What are the disadvantages of cellulose insulation?
Cellulose insulation is heavy, and compacts any underlying insulation. Because cellulose insulation is paper, it absorbs moisture when it rains, and in areas of high humidity. Cellulose insulation degrades over time and has to be replaced. Cellulose insulation promotes the growth of mold & mildew in your attic.
Is cellulose insulation safe to breathe?
Absolutely! And here's why… It's just bits of shredded paper and a few added substances to treat the material and make it fire retardant. There are no dangers of very fine fibres entering your breathing system or causing any long-term damage if inhaled.
Is cellulose insulation good for attics?
In attics, blown-in cellulose is one of the best options due to the hard-to-reach areas and numerous obstructions present in ceilings. Many homeowners pair blown-in insulation with batt insulation in attics to create a more complete and more effective insulated barrier for their homes.
What is the safest insulation for an attic?
Blown-in cellulose insulation is one of the best options on the market. This type of insulation is made from recycled paper products, making it an environmentally-friendly choice. Cellulose insulation is treated with fire retardants, making it much safer than other types of insulation, such as fiberglass.
What are the disadvantages of cellulose?
Some cellulose insulation materials can absorb up to 130 percent water by weight. Cellulose can get wet due to condensation, lack of air seal, or leaks in the home. The material dries very slowly after it absorbs the water, which causes it to deteriorate and settle.
Does cellulose cause mold?
Although it is possible for mold to grow on cellulose insulation in extreme circumstances, this would only happen in conditions such as a leak or a flood. To put this another way is to say that mold will grow in cellulose insulation but only in situations where mold would be growing everywhere else as well.
Do mice like cellulose insulation?
Rodents generally are not drawn to cellulose insulation, either. This is because it's loose and tends to fall in on itself. It's not ideal for burrowing and building a nest. You can pretty easily install cellulose yourself, but you have to rent a special machine to blow it into the walls of your attic.
Does cellulose insulation attract termites?
The answer is no—termites do not feed on cellulose insulation, and in fact, this material can actually repel termites. Cellulose insulation doesn't attract termites. It's treated with fire-retardant chemicals that insects are not drawn to.
What is best type of attic insulation?
If you check with the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association, they'll assure you that fiberglass or mineral wool is definitely your best choice for attic insulation.
Which is better blown in fiberglass or cellulose?
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.
What is the healthiest type of insulation?
5 Healthiest Insulation Options For Your HomeCork. When it comes to healthy insulation, cork tops the list, at least according to a report done by Energy Efficiency For All. ... FIberglass. ... Cellulose. ... Recycled Cotton. ... Sheep's Wool.
Does cellulose insulation contain asbestos?
It is made mostly from recycled paper, along with cardboard, newspaper, hemp and straw. The insulation material is treated with boric acid to make it resistant to fire. Unlike asbestos, cellulose is safe for human exposure and does not pose a risk of cancer.
Is cellulose insulation asbestos?
Cellulose insulation can be differentiated from asbestos by: Material. Cellulose insulation is made from recycled paper products like cardboard and newspaper, whereas asbestos insulation is mineral-based. Texture.
Is cellulose insulation safer than fiberglass?
Cellulose insulation is safe. In fact, many professionals consider cellulose to be more fire-safe than fiberglass. This claim rests on the fact that cellulose fibers are more tightly packed, effectively choking wall cavities of combustion air, preventing the spread of fire through framing cavities.
Does blown in cellulose have asbestos?
A closer inspection indicates this gray puffy material has no minerals, but appears like gray shredded paper. This means cellulose insulation does not contain asbestos and is a safe insulation, blown into the cavities.
Is blown in cellulose toxic?
Blown-in cellulose insulation is fire retardant It is completely safe to use it around contemporary light fixtures and/or recessed cans.
What Is Loose Fill Blown Cellulose Insulation?
Cellulose insulation is a type of wood- or paper-based product. It insulates empty spaces in the structural part of a house to slow down the transm...
How Cellulose Insulation Is Blown Into The Home
The most common type that homeowners will encounter is called loose fill cellulose insulation. This type of cellulose is contrasted by a different...
