Category Archives: General News

Want to Save Money on Energy Bills? Make Your Attic More Energy Efficient

Improving your attic’s energy efficiency goes beyond helping you maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. It can also save you money on cooling and heating costs. If you’re looking to cut down your energy bill, take note of these suggestions to make your attic more energy efficient.

Seal Cracks to Reduce Air Leaks in the Attic

Foam sprayAttic air leaks are holes, cracks, and other weak points where air can go in and out of your house. Ignoring this problem can promote the escape of cool air during the summer and heated air in the winter. This forces your HVAC unit to work harder, which increases your energy bill. On top of that, leaks in the attic may serve as starting points for significant water damage.

If you come across a leak in your attic, seal them as soon as possible. You’ll usually find leaks in the following areas:

  • Attic Hatch
  • Doors and Windows
  • Duct Chaseways or Furnace Flue
  • Recessed Light
  • Open Soffit
  • Plumbing Vents
  • Wiring Holes

If you’re still having difficulty finding attic leaks, check out the floor plan of your home and use it to locate possible air leak spots.

Install Attic Fans

Attic ventilation fans are an excellent choice for regulating the temperature of your house. They cool a hot attic by drawing hot air out of the area and bring colder air from the gable and soffit vents. If you’re going to install these fans, make sure that your attic does not have any leaks. If your attic has holes, these fans could draw conditioned air out of your house.

Ventilate the Attic

A house attic with insulationVenting the attic helps regulate seasonal temperatures inside the attic while letting you maintain a consistent temperature in your home with the help of your HVAC system. A properly ventilated attic enables outdoor air flow into the attic during winter. While it may look strange to allow cold air to enter your house in the winter, a cold attic can minimize the risk of melting the snow on the roof. Melted snow could refreeze in gutter systems, damage the roof, and result in interior water damage.

Additionally, a well-ventilated attic provides an escape route for warm air. When hot air stays in the attic, it can heat the roof shingles and raise the risk of roof damage. On top of that, trapped humid and hot air could cause the accumulation of moisture and result in the growth of mildew or mold.

Make Sure Your Attic Has Sufficient Insulation

Insulation is one of the best ways to enhance the energy efficiency of your attic. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, insulation can help you save up to 20 percent on your home’s cooling and heating costs. If your attic is in need of insulation, don’t hesitate to turn to A+ Insulation. We have experienced insulation professionals who perform efficient and diligent attic insulation work. Count on us to do the job correctly and on time. We want you and your family to enjoy lower utility bills and a comfortable and consistent temperature inside your home.

Contact us today.

Fiberglass Insulation: A High Return Home Renovation

Insulation is an important and necessary addition to any home. An insulation upgrade proves itself to be one of the best improvements homeowners can make because of the return on investment it provides. For homeowners looking for a relatively inexpensive home renovation project that will increase their comfort and reduce energy costs, installing fiberglass insulation offers quite a compelling argument.

Fiberglass Insulation’s Return on Investment

For two years in a row, Remodeling Magazine and their Cost vs. Value Report has said that fiberglass insulation is the home remodeling upgrade project that provides the most substantial return on investment for homeowners looking to make some changes. This trend is becoming well known among homeowners looking for new ways to make small, incremental improvements to their home while also adding value.

Cost vs. Value Report

In an annual survey sent to real estate professionals across the U.S., realtors estimated that one year after a fiberglass insulation upgrade, homeowners would potentially increase the return on investment the value of their home by $1,446 at resale. The ‘Cost vs. Value Report’ estimated the average nationwide upgrade cost for adding blown-in loose fill fiberglass insulation into an attic (35×30) to reach an R-30 insulation value is $1,343.

Fiberglass Insulation has an  Average National Return of Over 100 Percent

After comparing the average cost for 29 of the most popular home renovation projects in 99 U.S. markets on both a national and regional outlook, Remodeling Magazine’s report states that fiberglass insulation upgrades add the most value to a home, coming in at 108 percent of the cost of the project. The average cost and return at resale for the other 29 projects that were included in this year’s report amounted to a 64.3 percent return, as long as the home was sold within one year of completing the renovation. Fiberglass insulation was the only project that had an average national return of more than 100 percent.

