This company I am about to buy windows from is giving me triple-pane windows with krypton gas for the same price as double-pane with low-e argon. The salesperson brought some window samples to my house last week to show how krypton gas stops the heat from a heat lamp from passing through. He held the heat lamp to the regular sample and I felt the heat instantly when I put my hand under the sample. He switched to the krypton sample and I felt absolutely no heat at all.
I want to go for the triple-pane, but the president of my condo's association is pushing Pella windows really hard. He argues that krypton gas might have kept me from feeling the heat from the lamp for a few minutes, but, eventually, the heat would have gotten through just the same.
His argument boils down to krypton not being all that it's sold to be, that's it's just a gimmick. I'd like to hear other people's answers on this.
Best Answer
As someone who bought new windows a couple years ago and researched it to death, almost anything a window salesmen tells you will be a marketing gimmick.
The fact of the matter is that when it comes to heat transfer resistance with windows, you reach the point of diminishing returns rather quickly.
Triple pane windows will give you a slight advantage in energy efficiency however they tend to be heavier and far more expensive. The extra weight can often cause them to wear out the casing or unseat over time however. Now consider comparing these to dual pane windows with a low E coating and you will only see a slight drop in resistance from the window itself.
Both Krypton and Argon are noble gases and both achieve the same effect, they insulate between 2 or more panes of glass by slowing down the transfer of heat. Krypton is typically used in triple pane where Argon is typically used in double pane and this has to do with the maximum heat transfer resistance for each gas at different widths between panes of glass.
Krypton does in fact do slightly better but usually at an enormous upfront cost that in my opinion would be hard to get ROI on over the years as compared to dual pane low E Argon windows. Over time with the expansion and contraction of the casing and general exposure to the elements, microscopic stress fractures will start forming around the case slowly allowing all that expensive Krypton or Argon gas to escape, essentially making the windows lose heat transfer resistance over time. Investing in a window with a better quality case design will do more to improve the overall energy efficiency of your windows than any investing in triple pane Krypton.
A good quality case design that is well insulated and uses high quality weather resistant vinyl will do more to increase the lifespan of the windows and maintain the energy efficiency of the windows by being more resistant to leaks and fractures that will result in the slow seepage of the noble gases.
It can be hard to seperate the gimmicks from the truth when it comes to window shopping, so thoroughly understanding the difference is important. Figure out what your monthly heating bill is and use that as a basis for making a good decision. If you are living in the Yukon and you have long frigid winters then perhaps spending the extra money for the triple pane krypton windows is worth it.