Cellulose Insulation Advantages
1. Loose-fill cellulose insulation can settle around and conform to most of the obstructions found in walls and attics. 2. Loose fill cellulose has...
Cellulose Insulation Problems
1. While settling is one of blown-in cellulose insulation's advantages, this can also be a problem, mostly with walls. Over time, the insulation ca...
Is Cellulose Insulation Considered Green?
With cellulose, eco-friendliness is a debatable issue. On one hand, it is green because it uses up to 85 percent recycled materials. However, the r...
Cellulose vs. Fiberglass and Other Types
With closed walls, you have few other choices but to blow in insulation. Unless your home is going through some remodeling where the walls are bein...
Is Blown Cellulose Insulation A Fire Hazard?
Cellulose insulation's source paper in its raw state is combustible. However, during manufacturing, cellulose insulation is treated with borates, w...
Why is cellulose insulation so heavy?
Cellulose insulation is heavy, and compacts any underlying insulation. Because cellulose insulation is paper, it absorbs moisture when it rains, and in areas of high humidity. Cellulose insulation degrades over time and has to be replaced. Cellulose insulation promotes the growth of mold & mildew in your attic.
What happens to water in attic?
What happens to that water? Because your attic is vented, with about 2 sunny days, that small amount of moisture has evaporated to the atmosphere.
Does Applegate cellulose have a warranty?
In fact, during my last 20+ years, both Applegate and Cocoon (U.S. Green Fiber) cellulose came with a limited warranty that guaranteed the R Value for the lifetime of the structure. Currently (2021), Applegate continues to guarantee our cellulose insulation to perform at the installed R Value for the lifetime of the structure, when installed properly, etc.
Can you put cellulose insulation on top of fiberglass insulation?
Often we install several inches of cellulose insulation on top of a pre-existing fiberglass or rockwool insulation. The concern is that the underlying insulation will be compacted somewhat by the heavier cellulose insulation.
Does cellulose insulation help with mold?
Cellulose insulation promotes the growth of mold & mildew in your attic.
Is cellulose insulation mold resistant?
This is simply not true. Cellulose Insulation is no more subject to mold contamination than any other building material. Your home is constructed with wood (cellulose) throughout! Published studies indicate that the hygroscopic nature of cellulose insulation results in superior moisture handling characteristics.
What is cellulose insulation?
Cellulose insulation is a favorite of the green home building movement. Insulation is a recycled insulation which makes it a very popular material to insulate buildings. It is made from newspaper which is always in ample supply. There are several different ways that the newspaper is processed.
Why is newspaper insulation favored?
This process is the favored process because you get a much denser material. Once the newspaper has been reduced to fibers a mold inhibiting chemical and a fire retardant chemical is mixed with the fibers. In some cases dry binders are mixed in. The newly formed insulation is bagged up and shipped to building suppliers.
Is cellulose better than fiberglass insulation?
3. Energy Conservation Performance. Cellulose performs better than fiberglass insulation when it comes to reducing the cost of energy.
Does turning newspaper into insulation require bleaching?
This requires quite a bit of energy and the use of harsh chemicals that can generate pollution. Turning newspaper into insulation does not require the de inking process nor does it require a bleaching process as a matter of fact it does not even require that much energy which makes it a much better option. 2. Low Tech Process.
Can you retrofit a house with insulation?
Retrofitting homes with this type of insulation is also relatively easy. Pieces of siding are removed and small holes are drilled in the wall and the cellulose is blown in.
Can you use air to install cellulose?
Cellulose installation can be done in either a dry installation method or a wet method. It can be blown in by using air or spread by hand. The mix can be wet or dry when applied. There are no measurements, no cutting, no rolling out the insulation. It is an easy to do install.
Is boric acid toxic?
Apparently according to the British Journal of Industrial Medicine in an article published in 1992 “Boric acid itself is a toxic material and can be lethal to humans when ingested in gram quantities. It is not considered that the inhalation of cellulose insulation dust could approach this lethal toxicity but the heavily impregnated respirable cellulose dust will liberate the readily soluble boric acid in significant amounts in lung tissue. Symptoms of sublethal toxicity to boric acid include abdominal pain, liver, kidney, and lung dysfunction and severe exfoliative dermatitis.”