Professional Installation vs. DIY Costs

A lot of people believe that they can save even more money by installing their insulation themselves. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Unless you have the ability to make extremely accurate notes on where heat is lost and purchase the exact amount of insulation you need, you may end up spending more than the entire cost of having a professional contractor install the insulation for you. A few other issues DIYers could run into is the need to make changes to their HVAC while putting in their insulation, not having the correct permits, and risky health hazards if they do not have the right equipment.

If you want to reap the rewards and see a return on your investment, have your insulation installed by a professional. It will be much more cost-effective to have it done correctly, and you will avoid potentially expensive mistakes.

For any homeowner looking for an end of summer home improvement project that they can have completed relatively quickly and not go over their home renovation budget, installing fiberglass insulation has proven itself to be one of the best choices you can make.

With our experience in the insulation industry, we can help you save energy and get you the most for your money. Call us to schedule an appointment.

Can Spray Foam or Blow-In-Blanket Insulation Work for Your Home?

Man installing insulationInsulating your home offers many benefits. Two types of insulation, however, stand out among others because of the advantages you can experience from them. These include the blow-in-blanket system (BIBS) and the spray foam insulation, both of which A+ Insulation installs.

The Good News on Blow-In-Blanket System

Blow-in-blanket systems in Kansas City work because of the extremes in weather conditions. BIBS falls under fiberglass insulation, which is the type of insulation known to provide better thermal efficiency. In addition to thermal efficiency, what other pros can you expect from BIBS?

  • It blows in easily
  • It fills the space completely
  • It lasts for a very long time

Blow-in insulation can fit even in small gaps of the tiniest size, and it’s not that hard to install. You can also dwell on the safety of your home with a naturally fire resistant blow-in blanket system. For its bonus points, BIBS insulation can reduce noise, prevent the growth of mold or mildew, and remains pest resistant.

The use of fiberglass insulation prevents the leak of any chemical odor. The excellent thermal performance of the blow-in-blanket system gives your home the energy efficiency it needs while reducing energy costs, so you can save more money.

Building insulationSpray Foam Insulation and Its Perks

In all our years as insulation installers, we’ve found that 30 percent of your home’s energy can escape through walls, roof, and floors. This is due to air leaking from these areas. Spray foam insulation can prevent this from happening, helping you save on your energy bill at the same time.

Similar to the blow-in-blanket insulation, spray foam insulation fills and seals every crack. Spray foam, as flexible sealant insulation, makes continuous air barriers in different areas. Polyurethane spray foam expands up to 100 times its original size to seal every gap in walls, ceilings, and crawlspaces for total insulation.

R-Values and the Effects of BIBS and Spray Foam Insulation

You also need to consider R-value when installing a type of insulation. Kansas, according to the Department of Energy, falls under Zone 4, which needs R-5 insulation sheathing beneath a new siding.

Remember, R-value heavily relies on the installation of the insulation.  Blown-in blanket systems, when installed by skilled experts, achieve the correct density and R-values. You can depend on BIBS to fill in existing finished areas, particularly irregularly shaped areas. It can also fill in the crevices around obstructions.

Spray foam also can cover up finished areas and seal gaps in irregularly shaped areas. You can apply this using a small spray container or in larger quantities as a pressure sprayed product.

The Finest Insulation for Your Convenience

Go to A+ Insulation and expect the best insulation for your household. Whatever type of insulation you choose, we’ll know what to do. We have technicians who can add the right insulation in the right amounts in the best places to provide you the best comfort you deserve.

With our experience in the industry, we can help you save energy, time, and money. Call us to schedule an appointment.

2 Types of Spray Foam Insulation: What Makes Them Different From Each Other?

Room undergoing renovationSpray foam insulation is one of the most popular types of insulation for homes and commercial buildings. Starting off in liquid form, spray foam is applied to tight spaces where it expands up to 60 times its original liquid volume.

