Effective insulation can significantly drive down your energy bills. This is especially true during the winter when heating systems have to work overtime to increase a room or a home’s temperature.

Basement Insulation: How It Drives Down Your Energy Expenditures

You may overlook your basement as a place to add insulation. This is normally not an area you’ll focus on when investing in home improvement projects. But the basement shouldn’t just be an afterthought. It can help you achieve large amounts of energy savings, perhaps even more than other spaces in your home can.

What are the Benefits of Insulation?

Ideally, an insulation system provides both immediate and long-term benefits. General benefits include reducing energy costs, preventing moisture condensation, and providing fire protection.

A house without proper insulation is prone to the leakage of air. Gaps surrounding windows and doors result in high amounts of energy expenditure as air leaks out of a room or a house. Heating systems end up working much harder to maintain a consistent level of temperature. More energy is used the more these systems have to run.

What Part Should You Insulate?

Before you decide on the area of your basement you want to insulate, consider your intentions for the space. If you’re using it as a living space, it may be best to insulate the walls. On the other hand, if insulation is only meant is to reduce heat loss and energy costs, insulate the basement ceilings instead.

Also, keep in mind that insulation reduces the amount of usable interior space. Depending on the type of insulation you choose, insulation placement can take up a few inches of space.

Basement Walls

Providing insulation to the walls of your basement is often more effective at keeping warmth in. You can save hundreds of dollars in energy use this way. In addition, you can turn the space into a more comfortable and habitable living area you can use on a daily basis.

Basement Ceilings

Is it a good idea to insulate your basement ceiling? There are some concerns about insulating this area because it opens the possibility of lowering temperature even more and causing problems like frozen pipes. However, they are cheaper than wall insulation and can eliminate air leak issues.

What are Some Types of Insulation?

• Blanket (Batt and Roll) – Blanket insulation is an inexpensive method of insulation. It involves inserting materials like fiberglass, mineral, and fibers into studs and beams in walls and ceilings.
• Sprayed Foam Insulation – This type of insulation carries a high R-value. This refers to the ability of the material to resist the flow of heat. Sprayed foam insulation has a liquid application. It eventually expands and fills empty gaps throughout the walls or ceilings.

Don’t leave insulation to the last minute. Temperatures will drop as winter approaches, and your energy expenditure may skyrocket as a result. The earlier you insulate your basement or other rooms in your house, the fewer problems you will have later on.

A+ Insulation Kansas City provides solutions if you decide to insulate your basement for the winter. Insulation services can go a long way in reducing your energy expenditures and ensuring you stay warm and comfortable in your home no matter the time of year.

Contact us at 913-281-2250 or 816-265-1947 for a free inspection and estimate.

Proper insulation is vital to keeping your home comfortable all year. It also makes your heating and cooling system efficient, leading to lower energy bills. All in all, it’s a smart investment. You can install some minor insulation materials on your own, but calling in the professionals for the bigger projects is always smarter. Their skill and experience reduce costly mistakes and ensure that you get quality output.

5 Questions to Ask Your Insulation Contractor

Not all insulation contractors, however, specialize in installing insulation. That’s why it’s crucial to screen them carefully. While eliminating inexperienced and unreliable companies can be tough, asking the right questions will reveal weak points you can use to cut your list down. Soon enough, you’ll find the contractor that provides the best value out of your project.

Questions you may ask when interviewing potential contractors include:

Do You Have a License?

Hiring a licensed contractor not only protects your interests for quality service but also ensures that you’re on the right side of the law. Checking the license of a potential contractor confirms that it’s in the home insulation industry legally. The permit also indicates that the contractor has the expertise and skills to perform the job you’re hiring them for. Only qualified companies receive a business license from the government.

What Personal Protective Equipment Does Your Team Wear?

As a client, you have to make sure that the contractor has safety measures in place while the installation is on-going. Installers should wear appropriate gear, use the right equipment, and follow safety procedures. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains that people working with insulation materials, particularly spray foam, should be trained to handle chemicals properly. Proper training is essential for each installer to avoid exposure to chemicals and work-related injuries. Make sure to discuss this with your prospects before deciding who to hire.

How Many Years Have You Been Operating?

The number of years an insulation contractor has been in the business gives you an idea about its experience and ability to handle a project like yours. Seasoned contractors naturally have an edge over the greener companies.

On the other hand, newer contractors may also deliver excellent services. They might have access to more modern equipment and know the latest techniques for a better installation process. So, you’ll have to dig a little deeper with this question to determine what kind of candidates you’re working with.

What Insulation Products Do You Offer?

When searching for the right contractor, you might encounter a company that only offers one product. Treat it as a red flag. You’re looking for a company that can assess your home and recommend different insulation products that suit your home’s needs and your budget.

