Krypton and Argon-Filled Windows

Homeowners looking to increase thefilling the spaces between double and triple panes,
energy-efficiency of their homes usually considerless air from the outside will penetrate windows,
a number of different home renovation options,altering the temperature inside of a
and one of the first places that they turn is toclimate-controlled home, and less air from the
their exterior windows. For homeowners living ininside will escape out of the windows. Because
older homes, window replacement is usually aKrypton and Argon are non-reactive and
necessity, as the single-paned windows of old arenon-toxic, they pose absolutely no threat to
virtually incapable of preventing the loss of hot orhomeowners should a window be broken and the
cold air that is characteristic of today's energygases escape into the home.
efficient homes. These homeowners areArgon is the more commonly used gas of the
sometimes shocked to learn that today'stwo, mostly due to the fact that Argon is more
energy-efficient windows are not onlycommonly found in the atmosphere, therefore
double-paned, but they are often times filled withmuch less expensive to harvest than Krypton.
something called Argon, or sometimes evenArgon makes up approximately one percent of
Krypton.the Earth's atmosphere, and while it does not
With names reminiscent of the glowing greenprovide the same level of thermal (temperature)
rocks that hurt Superman, many homeownersinsulation as does Krypton, it actually provides
immediately steer clear of such futuristic homemore sound insulation, making Argon-filled
improvement options. However, far from thedouble-pane windows virtually soundproof. Argon
tools of comic book villains, these windows areperforms best in windows that have a little more
some of the most energy-efficient availablespace between the panes, usually ½ inch or
today, and are important considerations formore.
homeowners undergoing a window replacementKrypton provides the best thermal insulation
project.available in window insulation today, but tends to
Krypton and Argon are both elements foundbe very expensive. Usually found in windows with
naturally in the Earth's atmosphere. Everybodythinner spacing between panes, such as those
breathes these two gases on a daily basis, andfound in triple-paned windows, Krypton is ideal for
they are both clear, odorless, non-reactive, andwindows with spacing between ¼ inch and
most importantly, non-toxic. While dry Nitrogen3/8 inch. Many window manufactures will also
was used to fill windows in the years past,recommend a blend of Krypton and Argon to fill
recently, window manufactures have begunthe spaces between panes, giving homeowners a
inserting these two gases in the space betweensolution that blends the efficiency of Krypton with
double and triple-paned windows to increase thethe cost savings of Argon.
efficiency of the windows. With Argon or Krypton