This method of application allows for the even distribution of spray foam insulation to be inside walls and ceilings. This also makes for an ideal method for filling in hard-to-reach places like air ducts and crawl spaces. As the foam expands, it dries and becomes solid insulation.

According to the Department of Energy, spray polyurethane foam insulation (SPF) is 50% more effective at insulating buildings, compared with traditional insulation products. In addition to this, SPF is also versatile and easy-to-install, making it the more cost and energy efficient choice for insulation material.

Spray foam insulation can be categorized into two types: light density open-cell and medium density closed-cell. Both types have their own unique advantages and are the most commonly used variants of insulation in commercial buildings and homes.

Remember, though, that spray foam insulation contractors in Kansas City stress that it’s always best to consult with a professional service provider before applying spray foam insulation to your structure.

Light-Density Open-Cell Spray Foam (ocSPF)

Commonly known as half-pound foam, light-density open-cell SPF, or ocSPF, is semi-rigid foam with a sponge-like appearance. During installation, this SPF expands in such a way that it creates small, open cells that are filled with carbon dioxide. Because it expands during application, ocSPF can fit most cracks and crevices. This product sticks to irregular surfaces to form an air sealing insulation.

OcSPF also has the unique advantage of being pliable. Over time, buildings can contract and expand depending on the weather. Because of its flexibility, ocSPF twists and adjusts with every contraction and expansion, minimizing the need for reinstallation.

Although it can’t block vapors, ocSPF is effective at acting as an air and sound barrier. Because of these traits, ocSPF is usually recommended for interior walls and most indoor applications.

Medium-Density Closed-Cell Spray Foam (ccSPF)

Foam sprayMedium-density closed-cell foam insulation, or ccSPF, is often referred to as two pound (2 lb) foam, due to it being heavier than open-cell spray foam. CcSPF is more rigid than ocSPF, and it comes with a higher Long-Term Thermal Resistance (LTTR) value.

Because of its rigidity and weight, ccSPF can act as both a vapor barrier and an air barrier, making it more efficient than ocSPF. CcSPF also has the unique advantage of adding to the structural strength of walls and ceilings.

When choosing insulation materials and installers, always go for a professional company with trained professionals and OSHA 30 certification. Quality insulation can help lower energy costs and protect structures from weather damage. With over a decade of providing insulation services in Kansas City, A+ Insulation has the tools and the know-how to effectively install insulation for both homes and commercial buildings. Contact us today and our in-house team of experts will help find the most appropriate solution to your insulation needs.

Long-Term Planning: Insulation During Spring Reduces Cooling Costs in Summer

Insulation installationResidents of Kansas City always look forward to springtime. The fresh air is a welcome delight after months of chilly days and bundled up nights. The locals gear up for festival season, St. Patrick’s Day, and the Brookside Art Annual which are all citywide celebrations that pump up people of all ages. Of course, the spring season also brings back the Kansas City Royals, our boys in blue, to the baseball park.

As much time as KC locals spend outdoors, however, it also pays to be more attentive to what goes on at home during the transition season from the coldest to the warmest days of the year. When you plan your springtime activities, include home renovations and preventive maintenance on your list. The changing weather affects the utilities that keep you comfortable all year round despite the weather, after all.

Having said that, maybe it is time to install or replace the attic insulation in your Kansas home this spring.

Why Is Attic Insulation Important?

Many homes in the local community do not have attic insulation. This is unfortunate, considering how attic insulation serves as a consistent source of comfort for the household. It keeps heated air inside during winter and keeps the home cool during summer. In other words, it keeps your family warm during cold days and helps regulate indoor temperature on humid ones.

Moreover, attic insulation is a wise decision because it helps homeowners save on energy bills. Our team has actually seen first-hand how attic insulation helps cut down energy costs at home, especially during the warmest months of the year when people tend to turn up the AC.

Heat travels through the ceiling and may escape or enter the home through gaps or leaks in your attic. So, if the attic has proper insulation, then it will make the home more energy efficient in addition to making it more comfortable for the household.

But of course, for optimal energy saving, you need the help of a professional to ensure the even distribution of the insulation. Alternatively, if you already have attic insulation, a professional can check insulation levels to determine whether you need a more effective replacement.

