Category Archives: Residential

Think You Need New Windows? Insulate Instead & Save

Here in Kansas City we get all extremes of weather. Unfortunately, the vast changes in temperature result in climbing energy bills. Escape rising energy costs by investing in proper insulation for your home.

Most homes are not well insulated (the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) estimates roughly 90 percent of existing U.S. homes are under-insulated) . What does this mean for homeowners? Homeowners spend needless amounts of money in heating costs and their family suffers the discomfort of a drafty home. A properly insulated home is cozy and will cost less to heat. According to Houselogic, you can save up to $600 a year by improving your attic insulation from an R-11 to an R-49.

How Much Heat Are Your Windows Losing?

Windows can account for anywhere from 10- 25% of a home’s heat loss. A poorly insulated window will allow warm air to escape through any gaps along the window frame. This starts a chain reaction of heat loss in a room. Warm air will continually be pulled towards the leaking windows and the result is a chilly room. Oftentimes homeowners make the mistake of replacing windows instead of insulating them. This is a costly choice. Your windows can become energy efficient by simply investing in proper insulation and weatherization.

How Much Warm Air Does Insulation Keep In?

Poor insulation allows warm air to leak out through the attic and roof. These two areas are notorious for heat loss. Roughly 25% of a home’s heat seeps out through the attic and roof. That’s why we always recommend that it’s the first place you start when insulating your home! A quality attic insulation installer will know to make sure to seal areas such as vents, around light fixtures, and other energy drains. Remember, any gap in insulation will allow heat to escape.

For more information about how insulation can save you money, contact A+ Insulation online or call us at (913) 648-9290 today.

See Exactly Where Your Home Is Leaking Energy with a Thermoscan

It’s no secret that sealing gaps and adding insulation is a great way to make your home more energy efficient. But the tricky part is knowing where to add that insulation and seal those gaps. Air is invisible, so you can’t see where it is sneaking out. Thanks to a cool new tool, the thermoscan, now you can!

We Can Help Pinpoint Problem Areas

All homeowners want their home to be energy efficient, but pinpointing the problem areas is critical before taking action. At A+ Insulation, we have a way to do just that – during our home energy assessment (also called a home energy audit), we use a thermoscan camera to show you exactly where warm air is escaping. A home energy assessment is the only way to tell how much energy your home uses and where the problem areas are that are causing your home to be less energy efficient. Most importantly, an assessment will give you a clear visual picture of what problems to fix first to save you the most money on energy bills.

What Is a Thermoscan Camera?

Thermoscan infrared cameras are designed to pick up on heat signatures from objects. There are several names for these devices including infrared (or IR) cameras, thermal imaging devices, and thermographic scanners. They produce images called thermographs that translate heat into color so it is visible to the human eye. Our trained specialists can use one of these cameras to locate insulation voids, air leaks, moisture intrusion, thermal bypasses, and thermal bridges.

How Do Infrared Cameras Work?

Although many people think infrared cameras measure surface temperatures, they actually measure the radiant energy emitted by the surface it is aimed at. Conditions must be right to have an accurate readings from a thermoscan. These things can all affect the accuracy of a thermoscan:

Temperature-you need a minimum temperature difference of at least 18F° between the interior and the exterior of your home for several hours before the inspection begins. If the inside temperature is 70°F, the outside temperature should be below 52 degrees or above 88 degrees.
Sunlight-sunlight warms exterior walls and roofs, complicating thermographic readings. Ideally, you don’t want any sun shining on the building for at least three hours before the inspection begins. If the house has a brick or stone exterior, the sun-free interval should be at least eight hours long. Early mornings are a great time to perform a scan.
Moisture-Sunlight will warm moisture as well, making it appear on the thermoscan. When the sun shines on a roof, it heats up the roofing and the top of the insulation below. The insulation begins to cool after the sun sets. Damp insulation cools at a much slower rate than dry insulation, so wet spots will show up as warm spots where the roof is leaking when viewed at night through an infrared camera.
Wind-wind speed can affect scan results so wind speed should be 8 mph or less.

Call the Experts for Your Free Home Energy Assessment

Almost anyone can point an infrared camera at a building, adjust the knobs and get pretty colors to appear, but it takes a trained and experienced expert to tell the difference between thermal bridging, air leakage, and moisture. The energy experts at A+ Insulation can give you a free home energy assessment and let you know where your home is “leaking” energy.

