Category Archives: General News

Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation, Just The Facts

Closed cell spray foam insulation is growing in popularity across the country in homes of every shape and size. Why? Lots of reasons. For instance:

It has a high R-value.
It doesn’t settle.
It expands and conforms to any space.
It prevents air leakage.
It minimizes the growth of mold and mildew.
It reduces drafts and noise.
It’s good at keeping out insects and other pests.

What does all that mean? I’m glad you asked…

High R-Value

Closed cell spray foam insulation has one of the highest R-values available. The R-value of insulation indicates how effectively the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better its resistance.

No Settling

Unlike conventional insulation which flattens or “settles” over time, closed cell spray foam resists settling due to its rigidity and stability.

Ability to Conform to Surfaces

Closed cell spray foam insulation works great in hard to reach nooks and crannies in places like crawl spaces and attics. Since it’s sprayed on, it penetrates every inch of the area being insulated better than anything else can.

Minimizes Air Leaks

Minimizing air leakage reduces the load on heating and cooling (HVAC) systems, saving money.

Minimizes Mold and Mildew

Air infiltration causes condensation, which can lead to mold and mildew problems. Since closed cell spray foam insulation minimizes and even prevents air leaks, it eliminates the condensation problem.

Fewer Drafts and Less Noise

Closed cell spray foam insulation reduces drafts for increased comfort. It also absorbs sound to reduce noise.

Less Chance of Insects and Other Pests Invading Your Home

Because of its ability to fill every nook and cranny, there’s less chance for bugs and rodents to invade your space!

Given its many advantages, you’d be hard pressed to find a better insulating product. A+ Insulation is the go-to Kansas City insulation installer for closed cell spray foam insulation. Contact us today and start enjoying its benefits in your home, too!

A+ Insulates a Century-Old Grain Tank in KC

A+ Insulation is proud to announce our involvement in a historic restoration project of a century-year-old grain silo in downtown Kansas City. Having served the Kansas City area for over 12 years, it’s an honor being part of this tremendous local project.
The grain tank was originally constructed around the turn of the century and has truly withstood the test of time. However, years of neglect have wreaked havoc on this prominent fixture in the downtown area.

Restoring A 100 Year-Old Grain Tank

We’re not simply re-insulating this structure, our involvement in the restoration goes way beyond that; here’s a brief summary of how our experience and expertise is being used to accomplish the monumental task of restoring this piece of Kansas City history:

First, we removed the 100-year-old insulation and thoroughly cleaned the four silos. This required us to go into the structures and safely dispose of all the existing insulation.

Then we started rehabbing and re-insulating the inside and outside of the silos. In order to protect the tanks from future damage, we installed corrosion preventive coating to make sure these historical silos can withstand another century of corrosion.
After the corrosion base coating was applied, we finally installed a durable spray foam insulation that will prevent winter condensation, further protecting the silos from exposure to moisture and air.
Finally, the team at A+ will update the silo with exceptional new insulation, concluding our role in this remarkable effort to renew a piece of history for another 100 years.
We feel both grateful and privileged for this opportunity. We updated these silos with exceptional insulation and gave new life to these 100 year old pieces Kansas City of history.

A+ Insulation can tackle any size job. Nothing is too big or too small. Just ask our 7,000+ satisfied customers. Call (913) 381-2250 or (816) 268-7511 to schedule your free estimate or click here.

Building a Better Future: A+ Insulation Co-Hosts Regional Educational Workshop

My favorite thing about being part of the insulation industry is the sense of community shared by insulation professionals. We are always challenging one another to stay on top of technological advancements within the industry to find the best possible insulation solutions for homeowners.

I’ve also always been proud of A+ Insulation’s commitment to education. It’s how we ensure high-quality professional work and are always up to date on the latest changes and innovations in the industry.

Recently, we partnered with the High Performance Insulation Professionals (HPIP) and co-hosted a training workshop for all of the insulation professionals in Kansas City.

HPIP is a national association that is working to build collaboration and excellence within the industry. A+ Insulation has been a member of HPIP since 2013. In addition, I am a member of the HPIP Board of Directors. Co-hosting this event was a great opportunity to share our commitment to excellence with others in the industry.

This two-day training event was a great success. We hosted over 100 insulation contractors, installers, and builders from across the Midwest.

The first day of the event offered a full day of classroom training sessions. Everyone also had a great time networking and meeting other industry professionals.

The second day, we had the most fun! All of the attendees spent the day with some hands-on training and enjoyed several system demonstrations and product certifications.