Can I See Your References?

Look for a contractor that willingly shows reviews and feedback from previous clients. Praise from satisfied clients can help you decide whether or not to trust the contractor. Conducting further research can help you scrutinize a contractor better. You may also ask your prospect if it has negative reviews.

The answers from your potential contractors can help you come up with the right decision and hire the right insulation contractor. If you need further assistance with your insulation installation project, contact our team today.

Effective insulation can significantly drive down your energy bills. This is especially true during the winter, when heating systems have to work overtime to increase a room or a home’s temperature.

Basement Insulation: How It Drives Down Your Energy Expenditures

You may overlook your basement as a place to add insulation. This is normally not an area you’ll focus on when investing in home improvement projects. But the basement shouldn’t just be an afterthought. It can help you achieve large amounts of energy savings, perhaps even more than other spaces in your home can.

What are the Benefits of Insulation?

Ideally, an insulation system provides both immediate and long-term benefits. General benefits include reducing energy costs, preventing moisture condensation, and providing fire protection.

A house without proper insulation is prone to the leakage of air. Gaps surrounding windows and doors result in high amounts of energy expenditure as air leaks out of a room or a house. Heating systems end up working much harder to maintain a consistent level of temperature. More energy is used the more these systems have to run.

What Part Should You Insulate?

Before you decide on the area of your basement you want to insulate, consider your intentions for the space. If you’re using it as a living space, it may be best to insulate the walls. On the other hand, if insulation is only meant is to reduce heat loss and energy costs, insulate the basement ceilings instead.

Also, keep in mind that insulation reduces the amount of usable interior space. Depending on the type of insulation you choose, insulation placement can take up a few inches of space.

Basement Walls

Providing insulation to the walls of your basement is often more effective at keeping warmth in. You can save hundreds of dollars in energy use this way. In addition, you can turn the space into a more comfortable and habitable living area you can use on a daily basis.

Basement Ceilings

Is it a good idea to insulate your basement ceiling? There are some concerns about insulating this area because it opens the possibility of lowering temperature even more and causing problems like frozen pipes. However, they are cheaper than wall insulation and can eliminate air leak issues.

What are Some Types of Insulation?

Blanket (Batt and Roll) – Blanket insulation is an inexpensive method of insulation. It involves inserting materials like fiberglass, mineral, and fibers into studs and beams in walls and ceilings.

Sprayed Foam Insulation – This type of insulation carries a high R-value. This refers to the ability of material to resist the flow of heat. Sprayed foam insulation has a liquid application. It eventually expands and fills empty gaps throughout the walls or ceilings.

Don’t leave insulation to the last minute. Temperatures will drop as winter approaches and your energy expenditure may skyrocket as a result. The earlier you insulate your basement or other rooms in your house, the fewer problems you will have later on.

Insulate Kansas City provides solutions if you decide to insulate your basement for the winter. Insulation services can go a long way in reducing your energy expenditures and ensuring you stay warm and comfortable in your home no matter the time of year.

Contact us at 913-281-2250 or 816-265-1947 for a free inspection and estimate.

Today, both businesses and consumers are realigning to become more sustainable and energy-efficient. Energy efficiency focuses on minimizing the power required to use certain products and services. Not only does energy efficiency reduce heating and cooling costs, but it also helps the environment by reducing emissions released by power plants.

The average household in the Midwest spends $3,000-3,500 per capita on heating. This translates to fossil fuels burnt and more emissions. If you want to save on energy bills and be environmentally conscious, the first step is to make your home energy efficient by installing insulation. The best time to do this? Right when you’re building your home.

Want to Build an Energy-Efficient Home? Start with Insulation

Insulation for Newly-Constructed Homes

While you’re planning and building your new home, you should follow the required R-value of insulation in Missouri as stated in the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). These are just the minimum requirements, though, and you should aim to exceed them if you’ve set out to make your build more energy efficient. Insulating your home adds to your home’s market value.

A properly insulated home is protected from the elements from top to bottom. It’s easier to ensure this right at the beginning of construction because your insulation options are much more varied compared to retrofitting your walls and attic after you finish building.

With that said, these are the key areas that need insulation installed in your new home for optimal energy efficiency, according to the U.S. Department of Energy:

• Attic
• Walls
• Ceiling
• Exterior doors and windows
• The floors (especially above unheated spaces like the garage)
• Ducts/crawlspace
• Basement

In structures such as residential homes, there are areas called thermal envelopes. These are the areas listed above, where heat tends to escape. Typically, 15 percent of heat escapes through uninsulated basements and floors. Uninsulated attics, windows, and doors each let out 25 percent of heat, while uninsulated walls let out 35 percent.

