Glass is by far the weakest point in your homes exterior envelope. The average home loses about 30% of cooling and heating energy through leaky windows and doors. This can add up to about $35 billion nationwide in just one year. With that information, you might think more people would tend toward less glass instead of more. But for many homeowners, the benefits of natural light and ventilation far outweigh the potential energy costs. But now you may not have to compromise.

When it comes to energy efficiency, improvements in window design have never been better. Modern technologies have come leaps and bounds in reducing overall energy costs by reducing the heat gains and losses through your home windows in Phoenix, AZ. Gas fills especially help plug those thermal holes in the exterior envelope of your home. And when used in conjunction with Low-E coatings, your insulated glass units (IGUs) can yield incredibly high R-values. Curious about these mysterious gasses and their insulating properties? Read on to learn exactly how they work to make your home more comfortable.

What are Gas Fills?
Most people think it is just air between the glass panels of their windows. But unless it is off-brand or all the inert gas has leaked out, you would be hard-pressed to find an air-filled IGU today. You would never realize you are looking at a viscous, slow-moving gas (typically argon, krypton or xenon) sandwiched between the panes of glass. These gasses are colorless, odorless, and non-toxic. And while they look just like ordinary air, their properties are far from ordinary. Because these gasses have a higher density, they can minimize convective currents passing through your windows. This is how these windows reduce the amount of heat transfer through the glass. To find out if your windows are gas-filled you can check the window tag found along the bottom inside track or the original work order if you still have it.

What is Argon Gas?
This is, without doubt, the most popular option in IGUs. The noble gas makes up slightly less than 1% of the earth’s atmosphere. But the thermal conductivity of argon is 67% that of air. It is the most affordable gas and nets reasonable energy performance.

What is Krypton Gas?
This is another option for IGUs. Per pound, krypton has more density than argon and superior energy performance. This is why it performs better for windows with a thinner profile and you will see it more often in triple pane windows. But still, krypton is more expensive, which is likely the reason why it hasn’t overtaken argon as the industry standard.

What is Xenon Gas?
With the surface area of windows growing larger builders and manufacturers are still trying to develop even better materials. Xenon is one way to make windows more akin to doors and whole walls in terms of energy performance. It improves energy performance and lowers the U-value below windows insulated with argon or krypton. That said, xenon insulation comes at a price. Not many homeowners can justify the higher cost with only slightly better energy savings.

What if I Want Even More Energy Savings?
It would be wiser to combine argon insulated glass with Low-E coatings if you want the full-package energy savings. The insulated glass keeps the inside of your home warm during the cooler months, while the reflective coating will reduce heat gains throughout the summer months.

Replacement windows are a sizable investment. As such, you want to learn as much as you can about inert gas fills before making a final decision on your products. Contact the experts of Freelite in Phoenix, AZ. They can walk you through even more details about IGUs and which products will work best in your home. Call (602) 233-1981 today or stop by 331 W. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85003 to see some of our product offerings firsthand.