Find out today by calling us at (913) 281-2250 or (816) 268-7511 or making an appointment for a free home energy assessment on our website.

What You Need to Know about Building Codes When Selling Your Home

Building codes are put in place for a good reason – to ensure that buildings meet the minimum requirements that building officials consider to be safe, healthy, and reasonable. Imagine if electrical codes were never updated! Homes would still have old knob and tube wiring which, not only would be a safety hazard, would never be enough to support the electrical load that today’s appliances and electronics demand. Code updates are necessary. The team at A+ Insulation wanted to provide a quick overview of what you need to know about insulation codes and updating your home when selling it.

When Must Homeowners Update to Meet New Code Requirements?

You’re not required to update your house as codes change unless you’re doing remodeling work, and then only the new part has to meet the new regulations. When you sell your home, the new buyers will have an inspection done (often from a local home inspector or home inspection company, like GeoInspections in Lee’ Summit, MO) and at that point they will let you know what passes inspection and what they would like you to update. Making sure it meets all city building codes is the seller’s responsibility. You always have the choice to say no, but most homeowners who want to sell will upgrade the things that are deal breakers for the new buyer in the interest of closing the deal.

How to Decide Which Items to Update When Selling

Look at the cost of the updates, convenience of doing them, and return on the sale of the house. That will decide if you should do the updates. If it will improve the value by $10,000 and cost $1,500 to do them, you’ll probably want to do it. If the cost of the updates is $5,000 and the value added is $4,000 or even $6,000, then it may not be worth it and you can duke it out with the new buyers.

Insulation Industry Codes

The insulation industry has codes that change as time marches on as well. Many older Kansas City homes don’t live up to new codes that have been updated over the years. We see it all the time. Even homes built ten years ago may have less insulation that is now required. Some homes just never had enough insulation to start with. Add to that the fact that in older homes, insulation can settle making it less effective as well. Your home will sell faster when it meets all of the codes.

Is Your Home Out of Compliance?

The best way to find out if your home complies with current building codes is to have an inspection. The insulation experts at A+ Insulation know exactly what to look for. Not only do we inspect for the amount of insulation, but we also look at the type and the condition. For instance, in homes in Prairie Village, cedar chips were commonly used to insulate attics. Today, we know cedar chips are a fire hazard and not acceptable as insulation material. We also look for signs of animal presence. Raccoons, squirrels, and other wildlife can find their way into your warm attic and leave unpleasant surprises behind. We will check for all of this and more. The best part is, our inspection is free!

Why Fix It Now?

If you know you will be selling your home in the next year or two, it makes sense to fix it now, finance it for a year, and enjoy the comfort and lower energy bills until you move. If you wait to fix it, you’ll be paying for it all at once when you move and you won’t have had the advantage of lower utility bills for a year or more. We offer one-year free financing to qualified buyers.

If you’re getting ready to sell your home, give the home insulation experts at A+ Insulation a call for an insulation inspection at (913) 281-2250 or (816) 268-7511.

Where Is Mold Hiding In Your Home?

Mold needs three things to grow – warmth, a food source, and moisture. Because two of the three conditions necessary for mold growth: warmth (temperatures between 47-120 degrees Fahrenheit), and food (wood, paper, or any organic matter) already exist in our homes, mold can grow just about anywhere there is excessive moisture. Areas where leakage may have occurred in walls, roofs, or where there has been flooding should be carefully evaluated for mold. It is critical to keep moisture out of your home.

Three Sources of Moisture

These sources for moisture need to be understood, discovered, and controlled. They include:

Ground water (including snow melt, rain)
Humid air (which condenses on cooler surfaces)
Interior moisture (from human bodies, cooking, bathrooms, unvented clothes dryers, etc.)

The primary concern when it comes to mold is ground water. Rain and snow melt from your roof can sneak inside your home and cause major problems.

Walls, Roofs & Attics Are the Most Common Places for Mold

Because rain is a constant visitor to any area, some of the most common places for moisture to get into our homes is the walls, roof, and attic. Spring rains can cause problematic roof leaks but animals can cause damage as well. Squirrels and raccoons can tear up roofs and vents to make a cozy home in your attic. It’s important to check your attic for signs of moisture on the ceiling and in your insulation. Outside, an inspection of the exterior walls and roof can help identify potential problems before they become major headaches.

