Blown in attic insulation can help make your home more energy efficient and to keep your energy bills in check. Heating and cooling accounts for 50% to 70% of the energy usage in the average American home. Inadequate insulation and air leakage are leading causes of energy waste in most homes.
As its name suggests, blown in attic insulation is blown into an attic space through a hose that’s attached to a specialized blower machine. Blown in attic insulation, or often called loose fill insulation, is a type of insulation that’s made up of loose particles that are blown into an attic or wall filling all the air gaps, preventing your heating and cooling from escaping your home.
There are two varieties of blown in insulation: an eco-friendly, cellulose insulation made from recycled materials like newspaper, and an insulating material made from fiberglass. We use cellulose insulation in about 95% of our Northwest attic insulation jobs. Our “Northwest Blend” cellulose is manufactured specifically for us and is the safest and greenest on the market. It is treated with 100% borate for fire, mold, and insect resistance. Our cellulose product offers a more even application and does not shrink or sink as does fiberglass material.
When compared to other choices, blown in attic insulation is the most cost-effective option and is relatively easy to install, which means an insulation expert like Crawl Pros can have it installed usually on the same day.
How Blown in Attic Insulation Works
To maintain comfort in your home during the winter months, the heat lost in the winter must be replaced by your heating system. Conversely, the heat gained in the summer must be removed by your air conditioner. Properly insulated attics help decrease this air flow by providing an effective resistance to the flow of heat.
Heat flows naturally from a warmer place to a cooler space. In winter, heat flow moves directly from heated living spaces to adjacent unheated attics, garages, or to the outdoors. Heat also moves indirectly through interior ceilings, walls, and floors – wherever there is a difference in temperature. In summer months, heat flows from outdoors to the house interior.
By upgrading or adding additional attic insulation you will realize several benefits including:
- reduced level of noise
- reduced energy costs
- better thermal comfort
- reduction on reliance on fossil fuels which helps in prevention of the greenhouse effect
- a fast and clean application
- the proper amount of insulation required for your space since blown in insulation can easily be controlled thus varying the the R-value. R-value levels can be varied using blown in insulation raging from an R-value of 15, and so many more inches until you have an R-value of 49
- resistance to moisture to prevent fungus or mold growth
How the Experts at Crawl Pros Handle Your Attic Insulation Needs
Crawl Pros experts start their work by examining your attic to determine the current insulation situation, potential air leaks and the level of insulation around your air ducts.
After we determine type and amount of insulation needed in your attic we completely seal the attic access point with a protection tent. The protection tent will seal a pathway from the attic access to the outdoors thus eliminating any dust or dirt entering your home. We also set up an air scrubber in the containment tent. The air scrubber takes in air, cleans it and eliminates contaminated air from a hose to the outdoors.
Blown In Attic Insulation Containment Tent
The next step Crawl Pros will take is to determine the depth of blown-in insulation you will need. The depth will depend on where you live and the R-value of the insulation you use. Cellulose insulation typically provides R-38 at a depth of 10 inches. You can check level of insulation needed by checking the map provided by the Department of Energy or get a specific recommendation using this Zip Code Insulation Calculator.
Crawl Pros technicians then thoroughly inspect areas that need to be repaired or resealed such as around air ducts.
Many older homes in the Northwest can, over time, allow lots of air to leak through ceilings and air ducts. Having poorly insulated or not insulated ducts may be the reason your register is blowing cold air when you need to get warm or warm air when you need to cool your home. As a result, you may experience higher than normal energy bills. Another issue with air ducts is “air leakage.” Crawl Pros will check that all ducts are tested for air leakage and sealed correctly. Some of the additional areas Crawl Pros checks for air leaks include:
- Chimneys
- Plumbing vents
- Recessed lights
- Exhaust fan housings
- Entry hatches
- Over interior partitions (i.e., the tops of interior walls)
From there, Crawl Pros technicians remove the existing insulation, remove rodent feces and any dead rodents. After the attic is clear of debris and insulation it is disinfected using a product called Expel. Expel Animal & Rodent Repellent is a patented blend of natural, non-toxic and biodegradable ingredients. It offers a powerful formula that immediately irritates an animals sense of smell and taste. This overwhelming sensation sends animals running. After a couple of unwelcome attempts, animals associate this sensation with your yard or home and learn to stay away. EXPEL does no harm to animals. It drives them away naturally.
Crawl Pros then installs the blown in attic insulation into all the corners and small spaces. Blown in insulation is great for low attics and insulating around obstructions. As the material is applied, the blown in insulation expands to fill up even the tiniest cracks and corners are sealed. When properly installed it can make your attic airtight.
Blown in Attic Insulation
Re-insulating your home saves money and energy, while allowing you to control the heating/cooling comfort level in your home and cutting your energy bills. You can be assured our experts at Crawl Pros care as much about your install as they would in their own homes.
We invite you to call Crawl Pros today at (866) 673-9626 for your free estimate for blown in attic insulation.