Professional attic insulation also addresses other problems such as leaky roofing, fire hazards, and limited ventilation.

Why is Spring a Great Time for Attic Insulation?

Attic insulationSpring is a great time to install or replace attic insulation. Your household may have exhausted the HVAC system throughout the winter, so now’s a great time to let it recover and direct your attention to the insulation. Furthermore, spring installation also prepares you for the warm, humid weather that summer is sure to bring. This way, you wouldn’t spend so much on home cooling costs in the future.

Keep in mind, though, that the level of insulation your attic should have depends on your location as well as on what product you use for it. But generally speaking, homes in the KC metro may have insulation of at least R-49, which is approximately 18.5 inches deep, to effectively reduce energy costs.

At A+ Insulation, we offer various solutions for attic insulation in Kansas City. You may choose among InsulSafe SP, cellulose, spray foam, and batted insulation. Call our office, today, for a free no-obligation evaluation before summer comes along.

Insulating Your 1960 Home? Best Types of Insulation for Old Homes

Balcony of an old homeWarm, cozy, and full of character, you love your 1960 home.

As much as you love your decades-old abode, however, it tends to get drafty. In winter, the cold draft can get so bad that you’re beginning to see adverse effects on the health and comfort of your family. On days when it’s extra cold, moreover, your heating system has to work harder, costing you more in maintenance and replacement expenses down the road.

If you’re tired of putting up with drafty air and compromising your comfort, your most viable option is adding insulation. Insulating an old home not only makes the space more livable and energy-efficient but also helps preserve the house’s beauty and historical significance. If you decide on selling the home in the future, up-to-date insulation can give you a strong selling point.

Things to Consider Before Installing Insulation

While there are many benefits to adding insulation to old houses, it’s not exactly an easy task. If your home was built before the 1960s, chances are, there is very little insulation to none at all. Before the energy crisis happened in the 1970s, energy was cheap and abundant that it was more cost-effective to heat homes than to insulate them.

Today, it has become more cost-effective to insulate a home. There are myriad options as far as materials are concerned. Experts agree that among these materials, batts and blow-in cellulose are the easiest to retrofit into an old home. Many insulation contractors also prefer installing spray foam insulation, as this works well in regulating air flow, controlling moisture, and insulating while maintaining a high R-value (the material’s capacity to resist heat flow).

Depending on your home’s age, potentially dangerous products may have been used in the installation. A professional insulation contractor should be able to detect urea formaldehyde or asbestos, as the presence of these materials may entail remediation.

Where Do You Add Insulation?

Insulation being addedIt’s often easiest to add insulation to the attic area. If your attic is unfinished and unconditioned like many old homes, adding batt insulation to the underside of the roof is a smart move.

If the home has a basement or crawl space, you may also opt to insulate the floors of the living space above. Insulation contractors prefer to do this by installing batts into the floor joists’ stud bays.

Onboarding experts to assess the entire home should be your first step. A pro can accurately evaluate the scope of insulation, the severity of air leakage, as well as your options for re-insulation. They can also give advice or two in the areas of the home that will provide the most payback when insulated.

When in need of experienced professionals who can help you add insulation to an old home, turn to A+ Insulation. We have been the authority in batt, cellulose, spray foam and blanket insulation in Kansas City since 2004. We are prepared to add insulation to any part of the home from the walls to the attic, basement, and more.

Talk to one of our consultants about the most viable options for your home. Call us at 913-281-2250 or fill out our form today.

Addressing Skin Irritation and Other Health Risks of Pink Fiberglass Insulation

Skin Irritation

American households are no stranger to pink fiberglass insulation. Many homes have thick rolls of the material in their attic. In fact, at some point, it was the most popular choice for insulation.

Made from extremely fine woven glass, fiberglass traps air to slow down the spread of heat or cold in a structure. It poses minimal fire hazard and, according to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, its thermal insulation may reduce residential energy costs by up to 40%. As such, it is a frequently used material for residential property insulation.

