From the intricate plaster moldings on the ceiling to the grandiose decorations on the fireplace, there’s no doubt that old homes in Kansas City have a unique charm to them. They’re also built with better craftsmanship and materials compared to the newer, mass-produced houses in the suburbs. Depending on the location, people could get these aging houses for cheap, too. It’s no wonder why people still cling onto them.

Growing Pains

According to the National Association of Home Builders’ 2015 Eye On Housing study, 38% of houses in the United States were built in 1969 or earlier. The report stated that the median age of a home in the country is 37 years old. If you inherited a home that’s as old, or older than that, you’re lucky to own a piece of architectural history.

However, even houses aren’t immune to the pains of aging, so your inheritance may manifest such symptoms. Old homes run into a number of problems as materials degrade and building codes change. Some homes may have water problems because they use outdated or inadequately spaced pipes. Others may still have structural components that are now deemed unsafe. These problems vary from house to house, but a common issue in some aging houses is poor insulation – or the lack of it. So, despite the benefits you may gain from your old-house inheritance, insulation may be something you need to check and fix.

Importance of Insulation

According to experts from Realtor.com, old homes, especially ones built on or before the 1960s, weren’t built with insulation in mind. This is because energy prices were so low back then that people just cranked up their heaters or ACs with no fear of raising the bills. Now that we’re constantly facing higher electricity costs, and trying to reduce our carbon footprint as well, we need insulation to keep our homes energy efficient.

How exactly does insulation lower your bills?

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) says that the heat of your home fluctuates from warm to cool until there are no differences in temperature between all your rooms. It means that your heating and cooling appliances need to use more power to keep you comfortable. During winter, heat can slowly escape from your living room to your basement or garage, leaving you with no choice but to turn up your heater. During summer, the heat from outside enters your home, and you need to disperse that heat by cranking up your air conditioner.

The agency says that insulation is a great way to counteract the effects of these extreme weather conditions on your house by resisting heat flow. It prevents heat from escaping through the walls, floor, and ceiling during cold days. It also blocks outdoor heat from entering your abode during warm days. With insulation in your home, you consume less electricity because you don’t have to use your heater and AC to their maximum level to feel comfortable.

Insulation Inspection

Knowing all these, it’s time to inspect your old home before you move in or sell your property. Here’s what you need before you start the job.

• Safety glasses
• Protective mask
• Gloves
• Flashlight
• Philips screwdriver
• Hammer
• Chisel
• Your phone or a camera, to take pictures of problem areas

Uneven Temperature

Before you open any floorboards or poke holes in your wall, try to see if the temperatures in the rooms are different. Turn down your heating or cooling equipment, close the windows, and try to gauge the temperature in every room. If you feel extra chilly in the living room, but not the kitchen, your walls may be poorly insulated. You can also use a smart temperature sensor to get more accurate readings. Take note of these areas.

Sudden Drafts

Insulation materials don’t only block heat; they also seal your home to make sure that the cold, outside air doesn’t leak into your rooms. The DOE recommends checking walls, floors, and corners of your home for any cracks or gaps that need to be sealed. If you don’t see any cracks or gaps or are unsure about the gaps you saw, shine a light on them and ask another person to watch the other side of the wall or floor. If they see the light shining through, then it means the walls and flooring lack insulation.

Pest Problems

Poorly sealed and insulated ceilings, floors, and walls not only act as a portal for cold drafts to enter, but they’re also a gateway for all sorts of pests to enter your home. A small rodent can easily make its way into a gap where insulation should be and create all sorts of problems. Apart from strange scratching and bumping noises at night, these pests may bring potentially life-threatening diseases with them.

Dust contaminated with mouse droppings and urine can lead to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) when inhaled. This disease can cause your lungs to fill with fluid and your stomach to always ache. Wear a mask and gloves and inspect every corner of your house for droppings or rodent nests. If you see any signs of pests, you may want to call in a pest control specialist before you get any work done on your insulation.

Hot and Cold Surfaces

Apart from the temperature of the air inside each room, you should also check the walls and floors for any anomalies. If you find that one wall is damp or cold, it probably isn’t padded with enough insulation to resist the cold air coming from outside. Mark or take a picture of this wall or floor to point it out to your insulation service provider.

See for Yourself

The methods we’ve discussed so far are non-intrusive ways to look for poorly-insulated areas. While these methods are often effective for sniffing out places with heating and cooling issues, you won’t know for sure until you see the insulation material itself — if there are any.

Here’s how you can check your walls, ceilings, and floors.