How is cellulose blown into the attic?
The cellulose is blown into the attic or walls through long, flexible tubes that run from the blower to an application nozzle. The cellulose is allowed to fill the cavities or blanket existing insulation. No pressure is placed on the cellulose; it is allowed to settle over time. Walls are patched up and painted over.
What Is Loose-Fill Cellulose Insulation?
Cellulose insulation is thick, dense, and clumpy, with a consistency much like down feathers. The chief value of this shape and size is that the insulation can fit in enclosed areas (such as walls) and can conform around obstructions such as wires and ducts (found both in walls and in attics).
How is cellulose fed into an insulation blower?
Densely packed bales of cellulose are fed into the hopper of an insulation blower powered by an electric motor. Rotating teeth or prongs at the bottom of the hopper fluff up the cellulose.
What is the best insulation for a wall?
There are a number of advantages to using cellulose insulation over other types: 1 Loose-fill cellulose insulation can settle around and conform to most of the obstructions found in walls and attics. 2 Loose-fill cellulose is relatively inexpensive, yet still has an R-value of about 3.5 per inch of thickness, compared to fiberglass' R-value between R3 to R4 per inch. 3 When walls are already finished, injecting loose-fill cellulose insulation is one of the few ways of adding insulation. One alternative is to pull down the drywall and use fiberglass batts. 4 Cellulose insulation stands up reasonably well against insects and vermin because it is treated with borates.
Why is settling in attics bad?
Settling in attics is less problematic for two reasons. First, attic spaces can be overfilled to account for settling. Second, when cellulose insulation in attics settles, no empty spaces are formed. When cellulose soaks up moisture in enclosed areas, it can take a long time to dry out.
Where does cellulose come from?
Cellulose insulation technically can come from any cellular plant source, such as corncobs or sisal. But commercial cellulose insulations are generally derived from wood, and more specifically from paper: recycled newspapers, cardboard, office paper, and other common waste paper products.
Can you spray in insulation on attic?
Here, the traditional favorite is blow-in cellulose insulation, although spray-in foam is becoming steadily more common. With open walls, you can install fiberglass roll insulation, although spray-applied foam insulation is also possible. For attics, the joists are often open and accessible and thus could be insulated with ...
Is cellulose insulation safe?
Some insulation materials may lead to issues such as skin irritation, rashes, nose and throat soreness, redness of the eyes, stomach irritation, and nausea. Also, some of them are often a threat to public safety because they can cause health issues during building demolitions. However, cellulose insulation does not have any adverse impacts on health or safety. It is a safer choice of insulation for homes and other construction.
Is cellulose insulation good for the environment?
Cellulose insulation is mostly comprised of recycled paper materials, which is why it is environmentally friendly. It uses around twice the amount of recycled material as compared to other insulating materials such as fibreglass. It requires less energy for production, does not cause pollution, and is an energy-efficient attic insulation material.
Is cellulose insulation better than fibreglass insulation?
Cellulose and blown fibreglass are two commonly used and less-expensive insulation materials used in residential properties. Although they are alike in some respects, cellulose insulation is a better option as compared to fibreglass insulation in many ways.
What type of insulation is used in attics?
Blown-in cellulose insulation is one of the most common insulation types now used in attics and in an existing closed wall. It is considered preferable by many as a result of its eco-friendly properties and its ability to conform to corners, uniquely shaped spaces, and around obstructions such as ducts or electrical wires and other penetrations.
Why Blown-In Cellulose?
The fiberglass particles are an irritant to the skin and can be dangerous if inhaled into the respiratory or digestive tracts. Plus, batt style insulation must be cut to fit penetrations, tight corners, or irregularly shaped spaces, which leaves gaps that increase the transmission of heat or cold.
How Is Blown-In Insulation Installed?
Even though it winds up being a loose-filled product, cellulose insulation comes in tightly-packed bales. These are loaded into hoppers after which:
How does loose fill insulation work?
