Valley Insulation, LLC

Insulation Experts Since 1977

Insulation experts since 1977

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Does Cellulose Insulation Smell? Our Home Insulation Expert Answers

Man’s hands holding cellulose insulation

Cellulose insulation represents an eco-friendly option for your home’s exterior walls, attic, and interior walls. Whether you want insulation for sound-deadening properties, temperature control, or both, Valley Insulation can get the job done right. In today’s blog, our home insulation expert answers a frequently asked question, “Does cellulose insulation smell?”

Related Post: How Borate Improves Cellulose Insulation

It Smells Vaguely Like Newspapers

Cellulose insulation, like the Nu-Wool system we use at Valley Insulation, comes from recycled newspapers. Therefore, it may smell a little bit like newspapers. However, it shouldn’t smell much like anything. Cellulose insulation is supposed to be odorless. When our technicians come to your place to provide a quote or install home insulation, ask us to bring a sample of Nu-Wool. We’d be happy to show you the product and alleviate your concerns about any smells. When we apply NuWool to your home, our team installs it completely dry.

What About Leftover Insulation?

The technicians at Valley Insulation work quickly and efficiently to take care of your home. We generally finish a job within an afternoon. Our teams vacuum up any and all insulation that doesn’t make it into your attic or walls. We’ll re-use the insulation later. There shouldn’t be any visible cellulose insulation left when we’re done.

Related Post: Amazing Cellulose Insulation Facts

Sealing the Walls

For existing walls, our technicians cut small holes (2.5 inches in diameter) into the drywall. We save the circles of drywall that we cut. Our teams use these circles to seal the walls after we finish the job. Therefore, you won’t notice the hole that we drilled. Sealing the wall means you shouldn’t smell anything, even a faint newspaper smell. The additives, such as borate, don’t give off any odors whatsoever, per the spec sheet.

What About Spraying With Water?

Technicians at Valley Insulation may spray Nu-Wool with water in some circumstances. But this only applies to new construction. When we get into a new home that’s still under construction, we add a small amount of water to Nu-Wool WallSeal so it sticks to the wall cavity. We shave away the excess material and then let it stand for 48 hours before the drywall goes over it. The exposure to the air allows the cellulose insulation to dry thoroughly before covering it. There’s no damp smell whatsoever.

Related Post: Valley Insulation Explains How We Install Cellulose Insulation 

Nu-Wool Home Insulation by Valley Insulation

Nu-Wool is an odorless and eco-friendly home insulation product that helps keep your home comfortable for years to come. Talk to us about residential insulation installation. Contact us or call 513.353.4100 for more details.

Why You Should Replace Spray Foam With Cellulose Insulation

Cellulose insulation sprayed onto an attic in a new home

Cellulose insulation is a state-of-the-art product that keeps your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. It’s not the only insulation product on the market, but it’s one of the most versatile and cost-effective. Today’s blog from Valley Insulation discusses several reasons why you should replace spray foam with cellulose insulation for an existing residence.

Related Post: Valley Insulation Explains How We Install Cellulose Insulation

Smells

Spray foam emits noxious odors, even years after it’s been applied to walls, attics, and crawl spaces. Cellulose insulation lacks any smell whatsoever, except for a slight newspaper smell (because it’s made of recycled newspapers). But our techs install cellulose insulation in walls and then seal them up. You won’t smell it unless you go to your unfinished attic. When spray foam odors seep into your home, it’s not pleasant and it may persist.

Degradation Over Time

Spray foam degrades over time. Some spray foam manufacturers promise 25 years’ of insulating, but the reality is that commercial spray foam applications typically only last 15 years. Foam insulation degrades even worse when it’s applied in cold climates, which isn’t a problem for cellulose insulation installed in the winter.

