Back about fifteen to twenty years ago manufacturers started using the inert gas argon to fill insulting glass units. IG units have a partial vacuum with a rarified gas. Conventional units use nitrogen. Which makes up by far the greater percentage of our atmosphere. Argon is a bit more "high end"!
It isn't possible to use a complete vaccum. Other wise the glass plates would demonstrate what is called negative pressure deflection, which can easily cause an implosion. This is however what has been happening to the argon units. Years after they were manufactured. It is quite an interesting story! Check out this article. http://www.usglassmag.com/USGlass/1999/9904/9904argon.html
As the article very well explains, there are likely several different possible reasons for the problem. But the bottom line is simply if you have bought a house full of these defective units, you could be literally sitting on many potential time bombs. Not a pleasant thought. And you, and the cleaning company likely would have no clue until the first bang.
If you are buying a house this is only one reason why you should have a window cleaner/glass inspector clean the windows. Home inspectors are not qualified to look for defective tempered glass, etched glass, mineral deposits, compromised IG units, and especially argon units that are just waiting for a cold day with a high barometric pressure to implode with a bang that would scare the hair off a cat.
Henry Grover Jr
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