February 2021 - Advanced Window Products

If one or more of your windows show fog or condensation between the panes, you have a failing window seal that needs window seal repair or replacement. Failing window seals can increase your energy costs. They can also cause health problems.

The Critical Role of Your Window Seals

Window seals help maintain a home’s energy efficiency. They also provide protection from outside weather conditions while adding comfort for your family inside.

Deconstructing the Insulated Glass Unit (IGU): What Exactly Fails?

An insulated glass unit (IGU), also known as double-pane glass, is composed of two panes of glass separated by a spacer and filled with either air or an inert gas such as argon and sealed with a synthetic polymer. This creates a thermal barrier, keeping harsh elements out and comfortable temperatures inside the home.

The Primary Culprits: Detailed Causes of Window Seal Failure

There are a variety of factors that can cause window seal failure, by themselves or in combination with others. These factors include improper installation, age, and more.

Temperature Extremes & Thermal Stress: The Cycle of Expansion and Contraction

One of the main reasons for installing IGUs is to help prevent the outside climate from influencing your inside temperatures. In Salt Lake City and neighboring areas, IGUs are essential for keeping frosty winter weather out. Extreme weather fluctuations cause the window’s framing to expand and contract, which puts stress on the seal, potentially causing it to fail.

Environmental Exposure: The Damaging Duo of UV and Weather

Keeping the cold of winter and summer heat out of the house can be hard on IGU seals. Additionally, UV rays emitted from the sun can cause synthetic polymers to break down, causing brittleness and a loss of adhesion.

Material Degradation and Natural Window Age

Age itself, and other factors including sunlight, moisture, extreme temperatures, and weather conditions such as hail, will eventually compromise IGU windows.

Installation Errors and Manufacturing Defects

Not every window installer has the experience and the expertise to get it right. If an IGU wasn’t installed properly or the seal wasn’t correct when manufactured, the seal may fail prematurely, and, in some cases, early in its intended lifespan.

Physical Impact and Pressure Differentials

While a falling limb may hit a window without breaking the glass, there is a chance the seal may be broken by the impact. Additionally, high outside winds can cause enough pressure differential from the calm inside air to break the seal on IGU windows.

Recognizing the Red Flags: Signs of a Failed Window Seal

Condensation in the space of windowpanes and fog are the most common and easiest identifiable signs of a failed window seal, but there are others. Those red flags include:

Fogging and Condensation Between Panes

Whether your window becomes completely fogged or you only see a few moisture droplets, either is a sign of a failed window seal.

Distorted Views and Internal Dirt

In some cases, the insulation between the panes will leak out, causing a pressure change between the panes. The result is a wavy or distorted view through the window.

Visible Damage to the Sealant

With age or damage to the frame, you may see visible cracks or peeling, indicating deterioration of the window, necessitating window seal repair or replacement.

Decreased Energy Efficiency and Noticeable Drafts

If you feel a draft near an IGU window, it is likely due to a failure in the seal. Additionally, your HVAC unit may need to work harder, increasing electricity consumption and cost.

The Impact of Failed Seals: Why It Matters

Higher energy bills aren’t the only issue with failed seals. Those broken window seals may start growing mold and mildew due to trapped moisture, which will not only damage the window but can also be a health risk to your family.

Prevention and Mitigation: Extending the Life of Your Window Seals with Advanced Windows

Routine cleaning and inspection of your IGU windows will help keep them in order. Calling Advanced Windows for a complete inspection will help prevent unexpected issues from happening and extend the life of your windows.

Protecting Your Investment in Home Comfort and Efficiency

As Utah’s top window installation and repair company, Advanced Windows can help reduce the number of necessary window replacements through inspection and window seal repair services. Call us today.

Image credit: // Shutterstock // Paul Maguire

Builders use argon gas windows to increase energy-efficiency and comfort in the residential and commercial spaces they develop. These thermal windows, also known as Insulated Glass Units (IGUs) are typically double-pane construction. This means they’re built with two or three glass layers with a sealed space between those panels. The spaces between the glass layers are filled with argon or another gas type, to help slow the process of heat transfer through the glass, among other important benefits they provide.

