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What is blown-in insulation in Corning NY

What is Blown-in Insulation?

Blown-in insulation – sometimes referred to as just “blown” insulation – is a very common insulation type. In this post we’ll talk about what blown-in insulation is, the two different types, and the properties of each.

What is it?

There’s nothing magic about blown-in insulation. The name refers to the way the insulation is installed rather than what it is physically made of. Blown-in insulation is made off the same physical materials as certain other insulation types, and offers many of the same benefits of other types of insulation. However, blown-in insulation is generally limited to just two material types: cellulose and fiberglass.

Whether cellulose or fiberglass, the final blown-in insulation is a loose mass of material that doesn’t have a particular shape or form. You could think of it like raw cotton (or cotton candy, for that matter) in its physical appearance. If fact, after installation it often looks like a fluffy white cloud.

Cellulose and fiberglass share some properties, and they have a few differences. These are listed below. Your insulation technician will be able to better explain to you which type of blown-in insulation is best for your home.

Blown-in Cellulose

Cellulose consists of cellulose fibers made from newspaper, cardboard, or wood, and may or may not have other materials – known as binders – added to help bind the cellulose together. The cellulose is chemically treated with fire retarding borate.

Blown-in cellulose has the following properties:

• It is fire resistant. It’s a little known fact, but cellulose is one of the best materials for retarding fire.
• It is an excellent insulator. Cellulose is top-tier at controlling heat transfer when properly installed.
• It resists pests. Cellulose is treated with boric acid, a pesticide that repels termites, fleas, ants, and numerous other insects.
• It is a good sound absorber. All insulation materials are rated for their quality of noise reduction and the amount of sound they can absorb. Cellulose is able to absorb up to 80% of the sound that tries to pass through it.
• It is environmentally friendly. Over 80% of blown-in cellulose is made from recycled paper. This makes it the best option when environmental responsibility tops the list of insulation concerns.
• It does not irritate human skin. There are no glass fibers or other materials that cause skin irritation, so it is possible to handle cellulose without gloves or other skin protection. Similarly, there are no respiratory issues with this type of insulation – it will not irritate the lungs.
• It loses some effectiveness over time. Because it’s an organic material, it will settle and lose some of its R-Value as the years go by. Its insulation properties won’t decay to nothing, but its R-Value will be greater when first installed.

Blown-in Fiberglass

Fiberglass is made from glass and other materials that are melted and spun into fibers. The end result is a material that that has a texture similar to wool.

• It is an excellent insulator. Glass doesn’t conduct heat, so fiberglass stops heat from moving through your ceiling and walls.
• It resists fire. Glass fibers are not flammable and they don’t combust. Fiberglass is one of the best materials for fire resistance.
• It resists moisture. In fact, it acts like a vapor barrier. It stops or hinders mold and mildew, and it helps prevent condensation from forming by regulating attic temperatures.
• It is environmentally friendly. Most blown-in fiberglass is made of recycled materials. Much of the rest of it is made from sand. No dangerous chemicals are used to create the glass fibers.
• It is lightweight. The micron-thin strands of blown glass are light by themselves, and they are put together in a loose, cottony form that doesn’t increase much in weight even when bulked together.
• It does not decay. Fiberglass will not lose much, if any, of its effectiveness over time. Its initial R-Value should stay basically the same over the life of the installation.

Why is it Called Blown-in?

As mentioned previously, the name of the insulation comes from the way it is installed. It is literally blown into place by a mechanical device which, effectively, isn’t much different from a giant vacuum cleaner run in reverse. The “blower” is usually a machine inside the installer’s work vehicle, and a long hose is run to the point of installation.

Installation of blown-in insulation is most common in the attic, where it fills spaces between studs and joists, and covers the attic floor. After insulation is blown in as described above, additional insulation may then be installed behind a special fabric to create a seamless blanket that fills in voids such as those around electrical protrusions.

Considerations for Using Blown-in Insulation

Blown-in insulation is almost always a great option – both for new construction and when upgrading existing insulation. There are, however, many things to consider when deciding whether or not to have blown-in insulation installed. The attic absolutely must have proper ventilation to allow for air circulation. It might be necessary to install rafter vents in the attic before installing blown-in insulation so that air circulation is not a problem. If there are no rafter vents – or not enough of them – then blown-in insulation can restrict airflow to such a degree that attic temperatures during summer months will increase to unacceptable levels.

Even if blown-in insulation makes sense for your home, there are other considerations that will affect how well it does its job. The age of your home can make a huge difference in the types of insulation that will be used, and whether or not other measures must be taken for blown-in insulation to be effective. If your home was built before 1950, it may not have any insulation, may have grossly inadequate insulation, or may even have had insulation installed in a dangerous way. It may be that your home requires outside cladding, weather barrier materials, flashing, air sealing, or other upgrades for any type of insulation to work the way it was designed.  

What Next?

You may be feeling information overload at this point. There are many things to consider in choosing whether or not to use blown-in insulation. If blown-in insulation is used, then there is the decision between cellulose and fiberglass.

An inspection by a qualified insulation expert and a consultation with that expert is the best thing you can do to start your journey toward peace of mind and energy efficiency. At Koala Insulation, our technicians are experts in all kinds of insulation materials and installation techniques. Our experts bring state-of-the-art equipment with them to thoroughly inspect your home or building top to bottom, inside and out. They will give you a detailed assessment of your home. They will design a custom solution to meet your needs, and will help answer your questions about the status of your insulation. And since every building is unique, your expert may suggest a combination of installation options to protect your home from noise, cold, heat, moisture, and pests.

Don’t forget that the investment you make today will reap years of energy-saving benefits. Contact us now to schedule a consultation to start your journey toward higher energy efficiency and better protection for your home.