Start from the Top

The easiest way to check on your home’s insulation material is by going up your attic. Put some old clothes on, together with all the safety equipment mentioned earlier, and head up. With your flashlight, check if the attic floor is filled to the joists with insulation material. Its appearance can vary according to the material used.

• Loose fibers or batts often indicate that it’s made of either fiberglass, rock wool, or cellulose.
• Puffs of foam mean that your home uses spray foam (SPF) insulation.
• Uniform, rectangular stacks suggest that the attic is lined with panel insulation.

If the material doesn’t cover the joists, it may not be doing enough to insulate your home. You need to add more or replace the existing foam, fibers, or panels.

A Word of Caution: Dealing With Asbestos

If your home was built before the ’80s, there’s a possibility that it may have asbestos insulation. This toxic substance was regarded as a superior insulation material because of its ability to resist extreme heat and fire. It’s also durable and long-lasting. However, asbestos was found to cause several diseases like mesothelioma and respiratory cancers when people inhaled toxic amounts of dust that come from it.

If your material has a granular shape and texture and gray in color, don’t panic – especially if you have a mask. It won’t do you any harm, but it’s best to call an asbestos removal contractor immediately to take care of it.

Go Beyond the Wall

Now that you’ve assessed your attic’s insulation, it’s time to check your walls. The DOE’s recommended way of doing this is easy and doesn’t involve any power tools. First, choose a wall with a power outlet and turn off the electricity in that area. Then, unscrew and take off the outlet cover to see inside the wall. Use your flashlight to look around the hole for insulation material.

If possible, pinch off a small amount of the material and see if it’s the same one used for the attic, or another material entirely. Do this for all the outlets in your home to see if there are any walls with no insulation.

Open up the Boards

If your old home has a wood or composite floor, heat may escape through the cracks if it doesn’t have any insulation. Plus, no one wants to walk on a cold floor. Try to lift one of your boards by prying a chisel in one of the gaps. Use your hammer’s claw to raise the board slowly until it pops out. You’ll easily see the insulation material once you take off the panel.

Now that you’ve inspected and documented the amount of insulation in your aging house, it’s time to assess your findings. If you find that your attic joists, walls, and floorboards are filled with material, you can always check for gaps and fill them in with a can of spray foam. If the areas you’ve checked have little to no material, your home is severely under-insulated.

Call an insulation contractor immediately to get the existing material replaced or have the empty areas filled in. The comfort and savings you get from proper insulation will make your old home worth keeping for another lifetime. And if you’re planning to sell your home, your buyer will likely be willing to pay a better price for an architectural wonder that’s comfortable by modern standards.

Spray Foam Insulation Services You Can Rely On

Up to 30% of your home’s heat leaks through your walls, floors, and roof when you have inadequate insulation. Here at A+ Insulation, we provide professional spray foam insulation services that can reduce your cooling and heating bills by up to 50%. It’s also an effective sealant that keeps drafts and pests at bay. We’re licensed, bonded, and insured; you can trust us for all your home insulation needs.

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation inspection of your home’s insulation.

Instead of using your attic as a stockroom where you dump old and unusable things, why not transform it to become your children’s next playroom?

Most of the time, it’s annoying to clean bedrooms littered with toys, and having your children play in the living room or in the kitchen can be harmful to them. You wouldn’t want your children to hit you with a plastic sword while cooking, would you?

Attics can be transformed into one of the best playrooms in the house. They are spacious so your children can do a lot of fun activities in them. Changing your attic into a playroom gives a set place where the children will be. You won’t have to worry about children playing in unsafe areas or just wondering where they are. A bonus is that toys will not litter around the house and will be kept away from sight whenever there are guests present.

In order for your children to have that best attic-turned-playroom experience, follow these steps.

Ensure your children’s safety

The first thing to consider when transforming your attic to a playroom is how the children will access it safely. Most attics use ladders for access, which is very risky for young children. You may choose to replace the ladder with a staircase if you have enough space or you can construct a staircase from inside a bedroom.

Maximise your attic’s space

Utilize all that empty space by creating different play zones. Put a table, a chair and a chalkboard in one area, and a body pillow and a makeshift tent in another.

Install a bookshelf against the wall, or a closet where your children can put their toys after playing.

Make the design fun and exciting

Paint the walls with fun and bright colors. Paint the ceiling with lighter shades that create the illusion of more space. If you choose to install wallpaper, choose those with bold prints.

Do not over-decorate though. Remember that this is a playroom and children can play wildly. Keep the area as open as possible to have room for playing.