Mold Warning Signs to Look For

Building experts urge homeowners to stay alert for signs of mold, including:

Dampness
Odors
Discoloration
Peeling paint
Condensation
Compacted insulation
Actual mold outbreaks

With today’s buildings being built more airtight for energy efficiency, mold is more prevalent than ever because these airtight homes don’t breathe as well as older structures. To make matters worse, more complex home designs have increased the potential for moisture intrusion.

Where Does Mold Come From?

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, allergies affect as many as 30% of adults & 40% of children. They also assert that asthma affects 8% of adults & 10% of children. The main culprits are dust, mold, and mildew. Mold spores are found in virtually every environment indoors and outdoors, These spores may enter homes and buildings through air infiltration such as windows, doors, heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems, or by attaching themselves to people, clothing, and pets thus bringing mold spores indoors.

How Does Insulation Grow Mold?

Some types of insulation are more or less susceptible to mold growth than others. Fiberglass is a non-biodegradable material and is resistant to mold growth. Cellulose-based insulation, made of paper materials, is the ideal food source for mold if it becomes wet. Even fiberglass can have a paper backing that would serve as a buffet for mold.

If the building was poorly designed or constructed, if there was a plumbing leak, an extreme weather event causing flooding, or if there is a leak in roof, then insulation can become moldy. In many cases, building owners will assume that the product on which the mold is growing is the cause of the problem. However it’s important to remember insulation does not cause mold; the added moisture is the culprit.

How to Remove Moldy Insulation

If your insulation is already damp or mold-infested, the first step is to fix the leak that caused the problem. Then you can replace any damp insulation with new insulation. According to the National Center for Environmental Health, in most cases, mold can be removed by a thorough cleaning with bleach and water.

If you need help, give A+ Insulation a call and we’ll be glad to inspect your attic, fix the leak, and install new insulation. Call us at (913) 648-9290 or (816) 268-7511.

Free Home Energy Evaluation, Why Wouldn’t You Have This Done?

A+-insulation-kansas-city-old-house The first oil crisis we faced over 35 years ago sent us scrambling to design more energy-efficient homes and plug the leaks in our existing homes. Despite everything we’ve learned over the last four decades, we continue to live in homes that leak energy.

Older Homes Aren’t Doomed to be Hopeless Energy Drains

There are many positive features of older homes that can potentially, if they don’t already, provide energy-saving qualities. For instance, tin roofs are popular in older homes and can be restored to help reflect solar heat and keep the house cool. The biggest concern for homeowners of older houses in relation to energy waste is air leakage, followed by improper insulation. A home energy evaluation allows homeowners to prioritize their energy-saving projects to receive an excellent return on their investment.

In an older home, the task of improving energy efficiency may seem daunting, so breaking it down into smaller projects is an effective strategy. The first step to reduce your energy costs is to identify the spots where your home is losing energy. If only a qualified professional technician would do this for free. Wait, A+ Insulation offers a free home energy evaluation? Why wouldn’t you have this done?

Your Walls are Leaking!

The thought of performing costly home maintenance typically scares homeowners from having a proper inspection done on their home. Putting off home energy evaluations as an attempt to avoid a potentially large bill is common, but also completely backwards. In fact, a home energy evaluation can save you money on your monthly energy bills! A+ Insulation is right here in Kansas City and can help homeowners see where energy, and their hard-earned money, is being wasted.

A Visual Inspection Reveals Energy Leaks

An energy assessment will determine where you require additional insulation and where you have leaks. As a homeowner, it’s beneficial to be aware of your home’s problem areas. When these areas are repaired or sealed it can make a huge difference to your home’s heating and cooling costs. The professionals from A+ Insulation will begin with a visual inspection of your walls.

Start from the Top of the House, Your Attic Needs Help!

The first place to look is the attic, because heat rises. On a cold day your house acts like a big chimney pulling heat through every gap and crevice in the floors and walls to the top of the house. The difference between the high pressure in the attic and the lower pressure outside drives the warm air through the roof, literally.

Taking care of your attic insulation can increase the energy efficiency of your home up to 40%.

This sets off a chain reaction where the low pressure near the foundation of your house attempts to balance by sucking in the cold, exterior air. The colder it is outside, the greater the pressure differentiation is inside the house, leading to increased heat loss. Those cool “drafts” you feel inside your home are an indication.

