Any moisture inside or out means the glass pack seals are gone and so is the argon gas.
When my dad was looking at replacing the windows in his house about 30 years ago, he called a friend of his who did HVAC engineering. He told my dad that the R value of glass is effectively zero, and doubling zero is still zero. The insulation comes from what's between the panes of glass, so if it's leaking out, the windows are losing their insulating capability.
I'd guess that you wouldn't see the condensation in normal years, but this year has been so abnormally, obnoxiously, damnably humid...
Renewal By Anderaon runs some great specials occasionally.
I did mine last may 2022 and saved several thousand dollars. Saw a huge difference in both winter and summer.
I did mine last may 2022 and saved several thousand dollars. Saw a huge difference in both winter and summer.
I'd suggest looking at Window World, too. My dad put them in the farmhouse not long after my folks bought it, and they still look and work great after more than a decade. My brother liked them so much that he's putting them in the barndominuim he's building.
To be fair, glass might be worse than 0 R value. It very efficiently conducts temperature. And you are correct. It's the gas between the panes that gives it insulation.
Last edited:
This is correct.
For the window overall U-value - the glass does provide a (very tiny) R-value via conduction, but it's effectively 0 (as stated).
Most of the insulating value of the window comes from the 'gaps' between panes. Heat transfer through the gap requires an 'air-loop' circulation (convection) of the internal gasses. This slows down the heat-transfer, which increases the R-value of the window. More 'gaps' (panes) = slower heat-transfer = improved R-value.
'Air' inside the window gaps works fine for insulating purposes - providing the air is DRY.
k-values of air: 0.0262 Watts/meter-K.
k-values of argon: 0.016 Watts/meter-K.
Per the values above, argon transfers about 1/2 less 'watts' of heat-transfer per area - but air is a viable gas to use also.
Overall heat transfer of windows with different 'gasses (air/argon)' and different 'gap' sizes:
Heat Transfer Coefficients U-Factor for Windows
Overall U-factors (heat transfer coefficients) for various windows and skylights
www.engineersedge.com
Material/Gas coefficients of heat transfer:
Solids, Liquids and Gases - Thermal Conductivities
Thermal conductivity coefficients for insulation materials, aluminum, asphalt, brass, copper, steel, gases and more.
www.engineeringtoolbox.com
Last edited:
it's just like a glass of ice water , cold inside warm moist air out side = condensation on the outside. he already stated he is not going to raise temp. the problem is usually by now it is hot and dry outside,but this year it is still humid and raining this far into august
Similar threads
