Farnum Insulators are weatherization pros, who know that improving insulation saves money by reducing energy costs. In this video, Chad Farnum, follows home energy auditor Sonia as she performs a blower door test and looks for gaps in insulation.
Learn how Farnum Insulators can help keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. At Farnum Insulators our goal, as residential insulation contractors, is to keep you comfortable and save you money. Drafts, chills, gusts of wind and moisture can impact indoor air quality and increase energy costs. By improving basement insulation, attic insulation and eliminating gaps around doors, windows, and light fixtures.
Efficiency Vermont provides a wealth of resources for homeowners to improve energy efficiency and comfort. Farnum Insulators works with our customers to help them get the best rebates and financing in Vermont.
Farnum Insulators are weatherization pros. Farnum Insulators is an Energy Efficiency Excellence Network contractor with Efficiency Vermont and won Partner of the Year in 2022. As a residential insulation contractor, they provide audits and offer Foam Insulation, Cellulose Insulation, Blown-in Insulation, Spray Foam Insulation, Custom Fit Window Inserts, and other energy-efficient solutions for your home.
Farnum Insulators as a business is committed to helping New Englanders save energy and be more comfortable in their efficient homes, but as individuals, we are driven by our desire to give back to our community.
As the temps dip and the snow flies here in Southern Vermont, some of us welcome those double dealing icicles to our home’s eaves. “That’s kind of harsh language,” you’re thinking. “Icicles are pretty! They glisten in the sun adorning our homes with natural bling!” you say.
Don’t be fooled! They have a sinister side.
When it comes to insulation, however, did you know it is essential for your home not just in the winter, but in the summer, too? Insulation works both ways – it helps to keep your home cool in the summer and warmer in the winter, so you’re comfortable all year around.
Check out these five reasons why high-quality insulation is a must-have in your home, no matter the season.
2. Caulking and Weather Stripping
This can be done yourself at a low cost. Simply caulking around window trim and baseboards can be very effective. Reducing drafts and heat loss will generate savings year after year. Weather stripping, a foam or felt product that is used to seal doors and windows, can be found at many hardware stores. Installation is as easy as pressing the adhesive down on a door frame!
3. Sealing Leaky Heating Ducts
The United States Department of Energy says, “Air ducts are one of the most important systems in your home and if the ducts are poorly sealed, or insulated, they are contributing to higher energy bills.” In addition, heating ducts are often located in the basement, where mold, mildew and moisture can be drawn into them and distributed throughout the house. Repairing these heating ducts at the joints is the best way to keep your hot/cool air system from spreading indoor pollutants, like mold spores, throughout your home and keep the conditioned air circulating well.
4. Insulate the Attic
Attic insulation is essential to keeping the hot or cold air from leaking out. “It’s so important to remove existing insulation rather than simply adding extra layers, since this insulation can contain pollutants like mouse droppings, dust, pollen, spiders or mold,” Farnum says. “Our approach is to remove the existing insulation as needed, air seal the attic space and then install a thick, 16” layer of cellulose insulation that meets today’s energy requirements.”
Heat loss into an attic space will melt snow on the roof creating dangerous ice dams, which could also lead to roof leaks causing extensive damage to a home.
5. Insulate the Basement, Crawl Space and the Rim Joist
Huge heating costs and drafty homes can often be attributed to poor insulation in basements, rim joists and crawl spaces. “By using techniques such as spray foam insulation on basement walls and rims, and installing vapor barriers on dirt floors, we’re able to greatly reduce moisture issues within a home,” says Farnum. “Older homes often have no insulation in basements. By insulating these areas we are not only helping to reduce a homeowner’s energy bill, but also reducing the infiltration of harmful gases, such as radon and other airborne particles, from entering the home.”
6. Install Interior Storm Windows
When you think of fixing drafty windows, often the go-to move is to replace the entire window. That’s an expensive option. Alternatively, Indow Windows may be a better, less costly option. These custom made interior acrylic panels work in conjunction with your existing windows to prevent heat loss and reduce drafts. Fitted with a silicone compression gasket, these durable interior storm windows are easy to install and remove seasonally. Farnum Insulators is an authorized dealer for Indow Windows.
Farnum Insulators has been making New Englanders more comfortable in their homes for more than a decade. Save money. Protect your investment. Check out their easy financing options at FarnumInsulators.com or call (802)387.5005.
1. Have an Energy Audit or Home Consultation
Home consultations give you a basis for making decisions on which improvement should take priority, and which could be more cost effective. A free evaluation with a Farnum Insulators advisor will determine whether a more in-depth energy audit is necessary.
“The biggest surprise our customers have is when they call us to look at their attic insulation and we insist on inspecting their basements for potential moisture problems,” says Chad Farnum, owner of Farnum Insulators. “The reason is tightening a home without dealing with moisture can cause future problems.”
In upcoming weeks will be covering 6 Ways to Make Your Home More Comfortable and Energy Efficient Whether it’s newly built or more than 100 years old, you want to feel comfortable in your home. As the seasons change, are you bothered by high heating or cooling bills, damp musty smells or drafty windows? Making your home more comfortable, in any season, can be as easy as following the advice in these six simple steps.