Participants learned about a wide variety of products, including loosefill fiberglass systems, radiant barriers and reflective insulation, continuous insulation, and airflow studies.

Attendees also had an opportunity to earn their high-performance insulation credential during the training.

The workshop received high marks from participants. I couldn’t have been more proud! Since this was the first regional workshop we have done as an association, we were thrilled that it was such a success!

If you need help with an insulation project for your home, contact us and we can put our expertise to work for you.

A Tradition & An Honor: A+ Donates to Habitat for Humanity

Looking back, I can’t remember when A+ Insulation started working with Habitat for Humanity, I suppose that’s what sparked this post.

For those of you who don’t already know, my name is Mike O’Hara, I am the owner of A+ Insulation. Over the past several years A+ Insulation has had the privilege of helping build several Habit Houses right here in the Kansas City area. Today, I realized this tradition has become more of an honor each year.

I am pleased to announce A+ Insulation’s collaboration with the Kansas City National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and Habitat for Humanity to provide a home for a family in need.

Shawana, a mother of three, was living in a small apartment with her two daughters and her son. Her two daughters shared a tiny room and her son was often unhappy being surrounded by girls with hardly any privacy. To learn more about Shawana, click here.

This motivated, goal-driven family does something we all can learn from. They each have their own “Goal Board.” Shawana explains that at the end of each year, the family creates individual goals showing what they want to achieve and what they have accomplished throughout the year. In 2015, Shawana wanted to get a better-paying job and to move to a house that was more fit for her family. First, she earned a promotion at her current job, then Habitat for Humanity approved her family for a new home.

A+ insulation installed our highly beneficial closed spray foam to the exterior walls and to the rim joists to the three-story house in the Boston Heights and Mount Hope neighborhood of Kansas City. We also installed some batted insulation for soundproofing benefits.

“Home is a place where… it’s ours,” Shawana says. “We can build on it. We can build our relationship in it. We can build our personalities through it. It’s a place where my kids can become who they’re really destined to be.”

Our involvement with Habitat for Humanity is something I am truly proud of. It is an honor to be able to provide a safe, secure and insulated place that someone can call home.

For more information on A+ Insulation’s involvement with this project, or to see what services we can offer to your home, contact us today!

7 Fun Facts about Insulation and Energy Efficiency

Everyone knows that insulation helps save energy and lower energy bills as well. The U.S. Department of Energy’s website says heating and cooling account for 50% to 70% of the energy used in the average American home. If you want to substantially reduce energy costs, decreasing the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling your home is a good place to start. Insulation reduces average home heating and cooling costs by about 20%. But just how energy efficient insulation is may surprise you. Our friends at NAIMA (North American Insulation Manufacturers Association) have put together some interesting facts about insulation and energy efficiency. We thought we would share them and add a few from the energy pros at A+ Insulation:

Insulation Never Stops Working

Insulation, whether it’s fiberglass, wool, cellulose, or spray foam, are energy efficient technologies that, once manufactured, require no energy to save energy. Instead of reducing the amount of energy the use, like most “energy efficient” products, they actually save energy from being wasted. Not only does it save energy, it lasts for the life of the building and unless it is damaged, it will never have to be replaced. Now that’s efficient! Some settling can occur over the years with loose-fill insulation and supplemental insulation may need to be added to fill in any gaps, but the original insulation is still working and doesn’t need to be removed or replaced.

Insulation Is a Powerhouse When Compared to Other Energy Saving Products

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ENERGY STAR HOMES, insulation saves over 600 times more energy each year than all of the compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), Energy Star Appliances, and Energy Star windows combined. Now that’s impressive!

Installing Insulation Is Simple and Cost Effective

In residential and commercial buildings, energy efficiency through insulation is the simplest and most cost effective way to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Insulation Is Recyclable Too

Most fiberglass and loose-fill insulation like rock and slag wool products are reusable and can easily be removed and put back into place.

Existing Insulation Saves a Lot of Energy

All insulation products installed in U.S. buildings save consumers about 42% of the energy that would have been consumed with no insulation in place.

Insulation Production Consumes Very Little Energy Compared to Its Usage

For every Btu (British Thermal Unit-the measure by which energy is calculated) consumed in the production of insulation, 12 Btus are saved each year by the use of insulation.

Insulation Reduces Carbon Dioxide

Insulation currently in place in U.S. buildings reduces the amount of carbon dioxide by 780 million tons each year – equivalent to the electricity use of over 90 million homes for a year.

If you’d like to know how much money you can save by adding more insulation to your home, give us a call at A+ Insulation. We’ll come to your home for a free home energy evaluation to see just where your home is leaking energy. Call us at (913) 281-2250 or (816) 268-7511.