For functionality, choose a thick carpet to minimize the noise level that will be transmitted to the lower levels of the house.

Make sure the attic is properly insulated

Attics can become very hot in summers and very cold in winters. Make sure the attic is properly insulated during these times so that your children will remain comfortable while playing. Consult a professional if you feel that the attic is too cold or warm for it to turned into a playroom.

Insulate your home with us

A+ Insulation aspires to become the leading insulation contractor in Kansas City. Our team of experts are attentive to detail and will always strive to provide complete satisfaction. Indeed, we’d like to leave you delighted. At A+ Insulation, we look to be the difference between a good insulation experience and a great one.

Let us help you insulate your attic for a playroom that your kids will love. Contact us today.

Electricity bills tend to increase in summer. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) explains the higher demand for electricity during the hot season inflates electricity rates. More generation sources have to be added to meet the demand.

It’s crucial to keep your home cool as much as possible during summer. Otherwise, you’re likely to use your cooling system more than usual. In winter, proper insulation helps your home to stay warm. But would it also contribute to keeping your home cool this summer?

A Good Investment

Insulating the attic of your home in Kansas City can help you save money on energy bills. It prevents heat from coming in through your attic during summer. It will also won’t force your air conditioning unit to work harder, reducing your energy consumption.

But why focus on your attic? For starters, it’s the easiest place to install insulation.

Attic insulation also provides a barrier that decreases the amount of air that enters and escapes your property. Although the cost may seem a bit steep at first, what you get in return will be well worth what you spend. You may save between 10 and 50 percent on heating and cooling bills. And the estimated return on investment (ROI) of an insulated attic is 107.7 percent if you decide to resell your home.

Choosing the Right Insulation

The benefits of attic insulation vary, depending on the material used. It’s crucial to identify first the recommended R-values (the capability of the insulating material to resist conductive heat flow) in your area before choosing the insulating material.

Different insulating materials are available in the market. Each of them provides different levels of insulation, depending on where you install them. You should also consider the indoor air quality impact of the material.

Here the two common materials ideal for attic insulation:

• Spray foam – this is all-in-one insulation and air sealing system, which doesn’t settle or sag when applied.
• Batted insulation – this is an effective and affordable insulation alternative for attics. This material, however, is ideal for areas without too many wires, pipes, or obstruction to eliminate the need for cutting the material.

Some insulation materials are easy to apply. But it doesn’t mean you have to install the insulation on your own. Although it’s acceptable, you might compromise the performance and efficiency of the material, especially if not properly installed.

Install Your Insulation Professionally

Hiring a professional is an ideal way to insulate your attic, especially if the space has tricky access, signs of moisture problems, and leaks. Professionals have the correct equipment and skills to install an insulation material without compromising its performance and your health. Some materials contain chemicals that can affect your health when not handled properly.

A+ Insulation can help you insulate your attic to keep your home cool throughout the summer. We offer a variety of insulation materials, including loose-fill and batt insulations. Our previous customers have lowered their energy bill by 30 percent after updating their attic insulation.

Contact us today to get a quote.

Summer in Kansas City officially starts with the Memorial Day weekend, ushering a season of huge, yearly blowouts with Celebration at the Station. Summertime can also get hot in the city. Meteorologists pointed out that the hottest period for the city historically happens from July 15 through July 30, with an average high of 89 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature can go higher than that, though. The highest ever recorded in Kansas City, in fact, was on August 14, 1936, with 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

During warm temperatures, homeowners should take steps to keep their house stay cool without skyrocketing their energy bill. Here’s how you can get your home ready for the season’s heat:

Paint Your Roof White

Steven Chu, a Nobel prize-winning scientist and former U.S. Secretary of Energy, proposed painting the roofs white. He believed that doing so would be like getting rid of every vehicle from Earth for 11 years. Additionally, homeowners can expect their utility bills to drop when they have a white roof. Light colors, such as white, bounce both heat and light back into space rather than into the attic of the house.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

These useful devices enable you to set temperature controls for energy efficiency and maximum comfort. You can keep your utility costs low by maintaining temperatures higher when no one is at home.

Practice Smart Landscaping

Use your green thumb to strategically plant leafy trees and shrubs near the windows of your house. This is a great way to stop those same windows from shifting excess heat into your home.

Upgrade Your Windows

Windows that are energy efficient can make all the difference. If replacement is not in your budget or your windows are too new, you can reduce solar heat gain by installing low E film.

