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Insulation Experts Since 1977

Insulation experts since 1977

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How Deep Should Cellulose Insulation Be in Your Attic?

Man’s hands holding cellulose insulation

Properly insulating your attic can prevent many unnecessary headaches and hassles. Having the correct amount of insulation not only reduces your energy costs but also ensures that your home remains at a comfortable temperature all year long. Proper insulation prevents erosion from water vapors and cuts back on heat buildup in your attic (which can make the shingles on your roof crack).

So now that you know why insulation in your attic is so essential, the next logical question is: How much cellulose insulation should be in your attic? Valley Insulation will answer this question in today’s blog.

Factors That Determine How Deep Your Insulation Should Be

Cellulose and fiberglass insulation are both common types of insulation used in homes. The preferred amount of cellulose insulation in your attic will vary depending on the following factors:

  • Where you live: Depending on where you live in the United States, you may need a higher or lower R-value of insulation. (R-value is a measure of thermal resistance or resistance to the flow of heat. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulation’s effectiveness.) Cincinnati has warm and humid summers and frigid winters, so a higher R-value is preferred.
  • How old your home is: If your house is more than ten years old, you’ll likely need to add more insulation to your attic. How much you need to add will depend on the current condition of your existing insulation. An experienced insulation contractor can assess your attic insulation and provide trustworthy recommendations.

How Deep Should Cellulose Insulation Be In a Cincinnati-Area Attic?

According to Energystar.gov, most attics’ recommended cellulose insulation level is to insulate to R-38 (about 10 to 14 inches). However, homeowners in the Cincinnati area should take into consideration the climate and adjust accordingly. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that attics in Cincinnati-area homes are insulated to an R-value of 38-60. For cellulose insulation, that’s about 13 to 16 inches deep.

Related Post: Does Cellulose Insulation Smell? Our Home Insulation Expert Answers

Need to Improve Your Attic Insulation? The Pros at Valley Insulation Can Help

Properly insulating your attic will make your home more comfortable and put money back in your wallet. Suppose you’d like to improve the existing insulation in your attic. In that case, a Valley Insulation professional can help you determine how much additional insulation is necessary and what type of insulation best fits your needs and budget. Contact us today at (513) 353-4100 to get a quote from one of our highly trained insulation installers.

Make Insulation Part of Your Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

As spring arrives, you look over your home and begin to prepare a physical and mental checklist. Things like trimming trees, removing leaves and debris from corners, power washing siding, and checking air conditioning units are probably topping the list. But when was the last time you checked your home insulation? 

Proper maintenance of your home insulation will prevent several issues including loss of heat or cool air, mold and mildew, and wood rot. It is less expensive to replace a few rolls of insulation than to tear out and rebuild floors, ceilings and walls. 

Related Post:  Why You Should Replace Spray Foam with Cellulose Insulation 

Water Damage 

Spring is known for increased rainfall. This is great for plants and grass, but not so for your insulation. There may be parts of your home that have been compromised over the years, allowing moisture in and onto your insulation. When this happens, the water has nowhere to go, so it stays in the insulation and becomes the perfect environment for mold and mildew growth. 

Mold spores release into the air, causing respiratory issues and triggering allergies. This can also add to damp and musty odors in the home. Wet insulation on or next to wood like floor joists and wall beams can absorb moisture as well, causing more mold and even rot. 

By checking your home insulation after every wet season, you will be able to identify these issues and have the insulation removed and new installed. 

Animals 

When colder temperatures arrive, smaller animals will seek shelter. This includes the less-inhabited parts of your home like the basement, attic and garage. Just because spring arrives doesn’t mean they will want to leave. Think of your home insulation as a large, warm blanket for small animals and rodents. 

They will also use your home insulation as a mating area, nest for offspring and a bathroom. Particles from these animals can become part of the air that you and your family breathe, potentially causing illness. 

One way to remedy this situation is by checking your insulation a few times a year. Look for droppings, nests, and the smell of urine or feces. This home insulation will have to be removed and destroyed. Look for any entry points that the animals used to find their way in and have them covered. 