With this much heat loss, you’re likely to spend more heating up your home, driving your energy use. By installing installation in these areas, you’re making sure that you optimize your energy efficiency.

Types of Insulation for New Homes

Once you’ve pinpointed the areas that need insulation, it’s time to decide what type of insulation material to install. You have a variety of options, but it’s best to consult your insulation experts to know which type fits specific parts of your home.

Batted Insulation

Batted insulation made from fiberglass materials is perfect for unfinished walls, floors, and ceilings. Batted fiberglass insulation has a broad range of R-values and has excellent acoustical performance.

Sprayed Foam Insulation

Ideal for unfinished attic floors or as an addition to existing finished or irregularly-shaped areas, closed cell spray foam insulation answers your extreme insulation requirements. Spray foam tightly seals all nooks and crannies that would otherwise cause heat loss.

Wet Spray Insulation

A popular and cost-effective alternative to spray foam, wet spray fiber insulation resists mold and has great air-sealing benefits, making it a great insulator for your walls and ceiling.

Blown-in Blanket Insulation

Like spray foam, this type of insulation can fill small, hard-to-reach areas, so it’s perfect for unfinished attic floors.

Insulate Your New Home Properly

Before finishing the construction of your Kansas City home, contact a reputable insulation company. Our team here at A+ Insulation uses the best and latest insulation techniques to give you a power-saving, energy-efficient home.

Contact us today for your insulation needs.

Kansas City regularly updates building codes to protect the safety, health, and welfare of local residents. Updates to the code minimize safety hazards at home, especially electricity-related ones. These updates almost always include insulation industry codes. Code updates push homeowners to address insulation issues and replace them when necessary.

Household Possibilities: Is It Time to Insulate Your Interior Walls?

Admittedly, insulation code updates are not enough to help homeowners decide whether to insulate their interior walls. While this is not exactly common practice, you may have heard of its energy-saving and sound-dampening benefits. So, if you are wondering if insulating your interior walls is a good idea, there are valid reasons for you to consider:

Insulation Makes Your Home More Energy Efficient

Warm during winter, cool during summer — home insulation contributes to your household’s comfort because it helps regulate both hot and cold airflow. Your living space should remain comfortable despite extreme weather and temperature fluctuations. When you opt for interior wall insulation, you use less electricity to regulate room temperatures and might notice lower energy bills in the long run.

nterior wall insulation reduces heat transfer for your storage rooms and unoccupied guest rooms. As a result, the temperature control prevents the framing from expanding and the drywall from cracking. You can save yourself the cost and hassle of fixing this issue, too.

Insulation Reduces Room-to-Room Sound Transfer

Imagine this: you come home after a long day at work and just want to relax in bed — but, you can’t because the rest of the family is watching an extremely loud action film in the movie room next to your bedroom.
Interior wall insulation reduces room-to-room sound transfer, creating a sound barrier that contains inside sounds and mutes unwanted outside noise. Keep in mind, however that sound travels through your interior wall’s wood framing, which means the insulation does not make the place entirely soundproof. But it remains an ideal choice for better sound control.

Insulation Prevents Fire from Spreading Quickly

When you live in a duplex or a townhouse, interior walls called party walls separate your living space from the people next door. In addition to reducing the sound infiltrating into your home, interior wall insulation prevents fire from spreading from the other side of the party wall to yours. Of course, there are fire codes in place that, when observed, help to safeguard your property, but extra measures also matter.  

Maybe it’s Time for Interior Wall Insulation

The best time to add interior wall insulation is during new construction. But who says you cannot add insulation to existing walls even after you’ve been living in your current home for some time? It is better to be safe than sorry and late than never, as they say. Besides, insulation codes are updated regularly.

At A+ Insulation, our certified insulation technicians meet local building mandates and abide by the EPA standards for your safety and peace of mind. We minimize your energy bills, dampen heavy sounds from different rooms, and help protect your family from fire through quality interior wall insulation solutions.

Get in touch with us today for more information. You can also schedule a free, no-obligation home inspection so that we can determine the best type of insulation for your home.

Heat can escape from your home through the attic, especially if it doesn’t have enough insulation. Excessive heat loss can result in higher energy bills because your heating system has to work harder to provide enough warmth in your home. Insufficient insulation can also compromise the comfort of your home, during winter or summer.

Does Your Attic Have Enough Insulation and is it Safe?

How to Get Efficient Insulation?

Installing adequate attic insulation can help you enhance the comfort of your home, ensuring you don’t pay too much on your energy bills. Where do you start? With an audit.

Getting an energy audit in your home can determine how much energy you consume. Auditors can also identify the areas of your home where you lose energy the most. 

Why is R-Value Crucial?