Where Exterior Walls Leak the Most

On the outside of your home, we’ll look for places where building materials join including:

Corners and areas where the chimney meets the siding
Water faucets and gas lines
Sections where the foundation meets the siding
Any point where an opening has been cut into the walls or doors because this is a great place for small gaps to form

Where Interior Walls Leak the Most

Inside your home, there are numerous opportunities for leaks to occur, such as:

Electrical outlets and switch plates
Window and door frames, weather stripping
Baseboards
Vents and mounted AC units
Fireplace dampers
Phone and cable TV lines
Gas and electrical service entrances
Dryer vents

Once You Find the Leaks, Close the Gaps!

Consider all the places in your home where the structure has been compromised in order to accommodate ducting, plumbing, wiring and fixtures. Each time a hole was cut through the ceiling or roof, a potential leak was created. These are relatively easy issues for insulation professionals to fix. A+ Insulation can help you choose the right materials and ensure you have the correct insulation in your walls. Remember, insulation is designed to slow down heat loss, not to stop airflow.

Once homeowners are aware of the potential improvements needed in their home’s insulation, they can plan accordingly to repair them. Not every household is set up financially to tackle costly home improvement projects at the drop of a hat. The benefit of having a home energy evaluation is using the knowledge and advice offered by our technician to make a plan for what to address first, second, etc.

In general, the most important areas for homeowners to make sure are properly insulated are attics and crawlspaces. By tackling these areas first, they are insuring the most bang for their buck.

A Home Energy Evaluation is Free!

The biggest thing for homeowners to remember about our home energy evaluations is that there is no cost for having them done. At A+ Insulation, our technicians will go through your home and determine what is insulated properly and what might need additional or replacement insulation. Your A+ Insulation technician will then give you an estimate to repair the problem areas. The best part about it? There are no strings attached.

If you’re interested in seeing how much your utility costs can be cut, click here or call (913) 281-2250 or (816) 268-7511 to schedule an appointment with our technicians at A+ Insulation to get your Free Home Energy Evaluation!

Inside Your Insulation: Attic Insulation vs. Roof Insulation

For those not in the insulation field, the differences between attic insulation and roof insulation can be hard to distinguish. While both aim to better insulate your home and to reduce heating and cooling bills, there are a few things to know about these types of insulation installations.

Attic Insulation vs. Roof Insulation: What’s The Difference?

The biggest difference between these two types of insulation is where they are installed. Attic insulation is installed in the ceiling plane, while roof insulation is installed on the roof slope itself, above and below the rafters.

How Do I Know If I Need More of Either?

It’s easy to see if your home is lacking either of these types of insulation, throw on some gloves, grab your ruler, and simply measure the thickness of your insulation layer. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends adding more insulation if you measure less than 11 inches of rock wool or fiberglass, or less than 8 inches of cellulose.

Which is More Common to be Lacking in Kansas City Homes?

Most homes, including Kansas City, are lacking in roof insulation. Many builders primarily insulate the attic because it is cheaper and easier to install, and roof insulation is often under insulated.

If I Only Have a Little Money, Which Should I Do First?

In an ideal world, homeowners would have adequate attic and roof insulation, but in the real world, that is not always feasible. If you have a set budget for upgrading your home’s insulation, go for the attic insulation first, as it is cheaper to install and more profitable for you in the long run.

Which Will Save Me More Money?

Attic insulation will save you the most money initially, since the insulation is in the ceiling plane, which is the first layer of insulation between your home’s temperature and the temperature outdoors.

Hopefully you now have a better understanding of the differences, pros, and cons of both roof insulation and attic insulation. Both are critical to provide adequate insulation for your home, and provide substantial energy savings when installed correctly.

We pride ourselves on quality insulation installation, and would be happy to help you figure out the best insulation solution for your home.

Feelin’ the Love at A+ Insulation in Kansas City

At A+ Insulation, we work hard to take care of our customers and have since opening our doors back in 2004. We value doing the job right, not cutting corners, and standing behind our work. Our technicians are not only masters of their craft, but they’re dedicated customer service experts. We value each and every customer and thank them for trusting us to get the job done for them. Here are a few reasons why our customers love us and why you should call us for your home insulation needs .

Angie’s List Super Service Award Winner

Proof of our dedication to customer service is winning the Angie’s List Super Service Award five years in a row. 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.