Pink fiberglass insulation effectively keeps homes warm in the winter and cool during the summer. But it does not come without a price. The material could trigger asthma, bronchitis, and eye irritation. Moreover, it could cause itchiness and skin irritation.

Get Familiar with the Risks of Fiberglass Insulation

Fiberglass InsulationPink fiberglass insulation, consisting of extremely fine glass fibers, comes in different forms. Most commonly, it comes in the form of blankets and loose fill.

The former, which may either be fiberglass batts or rolls, are attachable to walls for stability. The latter, which may contain 20% to 30% recycled glass content, are applicable to both open-blow applications (i.e. attic paces) and closed-cavity applications (i.e. wall interiors and floor cavities).

The material may also come in the form of rigid boards and duct insulation. But regardless of which type is most suitable for your application — and how functional it is — fiberglass insulation comes with certain health risks.

Fiberglass insulation, when disturbed, has the tendency to release small particles or fibers in the air. The people exposed to it may inhale the material’s particles during installation or removal, resulting in respiratory complications. Their skin may also come in contact with the particles, resulting in itchiness and irritation.

Respiratory Ailments

No matter how long you’ve been using pink fiberglass insulation, you still need to be careful when handling them. Inhaling fiberglass particles may trigger reactions from your respiratory system. It may lead to nose bleeds and severe coughing. It may aggravate asthma or bronchitis, too, if you are prone to either condition.

Much like wood and metal, it does not easily break down. As such, inhaling fiberglass particles may cause further damage to your lungs and the rest of your respiratory system.

Eye Irritation

Inhaling fiberglass particles may cause respiratory ailments, but the health risks do not stop there. Particles may break free from the material and get in your eye. This causes immediate effects such as eye irritation and inflammation.

Much like when other foreign particles get in your eye, fiberglass particles may cause severe or permanent eye damage, when not addressed correctly and immediately.

Skin Irritation

The most common health risk of fiberglass insulation is skin irritation. This occurs when your skin gets in contact with fiberglass particles, resulting in itchiness and skin rashes.

Particles may come in contact with your skin and trigger allergies, especially if you have sensitive skin. They may lodge into your pores and cause skin dryness. Either way, you may end up with irritated skin, itchiness, and red rashes for days to come.

Exposure to fiberglass could happen during renovation for your home or when you visit a friend whose home is under construction.

Remedies After Exposure

You’ll want to protect yourself when you expect to be around renovation or construction. Appropriate clothing such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and gloves. This reduces the risk of itchiness and skin irritation that occurs when the skin accidentally comes in contact with fiberglass particles.

While you’re at it, wear a face mask to avoid inhaling fiberglass particles and protective goggles to prevent them from getting into your eye.

But once you’re exposed to fiberglass, you can reduce its impact through a couple of ways.

Use Baby Powder

Rub baby powder on exposed areas such as the neck and your wrists, areas where there may be gaps in protective clothing, to avoid itchiness. In case baby powder is not available, you may use corn starch or plain talc powder as a substitute.

Shower Twice

Despite protective clothing and a sprinkle of baby powder, fiberglass particles may still linger. As such, you might want to shower twice.

First, take a cold shower to rinse off any particles. The cold keeps your pores closed, so you no longer have to worry about fiberglass seeping into your skin. Afterward, take a hot shower to open up your pores and make it easier for you to get rid of any particles that may have slipped through the previous precautionary measures.

The man-made mineral fiber is useful for residential and commercial applications. But because it is an irritant, you need to be careful around the material. And until more studies are conclusive about its health effects, it’s better to trust its installation or removal to a professional.

Go for Professional Installation

Working with a professional team will mean getting reasonable rates for the services of licensed and insured insulation contractors. It means having the insulation up and working within a convenient schedule and your required timeframe. Licensed installers not only get the job done quickly, but safely, too.

Professional installers have sufficient education and experience to know what type of insulation works best for your home. They can provide industry leading fiberglass insulation that offers ample coverage while reducing your home’s energy demand and costs. They can also ensure that the insulation will not retain moisture leading to mold or fungus growth.

A+ Insulation has the experience and knowledge to ensure a professional installation that improves your comfort and your safety.

