Kansas City Insulation Removal vs Retrofit | Tips and Info

Kansas City Insulation Removal vs Retrofit: Which Is Right For You? 

Long-time residents of Kansas City get so used to hot summers and chilly winters that they begin to think that seasonal discomfort is something they just have to live with. Do you find yourself layering up and pulling out all your blankets in the winter because your heating system just can’t compete with the outside temperature? Conversely, do you find yourself sweating in bed at night in the summer while you lie awake and scold yourself for not biting the bullet and installing a central air conditioning system? If this sounds like you, there’s something very wrong with your home’s insulation. Make your home comfortable again by hiring a Kansas City insulation removal company. 

In many cases, insulation contractors in Kansas City will recommend retrofit installation—installing new insulation on top of your existing batts or loose-fill. However, in some situations, your best course of action involves insulation removal. When should you remove and reinstall insulation, and when should you retrofit? We answer this question and more below. 

Why Is Insulation Important in Kansas City?

How often do you think about your insulation? If you answered ‘never,’ you’re like the majority of Kansas City residents. The saying ‘out of sight, out of mind’ has never been more applicable than it is to this topic, but when you stop to think about it, your insulation is one of the most important parts of your home’s HVAC system. 

The primary purpose of insulation is to increase the energy efficiency of a building, whether it be residential or commercial. One of the biggest benefits of energy efficiency is that it lowers your monthly energy bills. During cold Kansas City winters, improper padding will cause hot air generated by your heating system to escape through the roof of your home. Likewise, during the summer, your air conditioning system will have to work harder to combat the hot air that seeps in through your home’s walls and roof. The better your insulation, the less your HVAC system will have to work, and the lower your utility bills will be. 

The main areas of your home that require insulation include:

• Crawl spaces
• Air ducts
• Attic spaces
• Exterior walls
• Between joists
• Floors above garages
• Basements
• And more

Though all homes are built according to standards at the time, what may have been considered up to code back then may no longer be so today. Additionally, padding materials tend to deteriorate over time, making them less effective as the years go on. Homeowners with older homes may therefore be in need of retrofit or, in some more drastic cases, insulation removal services. 

Top Reasons to Consider Kansas City Insulation Removal

You’ve noticed that your insulation just isn’t pulling its weight but you’re not sure whether it just needs to be topped off, or whether you should replace the padding in your home entirely. There are three primary situations in which hiring a Kansas City insulation removal service is your best option. 

Animal Infestations

Fiberglass and cellulose are appealing nesting materials for animals such as mice and bats in Kansas City. If you have a rodent infestation, there will be ample evidence of their presence. Some of these signs include holes in batts, urine, droppings, and a rather unpleasant smell.

Once padding has been contaminated by pests, it has to go—whether or not pest control has been by. Droppings left behind by pests can greatly reduce your indoor air quality, and if the animals are carriers of disease, poor air quality could also present serious health risks. 

One of the most serious diseases that you can encounter in rodent droppings is Hantavirus. According to recent statistics, approximately 1 in 3 reported cases of Hantavirus prove fatal. Another serious disease is Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM), which can cause birth defects and intellectual disabilities in babies when pregnant women are exposed to it. 

The longer you and your family are exposed to contaminated materials, the more likely it is that your health will be impacted. If your contractor finds signs of animal activity in your attic, don’t delay in getting attic insulation removal. 

Water Damage

Moisture and building materials do not mix. It’s for this reason that plumbing emergencies, flooding, and roof leaks are some of the most expensive, and therefore most dreaded, situations to deal with as a homeowner. All of these problems tend to occur in structural cavities that are insulated. If you have fiberglass insulation, it could become waterlogged. Wet fiberglass doesn’t just deteriorate much more quickly than other materials, but it can also become a prime breeding ground for things like mildew and mold.

To prevent this organic matter from growing and spreading, you’ll need to remove the wet material entirely. Wet wooden frames and joists will have to dry out before a new product is added, or you could find yourself dealing with wood rot in the near future if moisture is trapped in the wood. 

Kansas City Home Renovations

Replacing padding in some areas of your home is easier than others. Because attics are generally fairly open, uninhabited spaces, topping up or replacing your attic insulation is a relatively simple task. On the other hand, accessing existing padding between the frames behind your drywall or in between the joists below your flooring is impossible to do without demolition.

If you’re planning a home renovation, take the opportunity to invest in Kansas City insulation removal service and replace these hard-to-access spaces with brand-new padding. Insulation doesn’t last forever, and this opportunity isn’t likely to come around again. If you’re renovating prior to putting your place on the market, improved insulation—and therefore, improved energy efficiency—can be a major selling point, making your home more attractive to prospective buyers.  