See what other awards and certifications we have won:

Memberships & Affiliations

Blow-In-Blanket Contractors Association (BIBCA)

Green Certifications

EnergyStar.gov – Home Performance with energy Star
Green Seal Certification – www.greenseal.org
NAHB – National Association of Home Builders Certified Green Professional

Awards

Building Solutions Specialist
Certainteed Certified Master Craftsman

Screening

HomeAdvisor Screened. View Details

We Let Our Work, and Our Customers, Speak for Us

We don’t want you to take our word for it. If you’re looking to see what customers have to say about us, check out the 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.

Review by a homeowner in Overland Park, KS

Project: Install or Upgrade Batt, Rolled or Reflective Insulation

“Mike O’Hara and his team were very professional! Offered a great presentation on the services they offered and explained every step in detail. It was great to watch the whole procedure, crews were wonderful and the clean up was great! I would highly recommend them!”

Review by a homeowner in Olathe, KS

Project: Install or Upgrade Blown-in Insulation

“We noticed an immediate improvement in the amount of time our A/C was running during brutally hot days.”

Review by a homeowner in Kansas City

“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.

Review by a homeowner in Olathe, KS

Project: Install Spray Foam Insulation

“Excellent customer service. Very knowledgeable, great communication, very reliable.”

Review by a homeowner in 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.

Review by a homeowner in Spring Hill, KS

Project: Install or Upgrade Batt, Rolled or Reflective Insulation

“I have used a lot of Insulation contractors over the years and this is the best so far. I am glad we have found someone who still believes in a quality job.”

Need more convincing? Check out our over 125 reviews on Home Advisor.

We want to be your insulation company!If you have any questions about our work, our materials, our technicians, or our prices, we will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Call us at (913) 281-2250 or (816) 268-7511.

6 Top Reasons to Add Soundproofing Insulation to Your Man Cave

soundproofing your man cave insulation kansas city

With so many major sporting events on the horizon, you’re probably thinking about having the guys over to watch. There’s just one problem. You tend to get a little rowdy and your wife isn’t a big fan of your kids being woken up when your favorite team hits a buzzer beater in overtime. So, when is the right time to add soundproofing insulation to our home?

When you’re finishing the basement, adding soundproofing insulation won’t add any extra time to your remodel. The best part, in addition to keeping the peace, is that you will also enjoy all of the benefits of a well-insulated, newly finished basement.
Maybe a pipe burst flooding the basement and you’re already doing repairs to the floor or ceiling. While you’re at it, now is the perfect time to add that soundproofing you’ve always wanted.
You’re looking for a practical investment for your tax refund, and retrofitting your home with insulation is a great way to save money!
You’re finally starting that band with the guys!
You’re remodeling your attic or an upstairs bonus room to be your man cave. You needed more insulation anyway.
You’re ready to install that totally awesome home theatre setup withthe sweet speaker system that you got for Christmas. It’s a great time to add soundproofing insulation.

Soundproofing is a great way to keep the noises of male bonding from invading your whole home. Whatever your reason, let the experts at A+ Insulation come evaluate your home and offer suggestions.

Why stop there? Here are some other rooms of your home that would benefit from soundproofing:

Home movie theaters
Home offices
Workshops
Nurseries

Whether you decide to soundproof your man cave or just save money with new attic insulation, A+ Insulation has you covered. Call A+ Insulation at (913) 281-2250 or (816) 268-7511 or contact us online. We’d love to hear from you!

8 Fun Facts about Air Sealing

A leaky house is like walking outside with your winter coat unzipped. Without the front of your coat closed, air is able to enter and circulate around your body. This air close to your body is what makes you cold. Controlling the air, by keeping it out with a zipper, has the same effect as air sealing does for your home insulation kansas city air sealing .

Air sealing involves finding which parts of your home are leaking air and sealing them to control airflow. Here are some other things you may not have known about air sealing:

