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Cellulose Insulation

What Do I Do about Old Cellulose Insulation?

When buying an older home, or remodeling a home, you might consider taking a look at the insulation. Insulation can last decades when properly maintained, but like everything else, it will eventually wear out and need to be replaced.

Valley Insulation will answer some basic questions about old cellulose insulation and what to do about it.

What is cellulose insulation?

Cellulose insulation is made from shredded, recycled materials, and is a form of blow-in insulation. Blow-in insulation is a loose form of insulation that is “blown into” the wall, as opposed to insulation that comes in pre-formed batts. It is easier to install and can cover a large area.

How long can you keep old cellulose insulation?

Cellulose insulation can last anywhere from 20 to 30 years, as long as it has been properly maintained and not been damaged in any way by water, mold, animal infestation, or fire.

Insulation that has gotten wet and is not thoroughly dried can produce harmful mold, and that mold can spread. Insulation that has been damaged in other ways may no longer properly insulate your walls or attic, and you may find it harder to control temperatures.

How do I know if my old cellulose insulation is still effective?

If you don’t know the exact age of your old cellulose insulation, a good way to tell it is losing its effectiveness is an increase in utility bills. If you notice that you are having difficulty keeping your home properly cooled in the summer or properly heated in the winter there is a good chance your insulation needs to be replaced.

How do you remove old cellulose insulation?

Removing and replacing old cellulose insulation cannot be done by hand, and will need a high-powered vacuum to suck the loose insulation from the wall or attic. Professionals usually have the proper equipment for this and are trained in removing the insulation quickly and without leaving a large mess.

If you are having professionals remove the old cellulose insulation they will properly prepare the area to have the new insulation blow in, saving you time and money.

Call Valley Insulation about your old cellulose insulation

Valley Insulation has been in business for over 40 years, serving the Greater Cincinnati area in all their insulation needs, including insulation replacement. Contact Valley Insulation or call (513) 353-4100 to get a free quote.

Insulation Removal FAQs

Like everything else, insulation wears out over time. Since undamaged insulation can last a fairly long time, many homeowners do not have any experience with replacing insulation or identifying the signs that their insulation has become damaged. Failure to replace damaged insulation can lead to further damages and unnecessary future costs.

 

Valley Insulation explains the basics of insulation removal, why you may need it, and how you can tell if your insulation needs to be replaced.

What is insulation removal?

Insulation removal is the process of removing damaged or deteriorating insulation from walls, attics, and crawl spaces. Over time, insulation begins to deteriorate naturally and is no longer effective in regulating the home’s temperature. 

 

Damage can also occur from things like water, pests, and fires. If the insulation is no longer doing its job effectively it needs to be removed and replaced as soon as possible.

How long does insulation last?

Undamaged insulation can last a very long time, which is why most people may not have had to go through the process of replacing theirs. Insulation can last 80 to 100 years before it needs to be removed and replaced, as long as it has not been damaged. Regularly checking your insulation can ensure it stays in good working order.

How often should insulation be checked?

As long as you don’t suspect any damage, a good rule of thumb is to have your insulation inspected every 20 to 25 years. An inspection can help detect early deterioration or find places where water or pests may have destroyed areas of insulation. Catching and addressing issues early can prevent further damage and help your insulation to last longer.

What are common signs I need to remove old insulation?

One of the most common signs that your old insulation is deteriorating is a lack of control of the home’s temperature. If insulation is no longer doing its job properly, it will be difficult to keep the home cool on hot days or warm on cold days. Insulation allows you to regulate the temperature of the house without straining your utility bills. If you notice an unexplained increase over time in gas or electric bills, that’s a good sign it’s time for insulation removal.


How is insulation removed?

Insulation removal is based on the type of insulation you have. For blow-in cellulose insulation, a commercial-grade shop vac is used to suck up all the loose insulation in your wall or attic. Any dust or loose pieces are swept up as well. This can take some time depending on how much insulation there is and how much area it covers.

 

For fiberglass batt insulation, the insulation is simply removed and rolled up and placed in garbage bags to be carried out of the house. A shop vac will be needed to sweep up dust or small pieces left behind. It is important to be sure that all insulation is removed, especially if there are areas that are wet or may have animal urine or feces.

What are the dangers of damaged insulation?

Water Damage

If an area of insulation has been exposed to water due to a roof leak, burst pipe, or another issue, the insulation will likely retain the moisture for a while. Where there is long-term moisture there is a high probability of mold. Mold in wall or attic insulation can spread and cause health issues for the home’s residents.

 

Pest Damage

Anytime a pest gets into wall or attic insulation, particularly rodents, they can cause major damage. Not only do they tear up insulation, they can leave behind urine and feces that are not only unhealthy for residents but will soak in and keep the insulation wet. Long-term moisture can produce mold that can cause health problems over time.

