Get Home Insulation At Almost No Cost to You

Updating your home insulation can greatly benefit both your comfort level and your wallet. Not only will your home be easier to heat and cool, your utility bills will cost you significantly less. Sounds pretty good, right? What if you could get those repairs for without paying any money upfront?

Laclede Gas Is Making That Possible

 Right now, Laclede Gas has an incredible incentive program that allows you to update your home insulation and not have to pay for it upfront. It may sound too good to be true, but this program practically pays for itself.

Here's how it works

Laclede gas will lend you up to $2000 for home insulation repairs, which will usually cover all the work needed. Then, you pay back the loan at a very low interest rate of 3% on your Laclede Gas bill

Thanks to the improvements to your home, your gas bill will most likely be the same as it was before, if not lower, even with the added 3% interest. That means you can get new home insulation without spending any more money than you already do!

How can Affordable Comfort help you?

 As a BPI certified and preferred contractor working with Laclede Gas, we can provide the home energy audit you need to get a quote on the improvements your home needs. We can then take care of those repairs and help you apply for the financing program that will allow you to get all that work at no upfront cost to you. We realize that this may seem a little too good to be true, but we are happy to talk with you about it in more detail anytime. Feel free to give us a call at 877-526-3202 or send us an email at info@affordablecomfort.biz.

Ameren Act On Energy Financial Incentive Program

The Ameren Act On Energy Financial Incentive Program is perfect for anyone looking to improve their home while still keeping the costs low. The following program is currently available to Illinois residents. However, a Missouri program is in the works, so if you are a Missouri resident and like what you see, please feel free to send us an email at info@affordablecomfort.biz so we can keep you up to date on when this program will be available in your area.

Here's how it works

 Ameren is offering financial incentives for several home improvements that will make your home more energy efficient. Those who qualify for the program will receive discounts on things such as air sealing, attic insulation, wall insulation and more. Many improvements will be eligible for coverage of up to 50% of the costs!

The specifics

If you decide to purchase any of the following improvements, Ameren will cover a certain amount of the costs. These rates expire December 15th, so act fast!

Air Sealing - $0.50 per CFM, maximum of $1,200

Attic Insulation -$0.50 per SF, maximum of $1,400

Wall Insulation - $0.50 per SF, maximum of $2,400

Rim Joist Insulation - $1.00 per LF, maximum of $400

Let us help!

 If you want to figure out which parts of your home would benefit from these improvements and calculate how much you would save as well as your out of pocket costs, we can help. Give us a call or send us an email and we can give you prices on our insulation packages and even set up a time to visit your home and make recommendations.  You can reach us at 877-526-3202 or by email at info@affordablecomfort.biz.

Laclede Gas Energy Rebate Program

We have great news for anyone looking to save money on their utility bills. Laclede Gas currently has a High Efficiency Rebate Program that will allow you to make improvements on your home at little or no cost to you. Here's how the energy rebate works:

1. You apply for rebates for purchasing energy-efficient items such as gas furnaces, gas boilers, thermostats, and water heaters.

2. If you qualify, Laclede Gas will send rebate checks to help cover the costs.

3. You save money on your utility bills!

Here's a quick look at some of the available rebates:

Gas Furnaces: $150-$200

Gas Boilers: $25

Electronic Programmable setback thermostat: $50

Gas Storage Water Heaters: $50-$125

Gas Water Heater: $200

Where can you buy qualifying appliances?

You can get your energy efficient water heaters, furnaces, thermostats, etc right from Affordable Comfort. We can help you pick out the appliances that will not only make your home more comfortable, but also qualify for these great rebates. . Plus, after we install them, we're happy to help you apply for the rebates that will save you money.

So how do you apply?

Print out this application.

Mail it here:

EFI - Laclede Gas Rebate
40 Washington Street
Suite 2000
Westborough, MA 01581

The application does not take long to fill out and, if you qualify, you will basically get some extra cash just for increasing the value of your home and saving money on your utility bills. This program certainly makes going green easier.

What is Spray Foam?

Many people have begun to hear the word spray foam as a buzzword in the insulation industry. This high-quality insulation is great for many applications and in some cases can be very cost effective. However, it's important to know what you are buying and in which situations this high-performance insulation makes sense.

What is Spray Foam?

This polyurethane foam is an expanding substance. It sprays on thin and expands to create a barrier. Open cell foam will expand more than closed cell, but that does not necessarily mean one is better than the other.

Closed cell foam only expands a little bit, but it creates an airtight barrier. It acts as an air barrier, thermal insulator, and moisture boundary. This type of spray foam is great for ceilings, but not for roofs. When used for roofs, it can trap moisture from leaks and condensate, which will lead to mold growth.

