

Argon for the price of air. You lucky fish.

BuildingACT

Jun 30, 2009
10:42 pm

Casa2

Argon for the price of air. You lucky fish.

Do fish breath argon?!

haha

Guess I won't bring it to anyone's attention then!

Thanks again guys.

dymonite69

Jun 30, 2009
11:07 pm

ed @ EcoClassic

BuildingACT

I realised that they have been double glazed with Argon rather than air!

Adam

Argon is slightly better than air for insulation. Over time it slowly leaches out and is replaced by air. It's a small benefit. Some DGU manufacturers do argon as standard.

We got more double glazed units that we specified

≈ Builders can't get anything right

Ed, I would fill a bit ripped off that I paid more for a rare gas that eventually got replaced by garden variety air.

Based on the graph you once posted it would seem the additional benefit is related to the gap.

viewtopic.php?p=219730#p219730

ECOECO

Jun 30, 2009
11:13 pm

dymonite69

ed @ EcoClassic

BuildingACT

I realised that they have been double glazed with Argon rather than air!

Adam

Argon is slightly better than air for insulation. Over time it slowly leaches out and is replaced by air. It's a small benefit. Some DGU manufacturers do argon as standard.

We got more double glazed units that we specified

≈ Builders can't get anything right

Ed, I would fill a bit ripped off that I paid more for a rare gas that eventually got replaced by garden variety air.

Based on the graph you once posted it would seem the additional benefit is related to the gap.

viewtopic.php?p=219730#p219730

Yes the gap is most important... argon is a definite benefit, but it does not take the place of good window design. The EcoClassic window with air (and maybe one other brand)... achieves a higher rating (lower U value) than all other aluminium windows with argon.

Ed

BuildingACT

Jun 30, 2009
11:32 pm

ed @ EcoClassic

Yes the gap is most important... argon is a definite benefit, but it does not take the place of good window design. The EcoClassic window with air (and maybe one other brand)... achieves a higher rating (lower U value) than all other aluminium windows with argon.

Ed

Hmm...ours are all Western Red Cedar framed....with mainly 12mm gaps (argon filled it would seem!!

)

How do I find out the u-values..just out of interest?

ECOECO

Jun 30, 2009
11:36 pm

BuildingACT

ed @ EcoClassic

Yes the gap is most important... argon is a definite benefit, but it does not take the place of good window design. The EcoClassic window with air (and maybe one other brand)... achieves a higher rating (lower U value) than all other aluminium windows with argon.

Ed

Hmm...ours are all Western Red Cedar framed....with mainly 12mm gaps (argon filled it would seem!!

)

How do I find out the u-values..just out of interest?

http://www.wers.net - look in the residential tab... under your supplier's name.

But yours will be better than any aluminium... timber is as good as PVC windows when it comes to energy...

Ed