Many Kansas City homes lose heat through tiny gaps long before insulation does its job. So do you start with attic insulation or air sealing. The short answer is this. Seal the air leaks first, then add insulation to the right depth.
Why this matters in Kansas City and nearby suburbs
Our weather swings hard. We get freezing winds in Jackson and Clay counties and hot, humid summers across Johnson and Wyandotte. Homes in Waldo, Brookside, and North Kansas City were built long before modern air barriers. Warm air rises and escapes through the top of the house. Cold air sneaks in down low. This stack effect makes rooms drafty and pushes your furnace to run more. If you only add insulation without sealing leaks, you leave big savings on the table.
How to tell if air sealing should come first
Use these simple signs:
- Drafts you can feel around windows, doors, and baseboards.
- Dirty streaks or dark lines on attic insulation. Dirt rides along moving air.
- A loose, thin, or crooked attic hatch.
- Recessed lights under the attic that feel cold to the touch in winter.
- Dust or spider webs moving near outlets on windy days.
- Uneven room temps. Upstairs hot in summer and cold in winter.
If you see two or more of these, start with air sealing.
Where leaks hide in KC homes
Here are the usual suspects I find after 40 years in the trades:
- Attic hatch and pull-down stairs.
- Gaps where wires and pipes pass through the top plates of walls.
- Open chases around chimneys and flues.
- Bath fan boxes that are not sealed and ducted.
- Recessed can lights that leak air into the attic.
- Gaps at attic kneewalls, behind tubs, and around soffits.
- Rim joists in basements and crawl spaces.
These spots leak a lot more than window glass. Seal these first and your insulation will finally work.
Simple checks you can do this weekend
- Close all doors and windows. Turn on bath fans. Light a stick of incense and hold it near outlets, trim, and ceiling fixtures. If smoke pulls, you have a leak.
- Take a flashlight to the attic. Look for bare or thin spots and dirt streaks in the insulation.
- Press on the attic hatch. If air moves or you see light around the edges, it needs gaskets and insulation.
- Peek at the eaves. If insulation covers soffit vents, airflow is blocked.
Write down what you see and take a few photos.
What a pro will test
A vetted insulation contractor will often run a blower door test to measure the total leak rate. A thermal camera shows where warm air escapes in winter or hot air enters in summer. Good pros in Overland Park and Liberty will also check bath fan ducting, attic ventilation, and the depth and type of your current insulation. They use this data to plan sealing first, then add the right insulation to hit the target R value.
What to expect in a written estimate
A clean estimate should list:
- Air sealing scope by location. Attic hatch, top plates, bath fans, flues, lights, and kneewalls.
- Target R value for the attic and any kneewalls or slopes.
- Material type and depth in inches for blown products.
- Ventilation plan with baffles at the eaves and clear exhaust paths.
- How they will protect your home. Covers for floors and stairs.
- Photos before and after.
- Warranty terms and a single contact if a room still feels drafty.
Ask for timing, cleanup, and disposal details too.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Blowing more insulation over big leaks. Air will still move and carry moisture, and comfort will not improve.
- Blocking soffit vents. Without baffles, new insulation can choke off airflow and cause ice dams.
- Covering recessed lights or bath fans that need safe clearances or air-tight covers.
- Skipping bath fan duct repairs. Fans should vent outside, not into the attic.
- Picking only by the lowest price. Cheap work that ignores sealing often costs more over time.
How The Good Contractors Club helps
We connect you with Kansas City insulation pros who are vetted for skill, service, and integrity. Licensing and insurance are verified. Background checks are completed. Warranties are strong and written. You can contact vetted pros directly without forms or spam. No shared or fake leads. Just fewer but higher intent matches so you can get the right fix with less stress.
For contractors who ask how to get clients as a contractor in KC, the answer is simple. Do quality work, stand behind it, and serve the homeowner first. The Club sends better matches, not a flood of low quality leads. That helps the homeowner and the pro. It also pushes out the fake leads Kansas City homeowners are tired of seeing.
Bottom line
Seal air leaks first, then add insulation to the right depth. That is the proven path to lower bills and better comfort in Kansas City, from Olathe to Lee’s Summit to North Kansas City. Start with testing, get a clear scope, and protect your attic ventilation.
Browse our directory of GOOD CONTRACTORS: https://thegoodcontractorsclub.com/contractor-directory/