Open cell foam expands much more than closed cell because it is not airtight. The open cell foam allows air and moisture to travel through it, making this foam ideal for attic or roof decking. Instead of trapping the moisture like a closed cell foam would, this type of foam allows the moisture to travel through and dissipate, preventing rotting.

When Should Spray Foam Be Used?

Spray foam is an expensive material, so you certainly do not want to spend money on it unless you are going to see a return on your investment. Spray foam is great for new construction, or modifying homes in areas such as the ceiling, attic, or roof. Due to the high cost of the material, it is best to combine the foam with another type of insulation. Affordable Comfort created a Hybrid System that uses a small amount of spray foam paired with Cellulose insulation. This system allows you to get the high performance benefits of the foam without breaking the bank. If you were to insulate your entire home in spray foam, the cost would be too high to ever see a return on your large investment.

When Shouldn't Spray Foam Be Used?

Spray foam should not be used exclusively to insulate an entire home, due to the aforementioned high cost issues. You also wouldn't want to add spray foam directly on top of existing insulation.

Overall, spray foam is an excellent choice for insulating a structure. It is just important to know when and how to use it, as well as how much should be used in order to save money without sacrificing results. We here at Affordable Comfort are more than happy to walk you through the process.

Save the Weatherization Program!

The government funded Weatherization Program that allows us to update low income family's older homes, at no cost to them is in danger of having its budget cut or even completely eliminated. If you want some more background information on how this program works, please take a look at our blog post about it.

So what would happen if these budget cuts pass?

Jobs would be lost

During the peak of this program, we were able to provide work for around 40 people; 20 of which are still working for us today.  These are people who depend on their jobs to live and raise families. The budget cuts could cause not only the loss of these jobs, but several jobs within the company due to the rapid decrease in contracted work and the overhead costs of keeping the company afloat. 

Low income families would miss out

This program allows us to work on low-income family homes without charging them anything at all. The average savings on utility bills after the work is completed is 32%, which is usually over $300 a year. The money saved can have a huge impact on each household's budget and allow families to free up funds for things they truly need.

The environment would suffer

The improvements we make through weatherization work on older homes does not just affect the families living in them. By reducing the energy wasted through heating and cooling a home, we are lowering the carbon footprint left behind by these homes. Without this funding, many older homes will continue to waste energy and have a negative impact on the environment. 

So what can be done?

Several business that would be affected by these cuts have worked together to create petitions to send to President Obama and Secretary Chu. They are hoping to get 1,000 signatures by October 18th. They are looking for signatures from people who are somehow involved in the weatherization business or connected to it somehow. If you or anyone you know could be affected by this, please sign the petitions. You connection could be that you know someone selling supplies, working as a contractor, or something along those lines.

Please spread the word and save the Weatherization Program!

 

 

Free DIY Weatherization University Seminar in St. Charles, MO

We are very excited to announce our very first DIY Weatherization University Seminar, absolutely free of charge. During the seminar we'll be teaching you about simple fixes than can significantly improvement your home and lower your utility bills.

Can't make it? Not a convenient time or place for you? Let us know! Send us an email at info@affordablecomfort.biz and let us know if you are interested in us organizing another Weatherization University near you.

Weatherization Program for Low Income Families

 The US Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program is free improvement program for low-income households - and Affordable Comfort is proud to be apart of it.

This program allows us to provide valuable weatherization services at no cost to the households that truly need it. Many homes can benefit greatly from the weatherization work we do to improve the insulation of the house. These measures will allow your home to heat and cool more effectively, which can save you hundreds on your utility bills.

So what do we do?

If you qualify for the Weatherization Program in our area of service, we'll come out to your home, inspect it, and make a plan for repairs. We'll take care of all those pesky air drafts, update your insulation, and ensure your furnace and water heating are running safely. In the end, you'll find our home is much more comfortable in every season of the year, and your utility bills will be significantly lower.

Remember, this program is FREE for those who qualify, absolutely all weatherization labor and materials are provided free of charge through federal funding

Who qualifies?

Qualification depends on the size of your household and total household income. Here is a basic chart:

Size of family      Total income

1                           $22,340

2                           $30,260

3                           $38, 180

4                           $46,100

5                           $54,020

6                           $61,940

7                           $69,860

8                           $77, 780

Each additional member adds $7,920

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How to Apply

Call 314-446-4436 or go to www.dnr.mo.gov.mowxworks

What is Spray Foam Insulation?

 We here at Affordable Comfortable offer very high quality BASF Spraytite 178 series spray foam. You may be wondering exactly what spray foam insulation is and what the benefits are - allow us to explain!