Possible Health Hazards

Dust containing spray foam as it’s being applied may linger for years. Some substances in the foam, called isocyanates, can be hazardous to your lungs and health if inhaled. Chemicals may go airborne when exposed to heat, such as drilling, welding, sawing, or sanding near the spray foam. If you plan on doing any repairs or fix-it work, and there’s spray foam insulation nearby, you could be exposing yourself and your family to noxious fumes. 

Cellulose insulation alleviates the health hazards associated with other insulation products. It’s an eco-friendly product, has fire-retardant properties, repels bugs, and can mitigate mold growth. 

Related Post: How Cellulose Insulation Prevents Costly Ice Dams on Your Roof

Insulation Removal by Valley Insulation

Valley Insulation can remove your old insulation before installing brand-new cellulose insulation. Talk to us about residential or commercial insulation. Contact us or call 513.353.4100 for more information.

Safety Measures We Take for Home Insulation Projects

Worker installing cellulose insulation with mask, boots, gloves, and plastic clothing Valley Insulation Home Insulation Safety

Valley Insulation is one of the area’s top Cincinnati insulation companies. We’ve been in business since 1977, and we pride ourselves on installing high-quality Nu-Wool cellulose insulation. In today’s blog from Valley Insulation, we explain the safety measures we take for home insulation projects for existing residences.

 

Related Post: Valley Insulation Explains How We Install Cellulose Insulation

 

Masks

 

The staff at Valley Insulation wears masks when we install home insulation because of the fibers involved. Although cellulose insulation is safe, the fine fibers can be irritating for our technicians using high-powered vacuums to install insulation in your attic or walls. We make sure to clean up everything after our work is done.

 

Appropriate Clothing

 

Our technicians typically wear long pants and long sleeves. Again, this protects us from small cellulose fibers. Technicians may also use gloves and protective eyewear while installing home insulation.

 

Machinery Stays in the Truck

 

Valley Insulation uses a large, specialized machine that shreds bales of cellulose insulation and then blows them through long vacuum tubes. That machinery stays in the back of the truck. For existing homes, the only things we bring into your home are the vacuum tubes and whatever small tools we’ll need to complete our work. All of the loud, large equipment stays in our truck for home insulation projects.

 

Clear Pathways

 

Before we start any work, we walk through the parts of your home where we need to pull out our hoses. If there is anything that’s in the way, we’ll let you know and help you move any heavy furniture. Our company is licensed and insured, so you have peace of mind that your home is covered in case something happens while we’re on the premises. 

 

Clean-Up

 

Valley Insulation cleans up after every project. If there are any leftover cellulose fibers where they shouldn’t be, we vacuum them up. We take our trash away, and we’ll even remove old home insulation for you if that’s a part of the project. Safety and satisfaction are two of our top priorities at Valley Insulation!

 

Related Post: Drilling Holes for Wall Insulation? How We Protect Your Home

 

Contact Our Home Insulation Company

 

Valley Insulation is proud to be one of the top Cincinnati insulation companies in southern Ohio handling commercial and residential insulation. We handle insulation installation and removal in almost any type of building. Contact Valley Insulation or call (513) 353-4100 to get a free quote.

What Cincinnati Insulation Companies Should Tell You Before an Install

valley-llc-036 Valley Insulation Cincinnati Insulation Companies Should Tell You

Valley Insulation is one of the area’s top Cincinnati insulation companies. We install residential and commercial insulation for new and existing construction. In today’s blog from Valley Insulation, we explain what Cincinnati insulation companies should tell you before an install.

Related Post: How to Choose the Best Insulation Contractor

Types of Insulation

Various types of insulation work better depending on where they’re going. Blow-in insulation, such as Nu-Wool cellulose insulation, works best in attics and walls. Foam board insulation may go in the roof or exterior of commercial buildings. Your chosen Cincinnati insulation company should explain to you precisely what insulation is going where.

How Long It Should Take

Based on the square footage of your facility, a Cincinnati insulation company can determine how long an installation should take. Keep in mind this is just an estimate. If something unexpected happens or there are complications, an installation may take longer.