Clean the Coils of Your Refrigerator

Refrigerators, when they’re not operating at an adequate level, can cause high energy usage. If you want to enjoy the best performance for your appliance, clean up the unit’s condensing coils.

Install Ceiling Fans

These fans pull warm air up against the ceiling and push it down against the walls. It simulates a chilled breeze inside your house. If you want this wind-chill effect to work, make sure your ceiling fans are turning in a counter-clockwise rotation.

Update the Insulation of Your Home

Pay attention to your attic and the levels between the unconditioned and conditioned spaces of your house. You can add extra insulation in this part of your house to stop cold air from escaping.

Following these steps will help keep your house cool during summertime and avoid incurring high energy costs. When it comes to insulating your house, A+ insulation is ready to help you in this area. We add insulation to maintain the desired temperature in all parts of your home. The insulation we install holds in heat during the winter and prevents cold air generated by the AC from escaping during the summer. Rest assured we’ll arrive on schedule and work efficiently and diligently to complete your insulation project to your satisfaction.

Get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment.

Effective insulation can significantly drive down your energy bills. This is especially true during the winter when heating systems have to work overtime to warm up a room. If you insulate your basement you can start enjoying the benefits of a warm home and lower energy bills.

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.

Upgrades, repairs, and maintenance are important responsibilities for any homeowner. You spend time, money, and effort on improving your property and for some, performing these improvements may be for the sole purpose of having a beautiful, comfortable home. Some homeowners, on the other hand, view home improvements as a way to increase the value of their property.

While visible improvements are all well and good, there may be an unseen, upgrade that requires your attention: energy efficiency. Homes that boast energy efficiency are highly sought after because more and more people are making a conscious effort to help preserve the Earth and its resources.

What’s great about energy-efficient home improvements is that they aren’t very costly to make and give a high return on investment if you ever decide to sell your home.

3 Insulation Projects That Can Increase Your Home’s Value

One of the easiest and most practical improvements you can add to your home is insulation. Here are three home insulation projects you may want to consider:

1. Attic Insulation

Remodeling Magazine annually publishes its Cost vs. Value report, which compares the cost of remodeling projects with the value those projects retain at resale. For two consecutive years (2016 and 2017), adding fiberglass attic insulation topped the list, with cost recouped at 116 percent in 2016 and 107 percent in 2017.

It’s ideal to get fiberglass insulation, particularly blow-in-blanket insulation to protect your Kansas City home against extreme weather conditions. About 25 percent of your home’s heat escapes through the roof if it’s uninsulated, so you spend more energy heating your house. When your attic is insulated, not only will you keep the heat in and the cold out, you’ll also save on your heating bills.

2. Basement Insulation

Basements are often utilized as a storage space and can often be forgotten about. Basements are also known to be a space of moisture intrusion. That’s because this area of your home isn’t often insulated.

Insulating your basement will provide you with a dry and cozy living space. Instead of using it as a dumping ground for old and unused supplies, you can turn your basement into a bedroom, home theater, or cozy living room. What’s more, an added room adds value to your property.

3. Wall Insulation

Newer homes are almost always built with insulated walls. But if you’re living in a property built before the 1970s or 1980s,  your walls may not be insulated. This is because building codes, which vary by state, didn’t start requiring a higher R-value until 1970.

Closed walls that aren’t insulated can lead to discomfort for the occupants of the house, especially during harsh weather conditions. This is why you should retrofit wall insulation. Like your ceiling, uninsulated walls let out a lot of heat, so adding insulation will keep temperatures inside the home comfortable no matter what the weather is like.

Home improvements like insulation add to your home’s value and make for more comfortable living – an important factor for when you’re selling your house to potential buyers.

If you would like to start increasing your home’s value by installing high-quality insulation, contact our team at A+ Insulation. We will use the latest techniques and years of experience to determine where exactly you should install insulation in your home.

There are lots of different building materials and they aren’t always safe for long term exposure. Insulation is a broad product category that encompasses a variety of materials. These include cellulose insulation, fiberglass, foam, and board, just to name a few.

Insulation is vital to give your home the comfort you need all year round. It also helps you reduce your energy bills. Thus, it is crucial for you to consider the best material for your needs, so your health and comfort – and that of your family – will not be compromised.

From a Health Standpoint: The Best Types of Insulation

Energy Efficiency for All (EEFA) released a 2018 report that assessed the health impacts of the different types of materials used in insulation projects. The organization studied insulation systems of low-income housing in the US.