Make sure you know the differences between insulation companies before hire one. Click the image below to download our free guide to help you make an informed decision.

They Don’t Call Us A+ for Nothing

At A+ Insulation, we take excellence seriously. We are members of several insulation industry organizations which help us stay up to date on training, new products, installation methods, etc. We strive to be a topnotch company in the insulation industry. Recently, one of our employees, Chara Miller, passed HPIP’s RESNET EnergySmart Contractor Course, which moved A+ Insulation up from a Gold to a Platinum membership status.

What is HPIP (High Performance Insulation Professionals)?

HPIP supports the growth and expertise of their members who provide high performance, energy efficient insulation systems and related components. It is an organization that is made up of hundreds of the best-trained and most committed insulation contractors across the US and Canada. They advocate for and support only systems that meet Grade-One standards and they invite only contractors who commit to their standards of excellence and professionalism.

What Does Platinum Membership Mean for our Customers?

The Platinum level represents the best of the best members. These members meet all the criteria of Gold members, but also train and certify their crews on an ongoing basis. We are recognized by nonprofit partners RESNET and BPI as the best insulation contractors in the country, and enjoy even deeper discounts and benefits. Platinum members are eligible for leadership positions, and often serve to raise the bar by mentoring up-and-coming new members. We’re invited to represent the Association at industry trade shows and special speaking engagements.

We Are Proud to Be a Platinum Member of HPIP

At A+ Insulation, we are committed to being the best insulation company in the Kansas City area. We know that takes an extra commitment of time and money, but we believe to be the best, we must continue learning and improving constantly. Give us a call if you need insulation services. We think you’ll see, we live up to our name. Call us at (913) 281-2250 or (816) 268-7511.

A+ Insulation Wins Angie’s List Super Service Award

We’re pretty proud here at A+ Insulation. We just won the Angie’s List Super Service Award for 2014. Now, you may know Angie’s List. Maybe you’re even a member. But did you ever wonder exactly what it takes to win the Super Service Award? We thought you might be curious, so we’d like to share that with you.

We Owe You, Our Customers, Our Thanks

Angie’s List may give the Super Service Award to the top rated companies in their category, within their market, but it’s our customers who determine the winners. It’s all based on reviews we’ve received from our customers. The reviews let them know which companies provide excellent service, and a company must have a minimum number of reviews to qualify.

It’s All about Service

The award honors excellence among service and health providers who maintain a superior service record. Each year, fewer than 5% of thousands of businesses earn this award. Of course, Angie’s List members consider the award when making hiring decisions. But you don’t have to be a member to appreciate the meaning when you see the logo on our website. We display it proudly.

So What Does It Take to Be Eligible to Win?

To be eligible for the Super Service Award businesses must be in good standing with Angie’s List and accomplish the following before October 31st:

Maintain an “A” rating in each of the following areas:

Overall Grade, which averages all reviews received (3.5 GPA)
Recent Grade, which averages reviews from the last three years (3.5 GPA)
Review Period Grade, which averages reviews received since the previous November 1st to October 31st (GPA varies)

We’re on a Winning Streak!

We’re, naturally, very proud of our award because we set high standards for our business when it comes to customer service and satisfaction. Angie’s List Super Service Award just confirms that we’re making our customers happy and that’s our main goal. So thanks for all the kind words last year. This is our 5th consecutive year receiving this award! We intend to keep up the good work and look forward to earning another award next year! We may have earned an “A” rating from Angie’s List, but we shoot for A+ every day. After all, it’s in our name.

If you want home insulation from a company that provides great service, call A+ Insulation today at 913-281-2250 or 816-268-7511.

Save on Utility Bills for a Whole Year by Adding Insulation Now and Getting Free One-Year Financing

Ironically, the reason some people don’t add insulation to their homes is because of the cost. But did you know that adding attic and wall insulation will reduce your utility bills significantly in one year’s time? Add to that the fact that A+ Insulation is offering one year of free financing for qualified homeowners and it doesn’t make much sense to wait to start saving money.

How Much Will Adding Insulation Save the Average Homeowner?

Unless your home was specially constructed for energy efficiency, almost every homeowner can reduce energy bills by adding more insulation. This information isn’t just coming from an insulation company. It comes from the Energy.gov website. According to them, many older homes have less insulation than homes built today, but even adding insulation to a newer home can completely pay for itself within a few years.

