Asked by: Dalal Martierreca
home and garden indoor environmental quality

Is blown insulation better?

35
- Blown-in insulation is better for the environment. Blown-in insulation is composed of mainly recycled materials like cellulose and fiberglass. - Blown-in insulation has an R-value between 2.2- 3.8 per inch of product, and while this is still low, the loose material is easier to fit in most areas.


Beside this, is blown in insulation better than rolls?

Batts, or rolls, are large blankets of insulation that are made from either fiberglass or cotton. Blown insulation is accomplished by blowing out chunks of either fiberglass or cellulose from the hose of a blowing machine. The main benefit of blown insulation is that it is a much more consistent type of insulation.

Secondly, is cellulose or fiberglass blown insulation better? At 3.5 per inch of material, the R-value of blown-in cellulose is 23% better per inch than fiberglass batts! According to research done at the Oak Ridge National Lab, fiberglass loses up to 50% of its R-value in very cold conditions; making cellulose a better choice for homes in northern climates.

Beside this, what type of blown insulation is best?

The best insulation options for an attic are open cell spray foam, fiberglass, and cellulose.

  • Cellulose is the oldest insulation material used for not only the attic, but other areas of the home as well.
  • Fiberglass is another traditional insulation material that consists of extremely fine glass fibers.

How far can insulation be blown?

A major remodeling project offers a good time to insulate with fiberglass batts, but otherwise, blow-in insulation offers a far easier method of improving the R-value of walls. The technicians typically drill two holes in each wall cavity, one about 12 inches from the ceiling, the other about 3 feet from the floor.

Related Question Answers

Aguas Velo

Professional

Can you put too much insulation in your attic?

Without proper ventilation, a home can build up too much moisture, especially in the attic (warm air rises), which can cause mold problems and, overall, lower indoor air quality. This is not to say that if you have mold in your home, too much insulation is the culprit.

Salut Pao

Professional

How many inches of insulation should be in an attic?

The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R-38 or about 10 to 14 inches, depending on insulation type.

Maricielo Diebelt

Professional

Should old attic insulation be removed?

Remove Old Insulation
Once there is no asbestos, mold, or rodents, it is generally safe to proceed with attic insulation removal yourself. Some insulation is easier to remove than others. Luckily homeowners are more likely to find the easier kind which is blown-in fiberglass or cellulose insulation.

Leonardo Strohkorb

Explainer

Can you lay insulation over electrical wires in attic?

If there is not anyinsulation in your attic, fit the insulation between the joists. Don't compress the insulation to fit behind pipes or wires. Instead cut to the middle of the batt's thickness so you have a flap under the wire and one over the wire.

Arhimo Saratxaga

Explainer

Can I put new insulation on top of old?

According to ENERGY STAR®, you can put new insulation over old insulation, “unless it is wet. The vapor retarder on top of or between layers of insulation can trap moisture. Any existing batt or roll insulation in the attic should have the facing against the attic drywall floor or no facing at all.

Zixuan Eizmendi

Explainer

What is the best blown insulation for attics?

The two main choices here are fiberglass and cellulose, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. They both insulate about the same, though, with R-vales in the 3 to 4 per inch range. Cellulose comes from recycled newspapers.

Radwan Jahnicke

Pundit

What is the best insulation for an attic?

Loose-Fill Insulation
Cellulose is the most effective material and has an R-value of 2.2 to 3.8 per inch, but if exposed to moisture it can get moldy.

Sheree Danisevich

Pundit

What is the best insulation for walls?

The most common insulation materials are fiberglass, cellulose and foam. Insulation types include loose fill, batts, rolls, foam board, spray board and vapor barriers. Tip: The type of insulation you need depends on which type is currently installed and the required R-value.

Eliz Labaki

Pundit

What is the best material for insulation?

Mineral wool is effective, but not fire resistant. Cellulose is fire resistant, eco-friendly, and effective, but hard to apply. Polyurethane is an all around good insulation product, though not particularly eco-friendly. Polystyrene is a diverse insulation material, but its safety is debated.

Tory Heyde

Pundit

What kind of insulation should I use for interior walls?

Fiberglass batts, foam or cellulose can be used to insulate the interior walls. The third area that needs proper insulation is the floors. Rigid foam boards and traditional fiberglass batts work best on the floors.

Ethelyn Petrovici

Teacher

When should I replace attic insulation?

Insulation should also be replaced, in some cases sooner than 15 years, if it is no longer doing its job properly. You'll know it needs to be replaced if there are insulation leaks or if it is peeling from the walls.

Dobri Luib

Teacher

What is blown in insulation made of?

There are three general types of blown insulation materials currently available: fiberglass, cellulose and rock wool. Fiberglass loose-fill insulation is made glass and sand that are spun or “blown” into fibers. This type of insulation is great for wall cavities and attics.

Shara Kouropoulos

Teacher

How do you insulate uninsulated walls?

Walls. You can also add insulation to existing walls without removing drywall, by cutting holes in the exterior siding. Blow either loose fill cellulose or spray foam into walls from the outside, with similar techniques.

Mireilla Orange

Reviewer

How do I know if I have asbestos insulation?

Look for loose fibers between your walls and in your ceilings. Keep an eye out for light, fluffy fibers that are used as insulation. They could also be found stuffed in paper bags and inserted into floor joists. It could be loose-fill asbestos fiber, and is extremely dangerous.

Yamilet Komatsu

Reviewer

What is the best R value for insulation?

Vacuum insulated panels have the highest R-value, approximately R-45 (in U.S. units) per inch; aerogel has the next highest R-value (about R-10 to R-30 per inch), followed by polyurethane (PUR) and phenolic foam insulations with R-7 per inch.

Rayane Creuzberg

Reviewer

How long will Cellulose Insulation last?

20 to 30 years

Orlin Loidi

Reviewer

Is it OK to put cellulose insulation over fiberglass?

Any type of attic insulation can be installed over any other type: fiberglass over cellulose, cellulose over fiberglass -- it makes no difference. The fiberglass must be unfaced, however, or encased in perforated poly bags. Otherwise, condensation could develop on the facing.

Karmen Bienzle

Supporter

How do I know if my insulation is cellulose or fiberglass?

Cellulose Vs Fiberglass which blown in insulation material is best: If you compare both the material type with regards to their R-value per inch then fiberglass has approx. 2.1 – 2.7 R per inch while Cellulose has an R-value of 3.5- 3.7 per inch.

Jenee Uhlin

Supporter

Is cellulose insulation dangerous?

Cellulose insulation is safe. It is made of paper, but the chemical treatment provides it with permanent fire resistance. In fact, many professionals consider cellulose to be more fire-safe than fiberglass.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

10

18th May, 2020

15

81% of readers found this page helpful.

4.4/5

Click a star to add your vote

Similar Asks
Trending