Related Post: Why Insulation Removal Is Vital Before Getting New Home Insulation

Home Energy Audit  

Is there a part of your home that always feels hotter or colder, despite what the thermostat reads? When you put your hand on a wall, is it especially warm or cold? This could mean you need insulation inside the wall. Not having proper home insulation for your outside walls and in ceilings could be costing you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars every year. 

Consider having a home energy audit done on your home. An auditor will examine several things, including windows, walls and eaves to see if they can identify any issues that would cause leaks into and out of your home. An audit will also check your attic insulation to make sure it has been properly installed and applied evenly between walls. Even distribution is key to maintaining ambient temperatures, reducing cold spots in the home. 

Following these simple steps to ensure your insulation is working as efficiently as possible for your home will save you from unneeded repairs, reduce energy bills and increase the quality of the air you’re breathing. 

Rely on Valley Insulation for Home Insulation

Talk to the experts at Valley Insulation, serving the Greater Cincinnati area since 1977, for home insulation installation. Contact us online or call 513.353.4100 for more details on what we offer.

How Does Borate in Cellulose Insulation Prevent Pests?

Are insects in your home a major concern? There are ways to kill or repel them, and some of the solutions may surprise you — like your home insulation. 

Borate or borax in cellulose insulation can either kill bugs or work to repel them, helping to keep your home free from pesky pests. In today’s blog post from Valley Insulation, we explore how borate in cellulose insulation repels insects in your home for pest prevention. 

Related Post: Valley Insulation Explains How We Install Cellulose Insulation

What Is Borax and Borate? 

Borax (borate) is a naturally occurring substance first found around 700 B.C. in dried lake beds in Tibet. It wasn’t manufactured for widespread consumer use until the 1800s. Today, borax is typically found in white powder form, and it is most often used in laundry detergents and other household cleaning products. Borax is a mineral and salt combination derived from boric acid.

Borate is a colorless crystal or powder that dissolves in water. It’s typically used as an ingredient in insecticides, antiseptics, flame retardants, and neutron absorbers in nuclear reactors. 

Why Cellulose Insulation?

Borate is added to cellulose insulation during the manufacturing process. Our teams primarily use cellulose insulation as loose fill to insulate attics, lofts, and wall cavities. Nu-Wool, the cellulose insulation used by Valley Insulation, is made up of 86 percent recycled content, with 68 percent of that coming from recycled newspapers. While this is an excellent way to reduce the carbon footprint, it has to be mixed with borate to increase flame resistance and combustion retardancy. 

Related Post: How Cellulose Insulation Is Fire Retardant

Aside from killing and repelling bugs, borate is recognized as an effective Class 1 flame retardant additive, eliminating smoldering combustion. Borate is also an anti-fungal, reducing the risk of mold and fungus growing in the damp, darker areas of the home where insulation is typically used. 

Borate is not only colorless, but it is also odorless. Thus, it does not contribute to odors in the home. 

Related Post: Amazing Cellulose Insulation Facts

How Borate Attacks Insects 

Borate, when used as a repellent, will keep the home naturally insect-free. There are two ways to combat bugs in the home: repelling and exterminating. The borate used in the insulation manufacturing process can do both. 

Borate, when added to cellulose insulation properly, can repel insects. However, if there’s a breach in the home and a bug does enter, they can be exterminated through contact with the borate. 

Borate in powder form is present throughout cellulose insulation. The insect walks through the powder, which clings to the legs and body of the insect. The powder absorbs into the body, affecting the metabolism and exoskeleton. When the insect realizes the powder is on it, the bug will attempt to clean itself, ingesting the poison. Borate is only effective on bugs that groom themselves. This includes ants and cockroaches. 

Borate, however, will not exterminate ticks, bed bugs, beetles, centipedes, flies, moths and hornets. You will need to contact a professional pest control company to eliminate those. 

Safety

The professionals at Valley Insulation make safety a number one priority, not only for them, but for you as well. We adhere to the highest safety standards when installing and removing insulation, ensuring that you and your family are safe. If you’re seeing more insects than usual, or your home isn’t heating or cooling like it used to, contact us to see if your home needs new cellulose insulation. 

Rely on Valley Insulation for Cellulose Insulation

Talk to the experts at Valley Insulation, serving the Greater Cincinnati area since 1977, for cellulose insulation installation. Contact us online or call 513.353.4100 for more details on what we offer.

