Window energy ratings - is Argon gas worth the extra?

stretch99

Hi,

I'm currently looking at changing my windows. I've decided to go with a local firm who offered both what seems a fair price and what looks like a good window (I had a look round their factory and it all looks like quality materials are used).

They have priced me for C energy rated windows. They said that these could be Argon filled for around £300 to make them A rated. The guy recommends that it's not worth paying the extra as he doesn't think that there is much difference in terms of energy efficiency and that the gas will escape over time.

Does anyone know whether it is actually worth paying the extra or not?

Thanks!

Doozergirl

I have read that the gas will escape over time too. It isn't as good a triple glazing.

It is as much about the perception of cold and lessening the cold areas near to the windows more than reducing bills. We have argon filled glazing. In the cold winter, if you touched it from inside, it was much more like room temperature than the straightforward double glazing on the front door which is the only place we have normal glazing.

Something makes a difference to the bills in this house. It's most likely the insulation covering every dimension but the gas that takes the windows down to a uvalue of 1.2 makes me feel like it's doing a bit to help.

In terms of straight money saving, new double glazed units are apparently terrible in terms of time to pay back saving on bills, but again, it's about perception of warmth. Having a bit extra on it will make it take even longer to payback.

stretch99

Thanks Doozergirl. It does sound like the gas doesn't make that much difference so maybe it isn't worth the extra.

I guess some of it is that when you see a C rating you expect it to be a lot worse than an A when a C is probably still pretty good

Thanks