The polyurethane foam is an expanding substance. It sprays on thin and expands to create an airtight barrier, which not only insulates your home, but also acts as a pest barrier. This type of foam is a 2-part foam, meaning two ingredients are sprayed together to create a chemical reaction that causes the insulation to expand and seal tightly.

What makes spray foam different from other insulations?

Spray foam is an incredibly high-performance insulation with an R-value of 6.7 per inch. To give you some context, the next best insulation material, cellulose, has an R-value of 3.8 per inch. The combination of these two insulations makes our hybrid system both affordable and effective. If we were to use only spray foam to achieve the desired R-value, the cost would be significantly more, and would take several more years to pay itself off. The hybrid system, on the other hand, involves a base coat of the high-performance spray foam, which is then topped off with the cellulose insulation. This system gives you the quality materials you need to take care of your home without digging too deeply into your pockets. On average, customers pay back their investment through utility bills savings within 2 years.

Is it safe?

Spray foam is very safe for you and the environment. The blowing agent used with spray foam is certified to have zero ozone depleting qualities. This insulation also blocks moisture, which protects your home from dangerous mold growth. The material itself is non-fibrous, so it won't come apart and irritate your skin like the old fiberglass you might already have in your home.

Another added bonus you get with spray foam is that it actually asks as a structural enhancement for your home. Once the foam dries, it hardens and strengthens the beams in your home, which can help protect from storm damage.

Spray foam can be used in a variety of spaces within your home such as walls (during new construction), band sills, floors/crawlspaces, foundation walls, craw space walls, attic floors, and knee walls in the attic. It's also great for filling in odd spaces where air may be leaking. Spray foam is a superior insulation that can protect and enhance your home, while still holding up to our high standards for environmentally safe materials as it causes no damage to the ozone layer. Plus, it eventually pay for itself in utility bills savings! It's win-win all around.

When Should I Update or Remove Home Insulation?

Insulation is not often something that is on the minds of homeowners. Since it is not something you deal with or see on a daily basis, it’s easy to forget all about it. However, insulation is a very important part of your home. Not only does it play a vital role in regulating the temperature of your home (thus affecting your utility bills) it can also affect the air quality in your home. It’s important to know when you should update or possibly even remove your home’s insulation. Ask yourself the following questions to see if you are overdue.

Is your home more than 20 years old?

Although a 20 year old home would still be considered a newer structure, insulation deteriorates a lot faster than your home does. As the insulation ages, it breaks down, which reduces the R-value, which in turn affects how well insulated you home actually is. As the insulation’s R-value decreases, you will likely start to feel a difference in the temperature control in your home. If you have noticed that your home is chillier in the winter and hotter in the summer, chances are your insulation is due for an update.

Have you had any fire or water damage?

After a fire or severe water damage, you have a lot of repairs and restoration work to worry about. Of course you’ll want to work on cosmetics and making your home livable again, but it is important not to forget about the affect the damage may have caused to your insulation. During a fire, smoke works its way through your home and sinks into surfaces and materials. Insulation is not immune to this! The smoke may have seeped its way into your insulation, which means the pollutants from the smoke are buried inside your insulation and circulating through your home via your HVAC system.

Water damage can be even more detrimental to your insulation. Once the water gets inside the insulation, it can create mold. Mold breeds rapidly, so it will spread through the insulation and then into your home’s heating and cooling system. Breathing in the toxins from mold can cause serious health issues such as chronic bronchitis, lung infections, and several other serious breathing complications.

Have you had problems with rodents recently?

Fiberglass is the most common type of insulation. It is also a favorite nesting ground for many rodents. Rodents and other vermin will burrow into the insulation and live inside of it. If you have had issues with unwanted visitors in your home, you should have your insulation inspected to make sure they are truly gone and not living inside your walls. A great way to avoid dealing with this issue in the future is to upgrade to the cellulose insulation. It is not much more expensive and it is made with pesticides that irritate rodent’s skin, making it an unpleasant place to live.

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it is highly recommended that you have your insulation inspected for any damage that could be affecting your insulation’s effectiveness as well as the air quality in your home. Take a look at our online quote calculator and get a quote within 5 minutes.

What is R Value?

The term “R value” gets thrown around a lot when discussing construction, building materials, heating and cooling systems, and insulation. Everyone loves to tell you about their R Value, but if you don’t know what it means, what good is that information to you? Allow us to explain.

Quick definition

R value is a measurement of thermal resistance or heat transfer. The higher R value a building has, the more resistant it will be to heat flow. Building materials such as metal or glass have a low R value, while insulation has a much higher value.

