When we meet with homeowners here in the Minneapolis area to talk about replacement windows, we find often they are concerned with the most obvious choices: style of window, type of frame material, and brand. Yes, each one of those deserves consideration, but there is often one that is overlooked: type of glass. And along with that, there are glass options to think about. You might not even know that you have lots of different choices, so in this post we’re going to handle the most common ones.
Glass has been used for windows since the 1600s, but it wasn’t until about 1970 that major improvements and modern technology entered the home window scene. Up until that point you had no real option: all windows – regardless of style – came with a single pane of glass. That’s one reason storm windows were standard on homes built before then. (We see lots of them, since we specialize in historic home windows and doors.)
As concerns about energy conservation were rising, the energy-efficient window constructed with two panes of glass entered the market. Now, there is more to what constitutes energy efficiency in replacement window design, but adding a second pane of glass was a major improvement. (If you’ve got an older home with its original windows, you most likely have single-pane glass.) And now some window manufacturers even offer windows with triple panes. And while we don’t believe the extra cost in most cases would justify putting in a window with three panes, you may have spots on your home where the north wind hits hard in the winter and a triple-pane window might be a good idea. But we can help you determine that.
When modern energy-efficient replacement windows are manufactured, air is trapped between the two sheets of glass, and the structure of the window frame traps that air inside. That motionless air makes a good insulator. And not only does it cut down on heat transfer and window condensation, it also makes your home a little quieter inside because it cuts down on outside noise infiltration. While there are other things that are now added to window glass as either standard or optional, this simple innovation did a lot for improving the energy efficiency of windows.
But window technology improvements didn’t stop there. Trapped air does work as an insulator, but engineers found something that worked better: Inert gases like argon or krypton. Most replacement windows have argon filling now, though occasionally krypton is used.) Probably not in Superman’s house, though.)
Why is argon used instead of air to fill the space between the glass in windows? One simple reason: moisture. Air contains a small amount of water vapor, and occasionally it can condense inside the window. Another reason is that argon is a better insulator than plain air. And like air, it is odorless and colorless, so you can’t even tell the difference. And it’s non-toxic.
There are options available when you choose the glass package for your replacement windows, and we’ll be covering some of those in a future post. But the most important thing to understand about replacement window glass is that two panes are ALWAYS better than one.
Window Outfitters, Inc. is THE replacement window company serving the Minneapolis metro area.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