R-value is a vital factor that contributes to the effectiveness of your attic insulation. This refers to the resistant ability of an insulation material against heat flow. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) explains insulation with a higher R-value provides better insulation.

Each home may have a different required amount of R-value, depending on the climate in your region, your heating and cooling system, and where you will install the insulation. The age of your home is also a key consideration. 

The DOE categorizes all American regions into different zones to identify how much R-value will suit their climate. Based on its graph, R-values of R38 to R60 can be ideal for attic insulation in Kansas City homes. Knowing the right R-value for your home can guide you in choosing the type of insulation for your attic. 

What is the Risk for Asbestos Exposure?

Asbestos was once an insulation material due to its ability to resist heat and corrosion. Breathing asbestos fibers, however, can lead to the development of asbestos, a chronic lung disease that causes shortness of breath. Other symptoms include:

• A persistent dry cough
• Chest tightness or pain
• Loss of appetite with weight loss

If your home has loose-fill attic insulation, you’re likely to be at risk for asbestos exposure. This type of insulation is loosely poured into joist or wall stud cavities, resulting in a great number of loose particles in your home. 

Some vermiculite attic insulation can be a major source of asbestos danger. Vermiculite contaminated with tremolite, an asbestos-like mineral, can pose a danger to health. Houses built before 1990 are more likely to have asbestos-containing attic insulation. It’s because the company that provides the majority of this type of insulation closed in that year. 

Choosing the Right Attic Insulation

Not all loose-fill insulation contains asbestos and can cause health problems. Materials, such as fiberglass, cellulose, and rock wool are safe for insulation with proper application. You may also choose from other types of insulation that fit your attic.

Although there are materials ideal for do-it-yourself projects, working with professionals minimizes the risk of costly mistakes.

Our team at A+ Insulation can provide safe solutions for your insulation needs to enhance the comfort of your home. We can inspect your attic to identify certain issues that need professional help, such as a leaky roof, insufficient attic ventilation, and old wiring that create a fire hazard. Our team knows how to handle insulation problems well to finish the work on time and on budget. 

Contact us today to learn more about our services.

Asbestos is making headlines once again, after a long break from the spotlight. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a significant new use rule (SNUR). It’s the agency’s effort to control specific uses of asbestos, including products that contain it. The proposal is an expansion of a 1989 EPA restriction.

Is America Allowing Asbestos Back Into Buildings?

What would the SNUR entail? And could this proposal mean widespread use of a known carcinogen?

The Proposal and the Reaction

The EPA’s proposal seeks to let businesses make, process, and import over a dozen asbestos-containing products that are no longer in use. But this would only be with the agency’s approval. Clearly, the SNUR would not allow, for example, insulation companies in Kansas City to simply use it in any service because the material is still banned in spray-on insulation.

The US may allow its use in comparison with other countries (e.g., UK, Australia, and other EU countries) that have completely banned the material. But it is largely regulated. The recent SNUR is an additional protective barrier for future restrictions for manufacturing companies that work with the product. The EPA further explains that the rule doesn’t intend to increase imports or encourage the use of asbestos. It simply allows them to implement a strict review process.

The SNUR covers the following products, among others:

• Adhesives
• Millboard
• Filler for acetylene cylinders
• Extruded sealant tape and other tapes
• Reinforced plastics

Since it is still a proposal, the EPA opened the SNUR to public comments. Most were against the move because it may open the door to more companies using it.

Why Asbestos was Banned

Most products today no longer contain asbestos. The ones made with the mineral have labels stating that consumers could inhale asbestos from it. There are still restrictions in using asbestos because of its health risks to individuals and its impact on the environment.
It was in the late 1800s when companies mined and commercially used asbestos in North America. Many industries, such as the building and construction industry, the shipbuilding industry, and the automotive industry, used it.

The material was helpful in strengthening cement and plastics. The industry also found that asbestos was particularly useful in insulation, fireproofing, and sound absorption. The mineral also helped in insulating hot water pipes, boilers, and steam pipes.

But the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned any company from using asbestos in gas fireplaces, wallboard patching compounds, and electric hair dryers to avoid its release into the environment.

The EPA issued its final rule in 1989, banning most products with asbestos. But the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals later overturned the ruling while maintaining a heavy regulation on products containing asbestos.

Today, the EPA requires insulation products to have no more than one percent of asbestos.

At A+ Insulation, we abide by the EPA standards to ensure your safety and comfort. Our team of qualified and certified insulation technicians will add the right insulation in the right places for your superior protection.

Our experienced insulation professionals do diligent and efficient work, ensuring we meet state and local building mandates. From your attic to the walls, let us handle all of your insulation needs. Contact us today for more information.

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.