Why is Argon used for double glazing glass and how does it benefit the windows?

There has been much in the press and on television recently about making your home energy efficient and trying to reduce your heating bills by taking steps to improve the insulation or to stop heat escaping through doors and windows. Once of the best ways to do this is by investing in replacement double glazed windows. A recent government scheme has enabled consumers to compare windows more easily by introducing a ratings system on a sliding scale to grade the energy efficiency, and some of the windows which score higher on this scale are often filled with an inert gas called argon. Why is this used and what benefits does it have?

How are windows constructed?

Whatever firm the homeowner is using to install their windows, the method of constructing them is broadly similar. Any standard double glazed unit is formed of two panels of glass, held separately in the frame with a space between them. This space, known in the window trade as the cavity, functions as both a barrier to sound and helps to retain heat within the home. The exact gap will depend on the way the windows are built, but is typically around 15mm.

Traditionally, air has been used to fill the cavity between the panes. A vacuum is formed, then filled with specially dehydrated air which means that condensation does not have the chance to form between the panes as there is no moisture. In recent years, double glazing companies have been starting to use a variety of inert gases to fill the gap instead of air, most commonly argon. Using argon in the windows is perfectly safe and does not affect the way the windows are made.

Benefits of using argon

Argon is a completely different gas to the air we all breathe, which is primarily a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen. Argon is naturally present in air, but when used on its own to fill windows it helps retain more heat than using air. As this technology is new, windows filled with argon can be up to 5% more expensive than windows filled with air alone. However, studies have shown that filling windows with argon rather than air can increase the efficiency of the windows by up to 30%. This means that although the initial investment is a little more, the amount saved off heating bills will be far greater, meaning that the increased expense will pay for itself many times over the course of the lifespan of the windows. Argon gas does not leak from the windows, and will not need to be “topped up”. It also has the same properties for reducing noise as ordinary air, and due to the benefits of using the gas, argon is likely to be the default choice for windows in years to come as companies strive to produce ever more energy efficient windows.

What to look for in a good window company?

Home improvements is a competitive market, and there are a large number of companies competing for homeowners’ business. With such a large number of companies, what are the best ways for homeowners to decide which company will offer not only the most competitive price, but will also offer a quality service and great product?

Guarantee

Any good double glazing or replacement window company worth its salt will be happy to offer a guarantee on not only the products installed, but also the workmanship of their staff. Alarm bells should ring if a company is not prepared to offer a guarantee on their windows, or if they offer a guarantee which is less extensive than their competitors. Guarantees should be assessed not only on the length of time but also what is covered and not covered under the guarantee. As windows represent a considerable investment, it is always wise to opt for a company which offers a comprehensive and lengthy guarantee.

How long has the business been established?

In the competitive business environment, companies who do not offer a good service or a quality product do not survive for long. Companies who have been in business for several years, or longer, would not have survived so long had their products been poor or their service sub-standard. Newly established businesses do not necessarily offer a second rate product, but will not have the experience or expertise of other companies.

Recommendation

It is always a good idea to ask friends and neighbours about their experiences, both good and bad, with replacement window companies. People will be happy to tell their friends about companies, and either recommend them to others or dissuade people from using them. Most good companies will also be able to show prospective customers a portfolio of previous installations or put them in touch with previous customers who are more than satisfied with their improvements.

Quality of Product

Companies who produce a great quality product will advertise this fact heavily and will happily give you facts and figures about the quality of the materials they use, how much you can hope to save on energy bills after installing windows, how the windows are made, the experience of their installation staff and so on. Any company which is vague about these sorts of details or reluctant to provide them to prospective customers should be disregarded. Comparing the details given by various window companies can help a customer to come to a decision about which company is most appropriate for their requirements.

Responsiveness

Good companies, whatever business sector they are working in, make customer service a priority and will make it easy for customers to contact them, whether that be in person at their offices, on the telephone or by email. It is best not to consider using a company who never answer their phones or return emails. If customer service is poor when a company is attempting to make a sale, it is safe to assume post sales service will be worse.

