There are two main gas fills used in modern replacement windows. But how do you determine whether argon or krypton is better for your window order? Imagine an Olympic swimming pool. Now imagine how many basketballs it would take to fill it. The answer is 105,604. Picture that same pool packed with baseballs. All 352,000 of them.
That’s the main difference between Argon and Krypton.
We’ve already discussed how gas fills work in previous posts, so for the sake of your time, just a brief recap:
Inert gasses are clear, non-toxic, odorless fills that significantly decrease heat transfer between your home and the outside.
Argon is the cheaper option on the market. Its thermal conductivity is two-thirds that of air, making it an attractive option. Krypton is a more expensive option but also has better insulating properties, and better reduces heat transfer in your energy efficient windows.
Krypton is a more expensive option but also has better insulating properties, and better reduces heat transfer in your energy efficient windows.To invoke our swimming pool analogy again, think of the pool as the space between your
To invoke our swimming pool analogy again, think of the pool as the space between your panes; in this scenario Argon particles would be basketballs, and Krypton particles are comparable to baseballs. Because they are smaller, Krypton particles can better fill a smaller space. Conversely, Argon is better for filling bigger spaces.
Argon is a more efficient barrier in larger (1/2 inch) gaps between double-pane windows. Krypton is more efficient in tighter (1/4 – 3/8 inch) gaps in triple-pane units.
To get an optimal combination of price and performance, a combination of gasses can be used in different panes. Regardless of your choice, gas fills are an important efficiency feature in modern windows.
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Find out what other features make an energy efficient window
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