Insulation Materials with Low Health Hazards

EEFA ranked cork board insulation as the “healthiest” home insulation. The material is free from any hazardous content. However, this non toxic insulation can be quite expensive and is not widely available. You can, then, opt for fiberglass insulation, instead.

Fiberglass insulation is the most common safe home insulation in the US and is relatively cheaper than cork board insulation. Additionally, as the EEFA report indicates, look for fiberglass insulation that is formaldehyde free and halogenated flame retardant free, or, only contains minimal levels of these substances. When inhaled in high levels, these chemicals can cause respiratory problems.

But, according to an epidemiology study conducted by the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA), there is no causal association between fiber exposure and cancer or pulmonary diseases. In addition, NAIMA stated that with proper practice, fiberglass is a safe insulation to manufacture, fabricate, and install.

So, if you want to apply a blown-in blanket (BIBS) fiberglass insulation in your Kansas City home, we can do it for you. Our BIBS insulation is fire-resistant and provides better coverage.

In addition, based on the study of EEFA, here are the most recommended types of insulation with low health hazards:

• Expanded Cork Board
• Loose-Fill Fiberglass
• Dense-Pack Fiberglass
• Spray-Applied Fiberglass
• Fiberglass Batts or Blankets

On the other hand, EEFA suggests that use of insulation options like mineral wool boards and expanded polystyrene should be kept to a minimum.

How to Choose the Best Insulation Material

Based on the discussion above, you should avoid insulation products that contain formaldehyde-based binders. The US Environmental Protection Agency has classified formaldehyde as a possible human carcinogen. Prolonged exposure to formaldehyde is toxic and can be a risk factor for respiratory problems.

Alternatively, if you are installing board insulation, make sure you use mechanical installation methods. You can ask your service provider to go for fasteners or screws instead of using large amounts of adhesives that are flammable and can even cause skin irritation.

Insulation makes your house more comfortable and can help improve indoor air quality. But, if you have made a poor choice regarding the type of insulation you need for your home, it can lead to performance and health concerns. In the long run, incorrect insulation can only cost you more money.

To avoid making this mistake, contact us today for a free evaluation. Our team of insulation experts can give you A+ advice and services for your insulation needs in Kansas City.

Now that we’re a few months away from the cold season, it is important to think of ways to protect your home and keep your family comfortable during winter. Here at A+ Insulation, we’ve come up with a list of the areas of your home that may need insulation before temperatures start to drop.

1. Attic

Often, winter is the season of skyrocketing utility bills, as we try to keep every room in our home at a warm, comfortable temperature. But you can help ensure home comfort without increasing your energy bills by having a properly insulated attic space. Inspect your attic, and look for cracks and gaps where blown insulation may not have settled correctly. Schedule attic insulation services in Kansas to address any problems you may discover.

With proper attic insulation, you keep heat out of the attic and in the rooms and living areas of your home. Plus by keeping your attic cooler, you’ll likely prevent ice dams from forming on your roof during winter, wreaking damage later on.

2. Garage

A garage that isn’t properly insulated allows heat to freely flow in and out of your house throughout the year, costing you money. Of course, the energy waste is much higher during winter. So, remember to include your garage on your pre-cold season insulation checklist. Otherwise, expect increasing energy bills and cold air creeping in every time you enter your garage.

If you insulate your garage, one of your priorities should be the wall that the area shares with your home. This is the place where most of the heat transfer occurs between your house and the garage. Also, don’t forget about the garage door. It functions as a large, thin exterior wall with many joints that create spaces where air can freely flow.

3. Exterior Walls

It is likely that your exterior walls are already insulated, but there’s no guarantee that the insulation is sufficient. The most crucial part of wall insulation is achieving a continuous fit with no gaps. For instance, keeping layers of batted insulation seamless is tricky as there are pipes, electrical outlets, and windows to work around; as a result, there may be gaps in your wall that will require sealing and insulating.

4. Crawlspaces

Crawlspaces are easy to ignore as you don’t see these parts of your home every day. But when insulated, these spaces play an important role in keeping your home warm and toasty during winter. Call an insulation service company to make sure your upper and lower crawlspaces have enough protection against cold temperatures.

5. Other Places Where Insulation is Old or Damaged

Pests, mold, and moisture can damage insulation, especially if the insulating materials have endured a lot of tough winters. So, while the temperature is still warm, schedule an inspection to see if you have old or damaged insulation in your home that needs replacement.

The harsh, cold weather is coming, so now’s the time to make sure your floors, walls, and the rest of your home will stay warm, comfortable, and dry over the winter season. Give us a call today to get started.