Category Archives: General News

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.

A+ Insulation Truck at Habitat House

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-from-habitat

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.”

A+ Insulation Crew infront of Habitat House 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

Angie's List Award 2014 Picture 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

12 Months Free Financing Picture 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.

Add Resale Value to Your KC Home with Insulation

Want to add more value to your Kansas City home? Start by insulating your home properly with A+ Insulation. This simple addition can drastically add value to your home immediately in the form of lower utility bills and later when you decide to put it on the market. Here’s what you need to know about insulating your home, and why it’s a great investment to make.

The Insulation Standards Are Changing

Insulation standards are not what they were a few years ago. Cities and towns within the Kansas City metro are raising the R-Value that your insulation has to meet in the 2015 calendar year. (R-Value is the capacity of your insulation to resist heat flow.) This means new homes, or homes for sale, need to have insulation with acceptable R-Values. The upside to this is that it will mean more energy efficient homes. The higher the R-Value of your insulation, the more savings you’ll see when it comes to your monthly utility bill.

See all the types of insulation that can add value to your home on our website.

ROI of Insulating Your Home

The return on your investment is huge when it comes to insulating your home. Attic insulation is one of the most important types to have in a Midwestern home. This type of insulation can pay for itself in just two years based on energy savings. In this amount of time you can save an average of $1,000 in energy savings. Take it from Mike O’Hara, the owner of A+ Insulation who says, “Updating your home’s insulation is a financially responsible decision.” Since insulation is responsible for up to 70% of the total heat gain and loss in your home, the proper type, amount, and installation of insulation can make a huge difference in your savings in the longterm.

Call A+ Insulation at (913) 281-2250 or (816) 268-7511 to increase the value of your home with new insulation.

Why Our Customers Love Us . . . and You Will Too!

At A+ Insulation we pride ourselves on being a customer service company who specializes in insulation services. While our technicians are masters of their craft, they are also customer service experts. That’s because we aren’t a business without our customers – and we value each and every single person who trusts us to get the job done for them. If you haven’t called us yet to insulate your home, here a few reasons why you should.

A+ Insulation Is Award Winning

One thing that solidifies our outstanding customer service is our Angie’s List Super Service Award. We’ve managed to take home the honor five years in a row now. The Super Service Award honors excellence among service and health providers who maintain superior service ratings and reviews on Angie’s List. This means we are among the top 5% of service businesses on Angie’s List in the Kansas City area.

We Offer Honest Customer Feedback for New Customers

On top of our awards, you can read more about our great craftsmanship and service straight from current customers of A+ Insulation right on our homepage. We offer several unaltered customer testimonials on our webpage, as well as on other review sites, like Google+ and Facebook. Hear what people are saying about us, and see if it helps you decide if we earned that A+ in our name.

“Mike goes over every possible way to save money and is happy to give his expert advice with a non-biased attitude. When asking his opinion, he would tell me straight, but would never push his opinion on me. Mike was helpful, easy to work with, and significantly less expensive than any other company we got quotes from. He charges by the square foot, not by the job, and he includes patching and spackle in his pricing. He comes highly recommended.

-Ian F., Kansas City

“From the beginning I knew Mike and his team at A+ Insulation would do a great job. When Mike came to give us the estimate, both he and I climbed up in the attic to look around. He didn’t just peek his head up in the attic. He was willing to show me (a woman) what he was going to be doing. While we were up there, he found exposed wires and lighting that were a fire hazard and needed to be taken care of before insulation could be installed. He even offered to do these things for us. His staff was friendly, and cleaned up the area when they were finished. I could have paid less somewhere else, but you get what you pay for. Peace of mind is priceless.

– Dawn V., Kansas City

Call A+ Insulation at either (816) 268-7511 or (913) 281-2250 for superior customer service and excellent insulation repair and installation.

4 Ways to Know Your Home Is Under Insulated

icicles under insulation Insulation plays a huge role in how comfortable your home is during all four seasons of the year. Not having enough of it can leave your family too hot or too cold, and it can drastically affect the cost of your energy bills. And 90% of homes in the United States fall under one or all of those categories. Here are a few ways to tell if your Kansas City area home is under insulated.

High Energy Bills

High energy bills can be attributed to many things. But if you’ve already had your heating and cooling system checked for efficiency and your windows are in good shape, insulation is probably your issue. In this case your heating and cooling system has to work harder during all seasons because a home that isn’t properly insulated allows heat in the summer and cold air in the winter into your home.

Your Pipes Freeze in the Winter

Do you have to deal with frozen pipes in the winter? This could be a telltale sign that you need more insulation in your home. If you wait too long to get the issue fixed you could have a real mess on your hands that will cost you a lot more money than having insulation installed. If your frozen pipes burst you could be looking at a gutted home.

Your Home Experiences Ice Damming

Another problem poor home insulation can cause in the winter is ice damming. This happens when your warm roof melts the snow on top of it. The melted snow then runs down your roof until it hits the unheated part past the exterior walls near your gutter, where it re-freezes creating an ice dam. This can damage not only your roof, but your gutters as well. And it can pose a danger to people or objects below your roof. Proper roof insulation is very important to safeguard your home from this winter issue.

Upstairs Rooms Are Significantly Warmer in the Summer

Another sign you need more insulation is if your home experiences more heat and humidity on the upper floors in the summer. Temperature variances of 10-15 degrees or more between your lower and upper floors is a sign you should call an insulation company to talk about their insulation services. Inconsistent temperatures can affect how hard your heating and cooling system has to work, which can also cost you more money on your energy bills.

Call A+ Insulation today for a free insulation estimate at 913-281-2250.