Those drafts that make you uncomfortable in your own home are also known as air leaks.
The best way to see if you have air leaks in your home is by using a special fan called a blower door. It fits in a doorway and pulls air from your home, measures how much leaks, and also can figure out where those air leaks are coming from.
Did you know that a typical home leaks up to 3x the amount of air that it should? Which results in a lot of wasted money, and plenty of room for improvement.
Ice dams are actually caused by air leakage into your home’s attic. The warm leaking air melts the snow on your roof which then refreezes on the edge of your cold eaves creating the ice dams.
It is possible to have a house that is “too tight”. Houses need proper ventilation to ensure a supply of fresh air to keep people healthy.
This problem typically arises in newer homes. If your house does have this problem, there are ways to fix this too.
The technical measurement for air leakage is in a unit of measure called cubic feet per minute at 50 Pascals (CFM50), which is about the same pressure as a 20 mph wind blowing on all sides of your home. We call Pascals ‘mouse farts’ in the home repair industry because it is such a small unit of pressure.
The optimum rate of air change for a house is every three hours. A very leaky house will have a rate closer to 30 minutes or an hour which is why your furnace has to work so much harder to keep up.
Some of the most common places that need air sealing in homes are basements and crawlspaces, attics (around lights, fans, plumbing, chimneys), walls (around outlet covers), and flooring.

If you’d like to know more about air sealing, call A+ Insulation at (913) 281-2250 or (816) 268-7511 and we’ll be glad to help. We can even perform a free home energy evaluation to help you know where your home is losing the most energy!

Unseen Water Damage: Top 3 Areas to Check in Your Home

unseen water damage insulation kansas city Excess moisture in your home becomes a dangerous and expensive problem if left unchecked. Controlling moisture will make heating and cooling your home easier, increasing energy-efficiency and saving you money. You will also prevent unsightly mold growth, leaving your home cleaner and more comfortable. But with these simple and effective strategies from the team at A+ Insulation, you can keep your home safe, sound, and free of unchecked moisture.

Excess Moisture: What’s the Big Deal?

Many homeowners don’t realize how devastating the effects of excess water vapor can be on their homes. As warm, moist air encounters a colder surface (walls in your home), the vapor reaches its “dew point” and condenses. This condensed water continually soaks into the walls, causing water damage to the surface. Your entire home can be affected by this process, but there are three key areas that are prone to expensive water damage from moisture:

Attics
Walls
Foundations

These surfaces, when wet, allow the passage of more moisture, creating a problem that grows exponentially larger and more expensive to fix. If left unprotected, these areas can weaken from regular dampening, which is why it’s important to take early preventative measures to minimize the risk of water damage in your home.

3 Key Methods to Prevent Moisture Damage

Make sure that your home is protected before exposing it to excess moisture. This will save you from the extra cost of outfitting protection in an already damaged home. There are many ways to control excess moisture in your home, but these three key methods prove most effective in preventing damage from water vapor.

Air Sealing
Proper Ventilation
Insulation

Air Sealing and Ventilation

Air leaks are one of the most common ways water vapor enters a building cavity. It is imperative that proper ventilation is installed and unwanted airways are sealed to ensure moisture doesn’t get trapped inside of your home. Air leaks in your home’s ventilation system should be properly filled with caulk. Components that can move should be sealed with weatherstripping to stop air leaks while not in use.

Insulation

Diffusion through materials plays a huge role in excess moisture reaching areas of your home. Improper, poor, or no insulation in an area of your home is sure to show the long-term effects of excess moisture. Effects range from material water damage to structural damage to mold growth to a drop in energy-efficiency through heat transfer. Here at A+ Insulation, we specialize in finding the perfect insulation for any area of your home. Here are some of the many insulation options available for your unique situation.

Foundation Insulation

Blanket: Batts and rolls of fiberglass, mineral wool, or other fibers offer an inexpensive and quick installation for unfinished foundation walls, ceilings, floors, and attics.
Rigid Foam/Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs): Foam boards or blocks are installed for the same purpose as Blanket style insulation, typically during construction of the home. These methods offer a high insulation value for their thickness.

Existing Wall Insulation

Loose-fill/Blow-in: Typically consisting of fiberglass or cellulose, this insulation is blown into place using special equipment. These options are great for insulating finished and irregularly shaped areas, like attic rafters.
Reflective System: Foil-faced paper, plastic film, or polyethylene bubbles are typically installed in unfinished walls. This type of insulation is most effective against downward heat flow.
Sprayed Foam: Cementitious or phenolic foams are applied using small spray containers. They are used for the same purposes as loose-fill insulation.

As the seasons change, be aware of the moisture levels within your home. If you believe you may already have moisture damage, it may be worth scheduling a Kansas City home inspection to access the damage. A+ Insulation can help prevent trapped moisture and keep your home energy-efficient, mold-free, and structurally sound – saving you money and peace of mind.

If you’re experiencing moisture problems, or just want to prevent them, contact us or call us at (913) 281-2250 or (816) 268-7511. We’ll be glad to help!