What exactly are Grade A Rated Windows and why are they so good?

Home improvements represent a major purchase for most homeowners, and can be far more expensive than the annual family holiday or a new car. When undertaking any investment on this scale, it is always sensible to research all of the options thoroughly, and this is especially the case with double glazing as there is so much choice available. One of the ways that this decision has been made easier for home owners is the introduction of a ratings system for the energy efficiency for windows, similar to the A – G rating scale found on domestic white goods such as fridges and washing machines.

The A – G rating scale

The rating system is simple to understand. All windows are rated on a sliding scale of A to G, with A representing the best, most energy efficient windows on the market and G representing very poor windows which are not at all efficient. The scale is designed to help customers more easily compare different windows and evaluate which products would be best to install in their home.

Savings on heating bills

Whether a home’s heating is gas, oil, or electric fuelled, the price of running heating has never been higher. The main reason that a homeowner invests in replacement windows is to reduce draughts and heat loss, and make their home warmer through the cold winter months. The higher up the scale the windows are rated, the less heat will be lost through the window. The top grade A rated windows are the most efficient windows of all, and buying windows rated highly for energy efficiency could save the average household £165 per year on their heating bills. If the windows are installed in conjunction with other measured such as installing loft insulation and replacing doors, the savings could be even higher.

Guarantee of Quality

Companies who manufacture double glazing are not all the same, and comparing the energy efficiency of the various products can help the customer sort out the best deal for them. A company who manufacture windows which are rated as A on the scale has demonstrated a commitment to producing a top quality product, which uses cutting edge technology to ensure that the product is the best in its class. Companies who produce such high quality windows generally have a good reputation in the local community, and take pride in both the product they produce and the workmanship of their installation team. If a company is unwilling or unable to provide details about where on the scale their windows lie, they should be treated with caution. A company producing a good quality, energy efficient product will be keen to advertise this fact and sales people or marketing materials will feature the graph showing the energy efficiency rating. Energy efficiency is going to become an increasingly important factor when considering which windows to purchase, and it is safe to say that more and more companies will be striving to achieve the A rating in the future.

How to find a good glazing company?

Most people automatically think about full scale replacement of windows when glazing is mentioned, but a good glazing company can offer many other smaller and less expensive services for homeowners. Some of the things which a glazing company would be able to do is replacing panels in glass doors, cutting glass for a table top or a mirror and repairing broken glass in windows and doors. When inviting tradespeople into your home for whatever reason, it is important to be sure that the company is reputable and trustworthy.

Recommendation from friends and family

The best way of finding a company which can be trusted is to ask around friends or family for recommendations. People who have had glazing work done recently will be happy to share their experiences and offer genuine feedback about the company they employed. It is also worth mentioning companies which you are considering and asking people whether they have heard anything positive or negative about them. Companies with a good reputation for delivering a good service and quality product should be asked to quote for the job, but companies which have poor feedback should be disregarded. A company which has extensive experience and a portfolio of previous work to display is preferable to a newly established business which has no track record on which to base any feedback.

Internet versus Yellow Pages

A few years ago, Yellow Pages was the default method of finding a tradesperson. The drawback of the Yellow Pages is that the small space available for advertising is small, and therefore the company can only give a tiny amount of information about their company. The internet is a far better resource as the company can give out far more information on their company home page and give a prospective customer a much better impression of what the company is about. There are also many review sites on the internet where customers can leave reviews about companies and typing the name of the company into a search engine should reveal whether or not any of these sorts of reviews exist. Reviews are a useful tool but should be treated with caution as generally only very happy or very angry customers take the time to leave a review on a website.

Availability and Contact

A good, professional company always returns calls and makes it easy for customers to get in touch by phone, email or post. A company which operates from a mobile phone only or only has a PO Box number to send correspondence to should be treated with caution. Reputable companies are happy to speak to customers and will always return calls and pick up messagesd left on answer machines. Many now are also happy to communicate by email and text message. Staff members should be professional and give a good impression to prospective customers, and should be confident in answering questions about the products and services which they offer.