Determine Your Savings With a Free Energy Audit

To determine whether you should add insulation, you first need to find out how much insulation you already have in your home and where it is. An energy assessment, also known as a home energy audit, will also help identify areas of your home that can be improved in air sealing and insulation. We perform energy audits all the time to help our customers determine their estimated savings. But, if you don’t want us to perform the audit, you can do it yourself. You must first determine the following:

Where your home is, isn’t, and/or should be insulated.
What type of insulation you have.
The R-value and the thickness or depth (inches) of the insulation you have.

You can visit our Savings Calculator on our website to determine your specific savings.

Also, we recommend contacting your home insurance provider about if adding insulation to your home will lower your insurance payments or not under your current policy.

Now You Don’t Have to Wait to Save Money on Energy Bills

Adding Insulation to your home is a smart, money-saving move. So why wait to save money when you can add insulation now, start saving immediately, and take one full year to pay it off with no interest? It’s a smart money move and we want to let all of our potential customers know about this new opportunity.

If you’d like an energy audit to determine what you can save and what it will cost to add insulation, call us today at 913-281-2250 or 816-268-7511. 0ne of our energy consultants will come to your home to perform a free no-obligation energy evaluation. Don’t wait. See how much you can start saving today.

If You Added Home Insulation in 2014, Don’t Forget the Federal Tax Deduction

Adding insulation is one of the best ways to lower your energy bills. Many smart homeowners in the Kansas City area added insulation to their homes with A+ Insulation in 2014. If you are one of these homeowners, you are eligible for a federal tax credit. Just how much money can you claim on your 2014 taxes? Here’s a breakdown to make sure you get every penny you deserve.

How Much Can You Claim for Adding Insulation Installation?

If you add insulation to your home, you can claim 10% of the cost, up to $500. So, for instance, if you paid $2,000 to insulate your home, you can claim $200 on your 2104 taxes. These claims do not include installation costs, just the product costs are eligible. Also, these deductions are not valid for 2015. You must have already added insulation prior to Jan. 1, 2015.

What Insulation Products Qualify?

Your basic bulk insulation products qualify including batt insulation, blown-in insulation, rigid boards, expanding sprays and pour-in-place insulation. Air seal products such as weather stripping, caulk, house wrap, and spray foam designed to air seal also qualify providing they come with a manufacturer’s certification statement.

Don’t Miss These Other Tax Credits

Also, there are other tax credits available for making your home energy efficient. Heating and air conditioning improvements such as a new furnace, AC, heat pump, boilers, and water heaters qualify. New roofs and windows and doors also qualify. Visit the Energy Star website for more details.

As far as we know, 2015 improvements don’t have any official tax credits associated with them, but the government is notorious for extending tax credits. No matter if it qualifies for a tax credit or not, adding attic and wall insulation to your home will save you money on energy bills. Give A+ Insulation a call if you need home insulation. Call us at 913-281-2250 or 816-268-7511.

Insulation Prices on the Rise – Insulate Your Home Now and Save

If you’re thinking of adding insulation to your home, doing it now as opposed to later may save you significantly. Insulation prices have risen 30% in the last six months and are expected to rise 20% in the next six months. If you wait till August to insulate your Kansas City home, the project will cost you about 10% more overall.

Why Is the Cost of Insulation Going Up?

Check out the prices of insulation at Home Depot or Lowes. Even the do-it-yourselfers will be paying more for insulation because of industry wide increases. Insulation is not alone. All construction materials are rising in price. It just happens to be the trend in the industry at the moment. Unfortunately, this trend is predicted to continue, so if you plan to insulate soon, the sooner the better.

Act Now To Save on Energy Bills and Insulation Installation Costs

It always makes sense to add insulation to your home if it is under-insulated (as most homes are). In fact, adding insulation is the single-most important thing to do to save money on energy bills. Related Read: Serious about Home Energy Savings? Do This First. Insulation makes up for 70% of the total heat gain and loss in your home. It will make the biggest impact on your heating and cooling bills. If you’re going to invest in your home, invest where it saves you the most money and invest before prices go up.

Not Sure if Your Home Needs Insulation?

If you’ve never added insulation to your home or had your home inspected for insulation, chances are, it could greatly benefit from adding more. Most new construction homes have the minimum amount of insulation required by building codes. While helpful, you can save a lot more energy by having a professional add more in the right places. If your home is older, even if you added more insulation, due to time and settling, more may be required for maximum protection. If you think your home could use more insulation, give A+ Insulation a call to schedule a free home energy evaluation to see how much you can save. We‘ll show you where you can make the changes that will affect your bills the most. Call 913-281-2250 or 816-268-7511 now before insulation prices rise any further.