What are the Benefits of Using Argon Gas Windows?

Nearly all modern thermal windows utilize a gas fill. There are important benefits of using argon gas windows compared with other thermal window types. The United States and Canada both offer tax credits to homeowners and businesses, to encourage the use of this window type, by offsetting the cost of argon gas windows for increasing energy efficiency. Argon is naturally occurring, odorless, colorless, and non-toxic. It’s also relatively inexpensive.

Argon delivers significant advantages over air filling in windows. Air inherently contains moisture, which can transform into condensation between glass window panes, which can cause windows to have a cloudy appearance. Argon is also a superior insulator, compared with air. It improves a window’s thermal efficiency to perform comparably to wall insulation R-value.

Here are some of the many impressive benefits of filling windows with argon gas:

Argon gas filling improves a window’s U-value and its thermal effectiveness.
Argon is a harmless, non-toxic gas that presents no risk to building occupants or the environment due to gas leak.
Using argon gas filling helps minimize condensation on window glass.
Argon does not promote damage to window frames, making argon gas windows an ideal long-term solution for energy-efficient windows.
Using gas filling minimizes loss of warmth due to heat exchange through the glass.
Argon filling will not cause corrosion to windows, as oxygen filling can.
Argon can be used in conjunction with low-E coatings, to optimize energy efficiency.
Gas-filled multiple-pane windows are popular with builders for helping in soundproofing.
Argon gas windows can be used in any climate.
Filling with argon is highly cost-effective, adding under $50 to the cost of a new window.
Argon windows are inexpensive to buy but can return large energy cost savings.
Gas-filled windows are available in both commercial and residential styles and sizes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Argon Gas Windows

How Do I Know if My Windows Have Argon Gas?

Check the corners of the window to locate the NFRC rating sticker, manufacturer identification, descriptions such as low-E glass, Argon, Energy Star, among other information.

How Long Does Argon Gas in Windows Last?The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors reports findings by the National Glass Association (NGA) that windows filled with argon gas will not realize significant performance loss while they retain a minimum of 80 percent of their gas content. The NGA estimates that, at the maximum rate of leakage, an argon gas window can perform as designed for approximately 20 years without refilling.
Does Argon Gas in Windows Reduce Noise?

Gas-filled windows have noise reduction properties that make them popular for helping in soundproofing. The noise-reducing quality is largely due to the inherently superior noise-blocking performance of multiple glass panes in windows containing argon or other gasses.

How Much Do Argon Gas Windows Cost?Like all filled thermal windows, argon gas windows are priced based not only on the type and grade of window construction materials but also on dimensions, window design features, and other factors. Advanced Window Products offers excellent pricing on top-quality energy-efficient vinyl windows. Purchase with zero down, zero interest, and financing over 24 months with approved credit. We also offer a $2,000 discount with purchases of 10 windows or more.
Which Is Better ‒ Argon or Krypton Gas Fill in Windows?

These days, the majority of thermal windows are filled with either argon or krypton gas, or the two combined (and/or nitrogen, xenon, or oxygen). Argon delivers a better value overall. Less expensive than krypton, which performs comparatively well as an insulator, argon is usually used for filling wider spaces between double panes, whereas more expensive krypton is used for filling thinner spaces between triple panes.

Advanced Window Products, Salt Lake City Utah

We are the leading window company in the state of Utah. We sell high-efficiency windows and perform windows installation services directly from our factory. This allows us to provide major cost savings to our customers. It also prevents common warranty issues customers often experience with third-party sellers.

All Advanced Window Products professional installers hold lead-safe, Energy Star, NFRC, AAMA certifications and are deeply committed to excellence in customer service.

Visit our Advanced Window Products showroom in Salt Lake City anytime, or call (801) 505-9622 for your free in-home estimate.

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Month: February 2021

What Causes Window Seals to Fail?