Well we have one thing in common we are both in Michigan.


I say weatherize and insulate. Keep your heating dollars from ending up in the great outdoors. I can’t even imagine the heating bills on a big old farmhouse, my last home was 1500sf and reasonably well built and it cost quite a bit to heat. To keep my money in my pocket I am building a SIP home with hot water heat and a wood stove for backup.

Do you have any large heat losses in your home, open hearth fireplace or fireplace to gas conversion, heating ducts in unheated space, leaky attic access, inefficient boiler or furnace? If you do work on those areas first. For the boiler or furnace check out heatinghelp.com, go to “the wall” for help from pros.

An insulating pro or heating co. with blower door and an infrared camera can show you where your heat is going and provide you with solutions.

As a DIY project focus on:

Air infiltration is your biggest enemy, heated air is moving out only to be replaced by cold outside air. Caulking, foam backer rod, weather striping and spray-foam insulation are my preferred tools for limiting infiltration.

Next is insulation, R-value is the basic measure but be warned R-value varies with temperature in some types of insulation. FG for example looses over 30 percent of it’s tested insulating value at 32 degrees. Wind and humidity also play a role. Stated R-values are based on a specific lab test and controlled conditions and “optimal” instillation.


Be warm,

Garett