Top Reasons to Consider a Retrofit

If you don’t have pets or water damage and have no plans to renovate your home, a retrofit may be worth considering over insulation removal in Kansas City. Some reasons to choose an insulation retrofit for your home include:

• Temperature Fluctuations: Does your home heat up quickly in the summer, or cool down quickly in the winter? Maybe you find your home to be a little drafty, causing you to bump up the thermostat when your woolliest pair of socks won’t do the trick. These are signs that your insulation is lacking, but unless your current padding has been severely damaged by water or pest infestations, there isn’t usually a need to remove it all completely. Drafts can be filled in with spray foam, while fiberglass may be placed on top of existing cellulose insulation to increase its R-value (the amount of insulating power that the product has). 
• Energy Bill Increases: Another common sign of insulation problems is an increase in your energy bill. While the costs of energy increase right alongside inflation, if it sounds like you’re paying more than your neighbors with similarly sized houses, adding to your existing system isn’t a bad idea. 
• Old Insulation: Fiberglass batts begin to deteriorate after about 20 years, while cellulose may begin to degrade after approximately 15 years. If your insulation is at least this old, it’s probably time to top it up. 

Installation Options Following Insulation Removal in Kansas City

The great thing about insulation removal is that you get to start fresh. Your HVAC system is only as efficient as your insulation. Thus, by installing new padding, your fancy energy efficient HVAC system can perform at its best. 

Just because you had cellulose installed in your attic before, it doesn’t mean you should automatically go with the same product the second time around. Some things to consider when deciding on the right type of insulation materials for your home are:

• The area you are installing new insulation in
• The reason you needed to use a Kansas City insulation removal company in the first place

The primary types of insulation materials available in Kansas City today include fiberglass, cellulose, and spray foam. 

Fiberglass Insulation

Since its invention in the 1930s as we know it today, fiberglass has been one of the leading material choices for residential insulation. Fiberglass may be blown-in (also known as loose-fill) or come in batts for easy DIY installation. 

Blown-in insulation is generally the better choice when it comes to fiberglass. Batts tend to deteriorate more quickly than loose-fill, resulting in a reduced R-value. Many homeowners choose fiberglass thanks to its lower price point and noise reduction benefits, but if you’re worried about moisture damage, it may be best to use something fully moisture resistant, such as closed-cell spray foam. 

However, the reason your old insulation became waterlogged isn’t due to any fault of the product, but another structural problem. Ensure that the cause of the leak or flood is determined and repaired prior to installing new padding. 

Cellulose Insulation 

Cellulose came onto the scene a little later than fiberglass, in the 1950s. Made mostly from recycled newspaper and denim, cellulose was seen as being unsafe as a household building material due to its flammability. When fire retardants were invented and used on cellulose, it started to put up a stiff competition with fiberglass insulation. 

Blown-in cellulose has a higher R-value than fiberglass, but it also tends to come at a slightly higher price point. Customers often assume that the product with the highest R-value per inch is the best, when in actuality, the best product is the one you can use to achieve the same R-value for less. While you may have to apply more fiberglass to get the same benefits as cellulose, the total cost may end up being less. 

Spray Foam Insulation 

Spray foam is undoubtedly one of the most durable insulations available, but it also comes at the highest cost. Not only does spray foam regulate air flow and remove drafts, but it also prevents air leakage and dampens sounds. Unless installed poorly, spray foam should never need to be replaced or maintained. 

If you’re not too keen on insulating your entire home with spray foam, consider at least using it in areas that are hard to access, as well as any gaps that look like they could be prime areas for rodent entrance and exit. 

DIY vs. Professional Kansas City Insulation Removal

Some homeowners in Kansas City wonder if they can perform insulation removal on their own. While you certainly can take on this job yourself, it may not necessarily be in your best interest to do so. Depending on the reason for removal, you may need to deal with hazardous materials that can jeopardize your health without the proper protective material and equipment. 

Additionally, you’ll probably need to hire the experts for the subsequent installation, unless you plan to put in some fiberglass batts and call it a day. Professional contractors have the correct installation technique to ensure that your insulation provides your home with the maximum energy efficiency possible. 

One of the main reasons that homeowners decide to tackle projects such as this on their own is to save money. Insulation removal in Kansas City requires renting a commercial-grade insulation removal vacuum, HEPA filtered shop-vac, contractor grade garbage bags, and a driveway dumpster. By the time you’ve spent money on all of these rentals and purchases, you’re looking at a cost that’s not too far off of that to hire a professional who will do all the work for you. 

For Kansas City Insulation Removal, the Pros at Koala Insulation Have You Covered

Are you in need of insulation removal in Kansas City, including the areas of Overland Park and Prairie Village? At Koala Insulation of South Kansas City, we have extensive experience in all things insulation, including removal, blown-in insulation, spray foam insulation, air sealing, and more!

We’re also at your disposal for insulation evaluations. If you've noticed your interior temperature fluctuating and your energy bill climbing, we can come over and check out your insulation for you. We rely on the latest evidence-based, scientific methods to diagnose, repair, and replace your home’s insulation. With the help of a specialized thermal camera, we’ll determine problem areas and recommend insulation removal or replacement according to our findings. 

Ready to book an appointment for a free estimate? Give us a call today at 816-929-8255 or fill out our online estimate request form!