Insulating your home is an invaluable investment that can save money on energy bills, but which insulation type should you select?
Fiberglass insulation can be made with recycled materials and treated with borate to make it fireproof and repel pests, but cellulose is another viable choice for insulation needs. This form of material features fire-retardant qualities while simultaneously being toxic to pests.
To weigh your options and make an enlightened decision about insulation, check out this page for more details.
1. It’s made of recycled materials
Blowing insulation’s primary advantage lies in its use of recycled materials, making it more eco-friendly than its fiberglass counterpart due to reduced landfill waste and energy conservation, plus no manufacturing pollution such as that produced during fiberglass production.
Fiberglass insulation comprises limestone, soda ash, silica sand, and recycled glass cullet that has been transformed into batts that can easily fit inside wall cavities and between beams and studs for easy installation. It boasts an R-value between 3.5 to 3.8 per inch.
Insulating an attic, existing wall, or any other space within your home requires various insulation options; spray foams, rock wool, cotton and cellulose insulation materials offer many possibilities that can be easily applied by spraying, stapling, nailing or blowing into place.
Blow-in cellulose insulation is an eco-friendly choice that homeowners with green intentions often choose since its components come from recycled paper products. As loose-fill insulation, this type can be mechanically blown into walls, attic floors and ceilings to slow heat transfer between rooms. Sometimes, it’s treated with flame retardants or borates, which prevent mold growth and repel pests.
Sheep’s wool insulation, on the other hand, consists of actual sheep wool that has been cleaned and dried before being compressed into dense blankets for insulation use. As a natural thermal insulator, it can either be sprayed on to fill empty spaces, blown in as needed or compressed into dense blankets for storage purposes.
Sheep’s wool typically boasts an R-value between 3.6 and 3.7 per inch while being ten percent more costly than fiberglass insulation.
2. It’s fire retardant
One of the most frequently asked questions by homeowners regarding blown insulation is its fire resistance. Still, the good news is it is a much safer option than traditional fiberglass batt insulation. Blown insulation (commonly referred to as loose-fill or cellulose insulation) consists of organic materials treated with fire retardant chemicals to make it fireproof.
Plus, it can be installed with a vapor barrier to avoid exposure to moisture, which could spark a fire.
Blown insulation is another highly energy-efficient option, ideal for attics to maximize energy savings, but can also be installed in walls and basement headers for more significant energy savings. Furthermore, professional installation typically only takes several hours.
Though you may hear stories about insulation catching fire, these are generally falsehoods. Most attic fires in homes begin in areas with major electrical issues. Fires caused by improper wiring during repair work often start up again with hot wires coming into contact with combustible insulation and starting up again as flames.
3. It’s easy to install
Even though many homes are under-insulated, ensuring your attic and crawl space are adequately insulated can help you save on energy costs. Blown insulation (also called loose fill) offers an economical and straightforward method for insulation.
Consisting of tiny pieces of material (think confetti) blown by service experts into walls and attics using long hoses, this method helps seal small gaps to stop hot air from entering during the summer and cold air from leaving during winter.
Blown insulation works exceptionally well in existing homes because it fills hard-to-reach spots more quickly than other forms. This is particularly relevant in attic spaces with knee walls — vertical walls that protrude into your attic.
Fiberglass batt insulation may not work well because you must tear down walls, reinstall them, and install strips of fiberglass insulation, which can be an expensive process. Blown insulation offers a more accessible alternative, as its installation involves being “shot” onto walls from an automated machine.
4. It’s affordable
If you want to increase energy efficiency and lower heating costs in your home, blown insulation is a fantastic choice. It helps stop heat entering in summer while simultaneously trapping cool air inside – saving both money and space during wintertime. With its proven record of success and cost-cutting benefits over time, blown insulation offers long-term savings potential.
In addition, blown insulation is more environmentally friendly than fiberglass insulation, which comes from traditional sources and uses a lot of fossil fuels. By contrast, blown insulation uses recycled materials like cellulose and mineral wool that need far fewer resources for production compared to their synthetic counterparts.
While blown insulation initially costs more than traditional fiberglass blankets, its payback can be substantial. Well-insulated attics can reduce energy bills by 10% to 50%. And its energy efficiency means it will pay for itself quickly.
Blown insulation is also more cost-effective than other forms of insulating materials, costing between $1 and $1.50 per square foot for fiberglass blown insulation and $2 to $4 for dense-pack cellulose.
Blowing insulation offers many advantages for homeowners, including its ability to reach small spaces and crevices that conventional rolls or blankets cannot reach. However, homeowners may still struggle with its initial expense. Luckily, numerous incentives, such as federal and state tax credits, exist that can help offset its expense.
