How to Tell if Blown-in Cellulose Insulation Is Installed Right
Maximizing the insulation in your home is one of the most effective steps you can take to reduce the heating and cooling requirements for your home. Knowing the type and thickness of your insulation will help you to determine any additional insulation needs. Blown-in insulation is the best option to ensure a tight and continuous barrier of insulation. The following steps will help determine if your cellulose insulation is installed correctly. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
-
1
Put on a dust mask and safety glasses.
-
2
Look in the attic and determine the depth of insulation. Cellulose blown-in insulation has a R-value of 3.5 per inch. So for an R-30 value, your attic needs 8 1/2 to 9 inches of cellulose insulation. Use a ruler to measure down through the insulation to the sheet rock. A R-value indicates an insulation's resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. R-value is measured in inches, so a R-value of 3.5 multiplied by 8 1/2 inches of insulation equals an R-value of 29.75.
-
-
3
Use a flashlight to see if the insulation was blown in a continuous layer without low spots.
-
4
Check that the insulation was blown around and under any duct work and that no spots were missed.
-
5
Determine whether the insulation goes all the way to exterior wall.
-
6
Verify whether there are soffit insulation baffels attached between the roof trusses and whether they run down to the soffit and extend above the layer of insulation. A soffit insulation baffle keeps insulation from getting into the soffit. It is made of non-porous 100 percent recycled PVC, which does not allow air penetration into fibrous or blown insulation but does allow air to flow from the soffit vents to the attic vents.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Additional insulation will help to reduce the penetration of exterior noise.
Cellulose blown-in insulation looks like shredded newspaper.
Fiberglass insulation can itch and is dangerous to breathe.
Blown-in cellulose can raise a lot of dust when disturbed.
When working in the attic be very careful not to step onto the drywall---it will not support your weight, so serious injury is possible.