The loose fill is then blown through long flexible tubes that are directed into the attic or wall spaces. It is allowed to settle over time (no pressure is needed to “press” it into place or compact it into a more dense product. In fact, its lack of density is part of what makes loose-fill insulation work so well.
What is batt insulation made of?
Cellulose insulation is made from almost 100% recycled wood and paper products , which means it meets most green building certification requirements.
What is R value insulation?
While R-values are the industry standard for “grading” insulation materials , there is more to it than that. R-values only taking the specific product into consideration. The draftiest home in the world won’t benefit from much by replacement insulation with a high R-value because the home’s insulation system - air sealing, moisture control, ventilation, and insulation - all work together as a whole.
Is cellulose insulation eco friendly?
In addition to its lack of toxic chemicals or particles, cellulose insulation is considered eco-friendly because:
Cellulose Insulation
Higher R-Value per inch. Cellulose has an R-value of 3.5 - 3.7 per inch; fiberglass has 2.1-2.7 R per inch.
Fiberglass Insulation
Fiberglass carries a brand name recognition, such as Owens Corning "Pink Panther" - a household name.
What is cellulose insulation?
Cellulose insulation is constructed of paper products. First, newspapers, magazines, and various grades of cardboard are shredded, crushed, pounded and milled. Next, the material is treated with borate pest control products and chemicals to make it flame retardant. However according to the book Principles of Home Inspection, cellulose is inclined to absorb water. The water tends to release allergens associated with the ink used on some of the printed paper included in its construction. Furthermore, the water also serves to dilute the potency of both the borates and the fireproofing chemicals. A study conducted by the California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation found that when testing cellulose insulation samples, the majority failed the fire safety test within a six month period following installation. It has also proven to cause respiratory problems to those with ink allergies.
Is polystyrene foam toxic?
Because many wires and centralized electrical connections are located in the attic, so fire must be deemed a major concern. When polystyrene foam is ignited, it burns quickly and produces a smoke that is highly toxic.
Is vermiculite good for insulation?
Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral. Because it was found to be inflammable, it was seen as a good insulation alternative. According to the EPA, most of the vermiculite used throughout the world came from a mine near Libby, Montana. It was discovered that the mine also contained natural deposits of asbestos. Subsequent testing of the vermiculite taken from that site revealed that it had been contaminated by the asbestos. The mine was forced to close in 1990, however vermiculite ore continues to be mined in other countries as well as three sites here in the United States. It still serves as insulation in many homes. Unfortunately, even vermiculite from the new mines is believed to contain small amounts of asbestos fibers. As with other forms of asbestos related insulation, the EPA recommends it not be disturbed. It is also important not to let children play in areas where this type of insulation is present.
Is fiberglass insulation safe?
But these attics are not pretty in in pink . Although fiberglass was believed to be an effective and safe alternative to asbestos, environmental investigations conducted during the 1990s became concerned when they realized it was manufactured with a formaldehyde binder. Today, many scientists are comparing the dangers of fiberglass insulation with those of asbestos.
Does Delaware Valley offer attic inspections?
Now that you are more informed about attic insulation products, you may want to have a professional take a look at your attic. Delaware Valley Home Eco-Tech (Attics And More) offers FREE attic inspections. Our inspectors are certified and highly professional. These are health, safety and energy driven inspections… NOT sales calls. They provide a great opportunity to get the facts about your insulation without costing you a dime. Why not call and see if there are any monsters hiding in your attic. 856-809-2744.
Is it important to insulate your attic?
Insulating your attic is important. Choosing a healthy insulation product is crucial. You may feel good about knowing your attic is insulated? But do you know the kind of insulation you have? If you don’t, you may have a silent monster invading your home and affecting the safety and health of your family. Let’s take a look:
Is zonolite insulation harmful?
This insulation, primarily used between the 1940s and 1990s, was found to be tainted with asbestos. As a result, it was proven to be harmful to residents. Unfortunately, Zonolite remains in many attics and homes throughout the United States. Because of the high levels of asbestos it contains it continues to pose major health dangers including, asbestosis and lung cancer.