Strategies for Preventing Heat Loss in Your Home This Winter From Valley Insulation

Young couple in a cold home bundling for warmth

Valley Insulation is one of Cincinnati’s top insulation companies. We install attic, wall, and crawl space insulation for new and existing structures at any time of year. In today’s blog from Valley Insulation, we explain how to prevent heat loss in your home during the winter months.

Related Post: Five Ways to Insulate Your Windows in the Winter by Valley Insulation

Insulate Your windows

You should insulate your windows because they are some of the most vulnerable spots for heat loss due to drafts and heat transfer through the materials of the window. You can use weatherstripping, drapes, window film, bubble wrap, or rope caulk.

Draft-Proof Your Doors

Doors represent another way cold air seeps into your home. You can purchase special flaps or insulated brushes to put along the bottom of your doors to keep cold air out. For the sides and top, draft-proof strips help prevent air exchange between the inside and outside.

Related Post: Valley Insulation Explains Why You Need Proper Air Sealing to Lower Your Utility Bills

Great Curtains

Thermal curtains are great for preventing heat loss. Made of special materials, thermal curtains have linings that reduce cold air coming into your home. You can open the curtains during the day to let in sunlight for better radiant heat using the greenhouse effect.

Home Insulation

Home insulation for your attic, walls, and crawlspace offers a holistic way to prevent heat loss during the winter. Cellulose insulation works for decades, fully fills your wall cavities, and provides a high-quality product. The team at Valley Insulation can complete a home insulation project within a day, depending on the size of your home. You can lower your utility bills and maintain your home’s comfort.

Related Post: The Cincinnati Insulation Experts Showcase a Winter Home Maintenance Checklist

Home Insulation by Valley Insulation

Talk to the experts at Valley Insulation, serving the Greater Cincinnati area since 1977. We’ll come to your home, give you a free estimate, and provide you with great customer service from start to finish. Contact us online or call 513.353.4100 for more information.

Five Ways to Insulate Your Windows in the Winter by Valley Insulation

Man’s hands installing weather stripping along a window

Valley Insulation installs quality Nu-Wool cellulose insulation in homes and commercial buildings in Greater Cincinnati. Winter is upon us, which means home insulation can help keep your home warmer. In today’s blog from Valley Insulation, we showcase five ways to insulate your windows in the winter.

Related Post: The Cincinnati Insulation Experts Showcase a Winter Home Maintenance Checklist 

1. Window Insulation Film

Hardware stores generally have window insulator kits that use plastic shrink wrap to create an insulating layer. Double-sided tape keeps the film in place. Just use a hair dryer to shrink the wrap and remove any wrinkles. You might have to clean some of the tape residue off in the spring, but that should be minimal. 

2. Magnetic Window Insulation

Magnetic kits hold a layer of insulating vinyl in place over the window. The magnets make it easy to remove the vinyl, open the window for a while, then snap the vinyl back into place afterward. You can use magnetic paint along your window frames to attach this type of insulation. 

Related Post: Home Insulation Tips to Keep You Warm This Winter

3. Rope Caulk

You may have cracks or crevices around your window frames, particularly in older homes with aged wood. Rope caulk works like silly putty. You can use as much or as little as you need to fill in cracks, crevices, and holes around the edges of your windows. Consider using rope caulk on the outside of your home, too.

4. Thermal Curtains

Thermal curtains have a special lining in them that holds warm air in during the winter. Curtains work well because you can open them on warm days. Look for thermal curtains at your home decor store. These items also help block light and noise.

5. Wall Insulation From Valley Insulation

Exterior wall insulation helps make your windows more effective, particularly in the joists immediately surrounding the windows. The team at Valley Insulation can install high-quality Nu-Wool cellulose insulation in your exterior walls to make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient. We can also give you tips for weatherproofing your windows.

Related Post: Tips for Home Insulation in the Winter

Home Insulation by Valley Insulation

Talk to us about installing home insulation at your residence. We serve the Cincinnati area with exterior wall insulation that makes your home more comfortable. Contact us online or call 513.353.4100 for more details.

Valley Insulation St. Rt. 128 • Phone: 513.353.4100