Our trained and experienced team will handle your fiberglass installation needs, using high grade materials that do not compromise your health and budget. We not only ensure your home is energy efficient and comfortable all year round, we also keep our work neat. We cover everything with plastic to keep your home clean while we install.

We are licensed and insured, and well prepared to take on any insulation job.

Get professional advice and experience professional service that combines safety and efficiency. Call us today for your insulation needs.

A+ Quality in Every Insulation Installation

house wrapped in cozy covers and is insulatedInsulation is seldom discussed but is crucial to the well-being, comfort, and protection of a family. Often, the original insulation installed will last for many years. But sometimes, problems happen, such as:

  • Older homes that have insulation that is hazardous to the family’s health.
  • Leaks in the roof of the house have damaged the existing insulation.
  • There are times when the insulation material is not compatible with modern electrical lighting in the ceiling it is covering.
  • Some builders have erroneously vented exhausts to the attic space. Humid exhaust air gets trapped in your insulation, thereby ruining it.
  • The insulation installation was inadequate
  • Owners may want to use the attic for storage or an extra room.
  • According to many experts, any home over five years old needs to have its insulation evaluated.

So, at some time or another, you are going to need to insulate your home. And at A+ Insulation, we make sure our customers know exactly what to expect if they need new insulation.

With our 14-Step Installation Process, you will understand how long the installation will take, how we protect your home, how much it will cost, what to expect, and why we include so much in the process. We tell you up-front so there are no surprises, no inconveniences, and no unknowns. You can relax with A+ because we will keep you informed.

A Breakdown of Our 14-Point Installation Process:

  1. Initial Contact – First, call or email us and we will set an appointment to inspect your home.
  2. Free, In-Home, No-Obligation, Inspection – We tell you where and how much insulation you will need.
  3. Free Estimate – We provide a free, upfront estimate before any work begins so you never get a surprise bill with add-ons or extras you were not expecting.
  4. Free Home Energy Evaluation – The home energy evaluation helps us see where your home is leaking energy so we know exactly which problem areas to fix.

Related Read: Cut a Quarter of Your Energy Bills with a Free Home Energy Evaluation

  1. Pre-Installation Walk-Through – Before we begin working, we take you on a walk through the project area to explain where and why insulation is necessary.
  2. Scheduling – We set a date that fits your schedule.
  3. Job Length Estimation – After assessing the project, we give you a time estimate of how long we will be in your home from start to cleanup.
  4. Project Debris – We take special care to protect your home and your family from any contact with our insulation materials or our equipment. We want your home to look perfect when we leave.
  5. Installation – We not only install the insulation, but we go the extra mile to seal all leaks where air can escape.

Related Read: Insulation Installation – The Devil Is in the Details

  1. Post-Installation Walk-Through – A+ wants to leave its customers completely satisfied with the job. When the project concludes, we show you our work so you know we did exactly what we said we would do.
  2. Before & After Photos – To make sure there is no doubt about our completed project, we provide photographic evidence that shows attics and crawl spaces, which would otherwise be hard to see, insulated completely and correctly.
  3. Cleanup – We always leave your home as clean as we found it.
  4. Final Payment – Once we are positive you are completely satisfied with our work, we accept final payment.
  5. Comfort Assurance – We leave you comfortable with the job, with the price, and with our company. We also leave you in the comfort of your well-insulated home.

 

Quality in Every Insulation Installation

A+ does not want its customers to have any surprises when it comes to their home insulation process. Nothing is worse than contracting with a company that does not live up to its promises and the owner’s expectations. That will not happen with A+. The most important issue for us is that your home insulation is up to or even better than all local building codes for your area. Since 90% of homes in the U.S. are under-insulated, yours could very well be one of them. And, oh yes, one more thing; the proper insulation will make a noticeable difference in your heating and cooling bills. Let us know if need our assistance.

If you’d like to save money on your energy bills, give A+ Insulation a call at (913) 281-2250 or (816) 268-7511 or contact us online.

