Why is Blown-In Insulation the Best Option for Attic Ceiling Insulation?

blown-in-insulation-the-best-option
December 27, 2021

Choose blown-in insulation to insulate your attic.

Is it necessary to insulate your house? The answer is a big yes!

Insulation is an excellent way to improve the energy efficiency in your home. Quality insulation can help reduce the cost of heating and cooling your house. Estimates from the Department of Energy range from 10% to 50% savings. You can imagine how much smaller your electricity bills will be.

No matter how big or what material your house is built with, you will need a well-insulated attic to keep the temperature consistent and your energy costs low. Depending on the season, heat builds in your attic, making your home colder or hotter. Thus, one of the best ways to regulate indoor temperatures is through blown-in home insulation.

What is Blown-In Home Insulation?

Blown-in attic insulation, or loose fill insulation, is a type of insulation installed using special equipment that “blows” the insulation into your attic. It has a consistency comparable to down feathers and may be used in tight spaces like cables, walls, and ducts.

Blown-in insulation is often made from a range of recycled materials. This includes cardboard, newspaper, household garbage, and glass. Cotton, fiberglass, and mineral wool can all be used as loose-fill insulation, although fiberglass is usually the most popular option.

Blown-in fiberglass insulation is most suitable for sealing and filling gaps in narrow spaces around cables, pipes, or other problematic construction. It is the contractors’ preferred choice for rooms with unusual sizes and forms since you can blow the insulation into small corners, nooks, and crannies where batts will be hard to fit.

Types of Blown-in Insulation

Each type of blown-in insulation comes with pros and cons. Get to know the most common choices below to see which would fit your needs and requirements best. Blown-in attic insulation prevents warm air from exiting your home in colder temperatures. During the summer, it also keeps the heat out of your home.

  1. Fiberglass Insulation

Fiberglass is another common blown-in attic insulation material. It is the most cost-effective insulating choice for homeowners. Some fiberglass insulation contains 53-73% of recycled glass, which has the extra virtue of not settling after installation. It also makes your attic fire-safe by preventing it from catching fire.

  1. Cellulose Insulation

Cellulose blown in insulation is a cost-effective choice for home insulation since it is created from recycled paper. It also includes the chemical borate, making it resistant to fire and insects. Cellulose is made with recycled materials like cardboard and newspaper, making it the top choice for eco-conscious households.

Aside from this, cellulose insulation is treated to prevent mold and fire. If the cellulose gets wet—via a leaking roof or pipe—it loses its fluffiness and becomes compacted and soggy, lowering its R-value.

  1. Rock Wool Insulation

Blown-in insulation is sometimes known as mineral wool and is created from blast furnace slag—a byproduct of burning iron and iron alloys. This light and airy product has the texture of wool from a raw sheep. This type of insulation is more expensive than fiberglass or cellulose, but it has superior fire resistance.

Advantages of Blown-In Insulation

Insulating an attic with blown-in insulation comes with many advantages that homeowners should know.

Here are some of the main benefits:

  1. Regulate Indoor Temperature

Attics and walls are easy to insulate with blown-in insulation since it uses a machine for installation. Furthermore, this type of insulation may cover microscopic gaps and holes when it settles. This fills in the small and sneaky locations where chilly air may otherwise enter.

  1. Increased Soundproofing Capabilities

Blown-in insulation creates an insulating blanket and helps decrease sound transmission between the outside and the interiors, reducing undesired noise.

  1. Availability of Materials

Blown-in insulation is easy to find since most home improvement retailers and lumberyards have cellulose and loose-fill fiberglass insulation in bags. It might be harder to find rock wool insulation since it is a specialty item.

If you work with professionals, sourcing should not be an issue as they likely already have ready stock for different insulation materials.

  1. Blown-In Insulation Fills Every Nook and Cranny

Blown-in attic insulation can be used when rolled-up batt insulation is too narrow or thin. It is beneficial to fill the gaps between heaters and air conditioners in your attic, keep them well insulated, and maximize available space.

Blown-in insulation can be stacked on top of existing insulation or used to reinforce sections that are already well-insulated.

Hire Professionals to Install Blown-in Insulation Today

The importance of installing insulation at home goes far beyond structural integrity. With adequate insulation, you can stay comfortable throughout the year and maximize energy efficiency to cut down on your monthly bills.

For more information on our attic insulation installation, air sealing, and insulation removal services, call Joe Blows Insulation today, at 727-656-9785 to schedule a free consultation.