Why should I be concerned about R Value?

As the definition states, the higher R value your home has, the more resistant it is to heat flow. Basically, a higher R value means better temperature regulation in your home and thus lower utility bills. Sadly, many builders only meet the bare minimum, so while they may try to impress you by throwing out arbitrary numbers, it’s important to recognize the difference between “standard procedure” R value and optimal R value.

How is R Value calculated?

R value is calculated based on the material. For insulation, the calculations are as follows:

Cellulose: 3.5 per inch

Fiberglass: 2.8 per inch

Rockwool: 3.2 per inch

Vermicullite: 2.7 per inch.

So, if you have 10 inches of fiberglass, you have an R value of 28.

So what’s a good R value?

The “bare minimum” R value is R 38. However, based on our experience, we have found that most homes are only working with R 15. Sadly, neither of these values are what would be considered optimal. The optimal value varies by location, but in the St. Louis area, the recommended R value for optimal performance is between R45 and R60.

Chances are your home was built with the bare minimum and has since deteriorated down to R15 or lower. By bringing your R value up to optimal performance standards, you will be enhancing your home’s ability to regulate temperature, which means much lower utility bills and a more comfortable home.

Still not sure? Take a look at our online quote calculator and get a quote within 5 minutes. No obligation, just information!

Is Do-It-Yourself Attic Insulation a Good Idea?

If you’ve decided to tackle your attic insulation issues to save money on your heating and cooling costs, you’re on the right track. Attics are very connected to your home and are often to blame for excess energy loss that ends up costing you more money on your utility bills.

Should I try DIY Attic Insulation or hire a professional?

There are plenty of people out there who are perfectly capable of fixing things around the house. When it comes to repairing a broken door hinge or fixing a leaky faucet, there is nothing wrong with doing it yourself. However, when the leak you are fixing is related you’re your insulation, the process can become a little more complicated. You’ll need to do an energy audit to figure out just how efficient or inefficient your current insulation installation is, check all your window and door seals, and perhaps even investigate the possibility of your insulation pumping polluted air into your home.

Tricky for you, business as usual for us

 

All of those steps can be difficult and a bit daunting for even the most seasoned do-it-yourselfers, but we here at Affordable Comfort are experienced experts. We’ve been in this business since 1993. We know exactly where to look and what to look for when it comes to the analysis process of installing attic insulation. We can streamline the process and have your new insulation installed in as little as one day. That’s right, one day and you’ll be on your way to lower utility costs, a greener home, and cleaner air.

What about the costs?

If you are worried about the cost of hiring a professional to take care of your insulation woes, we can help. You can use our Online Audit Calculator and get a dollar amount within minutes. All you need to do is answer a few questions and you’ll have your quote without having to deal with any pushy salesmen. If you decide to go forward with your insulation installation, all you have to do is submit your quote to us at the end of the calculation and we’ll get in touch with you right away. So why go through the hassle of trying to do it yourself when we can make it so easy? Get your quick quote right now!

Is the Heat Wave Making You Wonder about Air Conditioner’s Efficiency?

Now that summer is at its peak, it’s hard to catch a break from the heat. Many homes have rooms that never seem to get cool, no matter how low you set your thermostat. You might set your thermostat as low as 72 but never see the temperature drop below 78. Meanwhile, your AC is running continuously and driving up your utility bill costs.  There are several explanations for why this might be happening. If your home is 1 ½-2 stories, you’ve got lots of crawl space and garage area soaking up your cool air. You might also have windows that lack shading, allowing the sun to pour in and heat up your home. It’s also possible that your HVAC system is unbalanced, which results in inconsistent temperatures throughout your living space, creating hot spots that never seem to get cool.

 

So what can you do to stay cool without going broke?

The root of the problem is often in your home’s insulation. We here at Affordable Comfort have worked with customers throughout the St. Louis area to inspect their current insulation and create a solution that results in cooler home and lower utility bills.  We’ve seen excellent results with our hybrid system. Just take a look at some quotes from our happy customers:

“We used to set our thermostat at 73 and the house never got cooler than 78. Now we have it set at 72 and it stays there 24 hours a day with a/c unit cycling normally.” – O’Fallon Homeowner

“An unexpected benefit (beyond the obvious energy savings) was sound control. We had a major thunderstorm the first night and we did not even hear it.” – Cottleville homeowner

“The temperature stats the same throughout the house upstairs and down.” – Cottleville homeowner

 So if you’re ready to fight back against the heat wave in your home, just take a look at our easy online quotation calculator. Within 5 minutes, you’ll have a quote for your home and be well on your way to a cooler summer.