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Gas fill for Florida windows?

last month

I’ve been talking to two different companies regarding my upcoming replacement window job for my home. One recommends PGT windows, the other is Renewal By Andersen. RBA says I need the gas filled windows (I really don’t know if they even offer RBA windows without gas). The outfit who’s offering PGT - they’ve been a family window outfit in Florida for the last 40 years - says gas filled is unnecessary in Florida. They said they’d do it if I really wanted it, but that it will not really get me anything. They are offering the PGT Winguard vinyl with laminated insulated glass. Is this local outfit right?

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Comments (7)

millworkman
last month
What is the glass package they are offering you? Argon will get you a better insulating value. So I would say it is a definite help. Most residential companies really offer it as a standard these days.
Tony P
Original Author
last month
Materials sheet says laminated insulated. Glass makeup LIA207AA5. Glass 7/8” LIG (1/8 AN - 7/16 AIR - 5/16 AN/AN). PVB090 interlayer.
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Comments (8)
"The main reason you get fogged glass if the argon leaks out is now you have air inside the window not pure argon gas." Only if air leaks in. Seal technology has improved, but is never going to be perfect. Gas atoms and molecules are very small and will leak through ANY seal that is not hermetic. Solder and glass frit are two of the more common hermetic seals. No elastomer is hermetic. The difference in gas molecule sizes have resulted in Argon escaping but not O2 or N2 entering. The windows become bowed inwards from the reduced internal pressure and occasionally can even fracture (sometimes with loud results for larger windows). If water vapor does manage to enter, it will saturate the desiccant between the panes. Fogging will eventually occur from condensation as temperatures change.
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Comments (1)
"...the Northern region...." and "..cold winters...." are not very specific. To people in Florida, Virginia has cold winters. Additional information about climate and your gas and electric rates would be useful in advising you.
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Anderson Windows gas leak
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Comments (14)
"First off the gas leaking out did not cause the panes to collapse." Many of the early sealed units failed to take into account the partial pressure of the gas fill. With 100% argon fill the gas is under ~15 psi trying to get out, while the atmosphere is under ~15 psi trying to get in. A pressure gauge will read zero since it is not sensitive to partial pressures. The argon leaks out faster than the nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere leak in, leading to the panes collapsing (and occasionally failing catastrophically and loudly for tempered glass units). Newer seals have gotten better at holding the fill in and atmosphere out. The leakage comes down to the size of the gas molecules, and argon is mono-atomic and small (noble gas) especially compared to diatomic nitrogen and oxygen.
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triple paned and gas filled windows
Q
Comments (1)
Dan, Best of both worlds is to incorporate some sort of controllable thermal shades with your project. South facing windows should have a triple pane but high SHGC glass package (Cardinal is leading edge in this) to allow for passive solar. The rest of the windows should have triple pane, high R-Value, glass packages with a well sealed and controllable thermal shade. Look for air tight operators as that will have as much impact on net performance than the glass can. Have you picked out a material you want to work with and stay with?
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oberon476
last month
Windows are rated for, among other things, U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC).

In cooling dominated climates SHGC is the more important of the two, that's why a low solar heat gain LowE coating is recommended (often mandated) for that climate, because the coating blocks direct solar gain helping to keep the inside cooler. Coatings also improve U-factor over clear glass as well. While argon gas between the lites does nothing to affect solar heat gain, it does improve U-factor about 8% over an air-filled space.

If it's a costly upgrade (shouldn't be), then let it go. If it's free (should be) or minimal cost for the upgrade, then go for it.
PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
last month
What he said....but seriously, should be close to standard now.
Tony P
Original Author
last month
It isn’t free. The solar gear gain coefficient for the PGT configuration is .2200 for a 36x62 window.
Tony P
Original Author
last month
Is the U factor more important in hotter climates?
PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
last month
More important in colder climates to be honest. But they are important anywhere you are going to have a large temp differential across a surface.

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