Compare before you hire. Use this handy list to know which questions to ask when comparing insulation companies. Download by clicking on the image below:  

Make Your Home Energy Efficient This Summer

Home Energy Bill SavingsAir conditioning season can be brutal on your budget. Energy bills soar and it makes you start to question everything about your home. Is your air conditioner losing efficiency? Does your home need more insulation? Should you invest in new, energy-efficient windows? The team at A+ took a look at all of your options.

Look at Investment Vs. Savings

It’s a struggle to know which decision is the right one. At A+ Insulation, we see homeowners struggle with energy issues year round, especially when the temperatures soar or dip into the extremes. Naturally, we’d like to sell you some insulation. That is our business, after all. But when looking at high energy bills, many homeowners consider the energy savings before making a decision to purchase, but it’s the investment cost that you should be looking at. Let us break it down for you.

The Top Three Ways to Significantly Reduce Your Energy Bills

If you want to significantly reduce your energy bills, you have three main choices:

  • New Replacement Windows
  • New, High-Efficiency Air Conditioner
  • Add Insulation  

Let’s look at savings vs. investment with numbers we found on the internet:

Install New Replacement Windows

Windows are a source of 25% of a home’s heat loss.

Savings – According to the Energy Star website, installing ENERGY STAR qualified windows lowers energy bills. For a typical home, save: $126–$465 a year when replacing single-pane windows. $27–$111 a year when replacing double-pane, clear glass replacement windows.

Investment – According to Houselogic, the range for energy-efficient window pricing varies greatly, but Energy Star-qualified windows start around $120 for a 36-inch-by-72-inch, single-hung window and can go up to 10 times that. With labor, you’re looking at about $270 to $800+ per window.

Conclusion – Savings up to $465/yr vs. Minimum Investment $2,700 (for 10 windows).

Install a New Energy-Efficient Air Conditioner

Heating and cooling costs account for about half of your home’s energy expenses.

Savings – Using the Lennox energy savings calculator, and using Kansas as our geographic point,  if you replaced your old (10 SEER) air conditioner with an energy efficient (15 SEER) air conditioner, you would save 33% on your home cooling bills

($375 over a 5-year period) which calculates to $75/yr.

Investment – According to HomeAdvisor, 2017 prices for new air conditioners range from $1,900 to $5,100.

Conclusion – Savings up to $75/yr vs. Minimum Investment $1,900.

Install Attic Insulation

Roughly 25% of a home’s heat seeps out through the attic and roof.

Savings – According to House Logic, adding insulation (based on boosting the amount of attic insulation from R-11 to R-49) can lower heating and cooling costs by as much as $600/yr.

Investment – Using the same source, depending on the type of materials you choose, figure on paying about $1,500 to insulate an 800-square-foot attic, which pays back your investment in three years.

Conclusion – Savings up to $600/yr vs. Minimum Investment $1,500.

Savings Vs. Investment Makes It Clear – Insulation Is the Smart Choice

So the bottom line is, if you’re looking for energy savings, but you’re not ready to drop thousands on a new heating and cooling system or new replacement windows, adding insulation is the obvious choice. Insulation is the lowest monetary investment that yields that greatest energy savings.  

If you’d like to save about $600 a year on your energy bills and be more comfortable in your home, give A+ Insulation a call at (913) 281-2250 or (816) 268-7511 or contact us online to schedule your insulation installation appointment.

9 Signs Your Home Is Under-Insulated

When it comes to insulation, insulation problems kansas citychances are your home may not have enough. Unless you’ve added extra insulation when building your home, or added insulation to the home you bought or renovated, there’s a 9 in 10 chance that it doesn’t have enough. NAIMA (North American Insulation Manufacturers Association) reports that 90% of homes in the U.S. are under insulated.

Why is this? Think about the housing industry. Home builders install the minimum amount of insulation required by code. Why would they install more? The more they install, the more money each house costs to build. We know, from being in the insulation industry for years, that the amount required by code is not enough to keep your home comfortable and save you money on energy bills.

Related Read: Insulating Your Home – Where Do You Get the Best ROI?

