Argon or Krypton Gas Sealant for Replacement Windows? June 16, 2014 When you hear the term ‘window glazing,’ this is referring to the number of panes of glass that the window has. In other words, if you are looking at double glazed windows, which are the most common type of windows found throughout Toronto and Canada, that means there are two layers of glass. The space between the panes of glass needs to be vacuum sealed in order to prevent moisture, dirt, and other material from getting inside there. If the seal is broken or is not set properly, the windows become much less energy efficient; cold air would be able to move between the panes of glass much more easily, leading to highly draft windows. This will cause you to spend far more on your heating bills during the winter than you should have to. There are generally two types of gases that are used when sealing the glazing on windows: argon and krypton. There are specific reasons why these gases are utilized, and the most significant reason has to do with their ability to deflect temperature changes (from inside your home to outside) to help ensure that the windows are as insulated as possible. Argon and krypton have different characteristics and don’t insulate quite the same as each other. The bottom line is that krypton gas costs more to use as an insulator, but it will generally offer the Toronto homeowner more protection against the cold during the winter. This doesn’t mean that you should automatically only look at windows that use krypton gas, though. Because of the cost factor, you may find that argon insulated windows (which are also the more common windows) is more affordable. As for energy efficiency, while krypton gas is going to offer the average homeowner more savings over time, based on double glazed windows, the difference is actually almost negligible. Yes, you will save money on your heating and cooling expenses throughout the year by choosing krypton gas, but argon will offer a good amount of insulation. It can be confusing dealing with different aspects of replacement windows, so if you have questions about the type of gas to use, contact a window professional who will sit down with you and show you the exact insulation characteristics of windows that are sealed with argon and those that are sealed with krypton gas.