Clean-Up

The best Cincinnati insulation companies clean up after themselves. That’s true with Valley Insulation. We vacuum up every last bit of cellulose insulation and we recycle it to use for our next project once we’re done with your place.

Free Estimate

You shouldn’t sign a contract with a Cincinnati insulation company without first figuring out how much it will cost. The pros at Valley Insulation will come to your home or business, take measurements, see how hard or easy it will be to get in and out, and then give you an accurate estimate based on materials and labor. The final costs may be subject to change.

How to Prepare

Preparing for new insulation installation is crucial for success. This is particularly true for existing structures that are already occupied. If you’re getting wall insulation, move furniture to the center of the room and remove any wall hangings. Attic insulation requires a clear path to the attic from the outdoors so we can run our vacuum tubing from the truck into your facility. Every Cincinnati insulation company will go over a to-do list for you before the contractor comes to your place on installation day.

Related Post: 3 Questions to Ask Your Insulation Company Before You Hire

Contact Our Top Cincinnati Insulation Company

Valley Insulation has been in business since 1977, and we’re proud to be one of the top Cincinnati insulation companies in southern Ohio. We handle insulation installation and removal in almost any type of building. Contact Valley Insulation or call (513) 353-4100 to get a free quote.

Why You Need to Remove Asbestos Home or Commercial Insulation ASAP

Valley Insulation Asbestos Home or Commercial Insulation

Valley Insulation uses premium Nu-Wool cellulose insulation for attics and walls. This is a fantastic, eco-friendly product that provides sound deadening properties, fire resistance, and an R-value of 3.8 per inch. As modern insulation goes, it doesn’t get much better than Nu-Wool. 

Before the experts at Valley Insulation install Nu-Wool, we might need to remove some insulation from your home or commercial facility. If we discover asbestos in your building, you need to remove it as soon as possible. Here’s why.

 

Related Post: A Brief History of Home Insulation

 

Where to Find Asbestos

Asbestos was used in new construction up until the early 1970s. It was found in construction materials, automotive parts, home commercial insulation in walls and attics, vinyl tiles in floors, shingles, siding, pipe insulation, heat-resistant fabrics, and automobile brakes. Officials then banned asbestos in new construction because they determined it causes cancer.

 

What Asbestos Looks Like

Asbestos comes from natural minerals found in the earth. It looks like a layer of fibers in gray, blue, black, and brown. When mixed with other materials, you may not even be able to tell what asbestos looks like. It’s often a stiff material. However, asbestos can crumble easily in your hand. 

 

Why Asbestos Is Dangerous in Home & Commercial Insulation

Asbestos is most dangerous when it’s friable, or when it crumbles easily. Fibers in the asbestos go airborne when it crumbles. These minerals can become lodged in your lungs and cause some major problems. Health effects may not happen for years, but asbestos is known to cause lung cancer or other serious respiratory problems for those exposed to it. Health effects become more dangerous the more you’re exposed to friable asbestos fibers. If you believe you’ve been exposed to asbestos, medical scans and tests can detect any illnesses.

 

When to Call Insulation Removal Professionals

Home and commercial insulation are the most common instances of friable asbestos, particularly if the building was constructed in the 1970s or earlier. Asbestos removal must be handled by professionals. They know how to protect themselves and their health while getting rid of the leftover fibers. Asbestos cleanup requires a thorough process from start to finish, because every fiber must be removed.

 

Related Post: How Insulation Works to Protect Your Home

 

Home Insulation by Valley Insulation

Valley Insulation specializes in home and commercial insulation installation and removal. Asbestos is very hazardous to human health. If you believe your home or commercial facility has asbestos, you need to get it removed immediately. Contact Valley Insulation or call (513) 353-4100 for a consultation.

Valley Insulation St. Rt. 128 • Phone: 513.353.4100