Look for These 9 Signs That Your Home Is Under-Insulated

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 42% of a homeowner’s utility bill is spent on heating and cooling costs. That number goes up drastically when a home is poorly insulated. Without proper insulation the heated or cooled air, your heating and cooling system is working so hard to produce, escapes through the walls and attic. Proper insulation can cut those costs by an average of 20%! If your home lacks the proper amount of insulation, or if your insulation is installed incorrectly, you can do severe damage to both your home and your bank account. Here are nine ways you can tell if your home is under-insulated:

  • Fluctuating Temperatures
    One sign of good insulation is having even temperatures throughout your home. If different rooms have different temperatures – say, you freeze in the kitchen but feel too warm in your living room – that’s a clear sign your house is under-insulated.
  • High Energy Bills
    Look at your home’s energy bills in the last few years to determine if there are huge increases. The blown-in insulation in the attics and walls may have settled, making the insulation less effective and possibly leading to areas that are not protected from cold temperatures. You may not notice extreme temperature shifts in your home if your heating or cooling units are working overtime, but you will notice your extreme energy bill. If wasted heat is escaping through your roof and walls, it’s time to replace your insulation.
  • Cold Walls, Floors and Ceilings
    Do the touch test. The interior ceilings, walls and floors in your home should feel warm and dry. When drywall and paneling inside a home feels damp or cold, there is not enough insulation. Alternatively, when touching an exterior wall, it should feel cold because insulation is keeping warm air inside a home.
  • Cold Rooms
    Do you find that some rooms in your home are inexplicably colder or hotter than others no matter what you do? If those rooms are well ventilated, then the problem is probably poor insulation. These rooms are often above the garage or below the attic. That’s why it’s important to make sure all areas of your home are properly insulated. Heat and cool air can escape almost anywhere that doesn’t have insulation to stop its path.
  • Chilly Drafts
    During the winter months, drafts in certain areas of a home are caused by cool air entering around window frames and doorways. By having extra insulation added to these areas, you and your family can avoid having to cope with chilly drafts. Adding insulation will not only make your home feel less drafty, it will also save you on energy bills. Spray foam insulation seals and insulates and is good for cracks and crevices.
  • Mice & Bugs in Your Home
    There is nothing worse than finding insects and rodents in your home! Critters can enter through tiny crevices and holes around doorways and windows. Unfortunately, these openings are also how cold air enters and warm air escapes. By adding insulation you can save on energy bills while protecting your home from vermin invasions.
  • Water Leaks in the Attic
    Just as poor insulation lets heat out of your home, it also tends to let water in. Water has a much easier time finding its way into a poorly-insulated home than a well-insulated one. If you’re experiencing a leaky attic, your insulation may be part of the problem. Leaks are a sign that you should get your insulation replaced as soon as possible! Water damage can cause many costly problems down the road, including mold issues, so give leaks prompt attention.
  • Ice Dams on Your Roof
    A sign of poor insulation that you may notice during a Kansas City winter, aside from soaring heating bills, are ice dams. Ice dams occur when heat (rising from your poorly-insulated home) melts the bottom layer of snow off of your roof. The melted water then trickles down towards your gutters and may begin to freeze once it hits the cooler air. The result is large chunks of ice and oversized icicles, called ice damming. It can wreak havoc on your roof and your gutter, not to mention it can turn into a safety hazard for those below.
  • Frozen Pipes
    Frozen pipes in your walls are also huge indicators that you have an insulation problem. Proper insulation protects your home from damage caused by Kansas City’s freezing temperatures. Poorly insulated exterior walls can cause frozen pipes, which can burst. This can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage.

More Important Energy Facts

Where does all the warm air go?

  • Roughly 25% of a home’s heat seeps out through the attic and roof.
  • A home can lose 35% of its heat through the walls.
  • Windows are a source of 25% of a home’s heat loss.
  • Remember, any gaps in insulation will allow heat to escape.

Insulation has a three times greater impact on the average home’s energy and comfort than windows or doors.

An energy audit will pinpoint the areas that are wasting the most energy

  • Get a free energy audit with A+ Insulation.

Contact us to schedule your FREE energy audit.

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