 

Fire Damage

At Valley Insulation, we use Nu-Wool cellulose insulation, which is treated for fire resistance. This insulation can be important for minimizing the spread of fire in your home. If you have had any type of fire where the insulation was damaged, it will need to be removed.

How long does insulation removal take?

Insulation removal, depending on the type of insulation, can take several hours. Clearing an average size attic of blown-in cellulose insulation generally takes professionals anywhere from 4 to 8 hours, including prep, removal, and clean-up of dirt and debris.

 

Removing fiberglass batt insulation usually takes about the same amount of time, depending on the number of workers. Hiring professionals who have experience in insulation removal and come prepared with the right tools can make the process go faster.

Call Valley Insulation for Insulation Removal

Valley Insulation has been in business for over 40 years, serving the Greater Cincinnati area in all their insulation needs, including insulation replacement. Contact Valley Insulation or call (513) 353-4100 to get a free quote.

Cellulose Insulation FAQs

Man Installing Cellulose Insulation in an Attic

Valley Insulation represents one of Cincinnati’s top insulation companies. Our team specializes in NuWool Insulation for your home. Our company has been in business since 1977, and we understand how to install residential and commercial insulation.

Today, we answer several FAQs about cellulose insulation for your home.

What is cellulose insulation?

Cellulose insulation is an eco-friendly fiber insulation made of recycled paper. 

Is cellulose insulation a good insulation?

Yes, it is a safe product to use for new and existing homes and conforms to all building codes.

What are the benefits and advantages of cellulose insulation?

Your home receives several benefits from new cellulose insulation, including:

  1. Lower utility bills. Over time, this kind of insulation pays for itself if you lower your utility bills due to less heat exchange from your home to the outside and vice versa. Other factors may come into play, such as air leaks in the house, weather conditions, and the condition of your building. 
  2. Better R-value versus other types. Typical insulation has an R-value of 3.5 per inch. Cellulose insulation has an R-value of 3.8 per inch, meaning it insulates better for every inch of material.
  3. Eco-friendly. Not only do you lower your utility bills, but you also lower your carbon footprint and keep more paper out of landfills with your purchase of cellulose insulation.
  4. Fire-retardant. Companies like Nu-Wool add fire-retardant properties to cellulose insulation, which reduces the chances of a fire spreading through your home due to insulation.
  5. Mold-resistant. Cellulose insulation has anti-microbial properties thanks to a borate additive.
  6. Pest-resistant. Pests, insects, and rodents generally do not like cellulose insulation due in part to the borate additive.
  7. Works around your existing infrastructure. Blown-in insulation settles in around your current infrastructures, such as wires, pipes, and ductwork to cover every possible nook and cranny.
  8. Lower costs. Typically, charges are lower when compared to other types. 
  9. Allows you to install in walls without removing all of your existing sheetrock. Technicians merely drill a small hole (2-3 inches) towards the top of your wall and blow the cellulose insulation into the cavity. Within an afternoon, your existing home may have new insulation to help manage the comfort level of you and your family.

What is the R-value of cellulose insulation?

3.8 per inch.

Who installs cellulose insulation in Greater Cincinnati?

Valley Insulation serves Greater Cincinnati by installing high-quality cellulose insulation from Nu-Wool.

Our friendly staff will come to your home, give you a free estimate, and provide you with excellent customer service from start to finish for your cellulose insulation project. 

We promise to answer your questions every step of the way. Contact us online or call 513-353-4100 for more information.

Attic Insulation FAQs

Cellulose Insulation in an Attic

Valley Insulation, one of Cincinnati’s top insulation companies, specializes in NuWool Insulation for your home’s attic and walls. Our company has been in business since 1977, and our team knows a thing or two about residential and commercial insulation.

Today, we answer several FAQs about attic insulation for your home.

What is the most effective attic insulation?

Blown-in cellulose insulation is the best choice for your attic because: 

  1. It has better R-value. Blown-in insulation has an R-value of 3.8 versus 3.5 for batts or rolls. Over time, you need less of this type of attic insulation to get the results you need.
  2. It’s eco-friendly. Cellulose insulation, especially Nu-Wool, is made from 80% recycled newspapers. 
  3. Installation takes less than a day. Rather than having to staple batts or unroll insulation, cellulose insulation for your unfinished attic is blown in through hoses and a powerful blowing machine.
  4. You install only what you need. Cellulose insulation allows you to install only what you need for your house size and your location.

What kind of insulation should I use in my attic?

Blow-in cellulose insulation is the most effective way to go because of its R-value, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness.

Cincinnati Skyline 

How much attic insulation do I need in Greater Cincinnati?

For the Greater Cincinnati region, the EPA recommends an R-value of R49 to R60 for attic insulation. 

Since cellulose insulation has an R-value of 3.8 per inch, you’ll need anywhere from 13 to 16 inches of cellulose insulation in your attic for best results.

How much does attic insulation cost to install?

With a professional company like Valley Insulation, expect to pay anywhere from $40 to $70 an hour for labor in addition to the costs of the material. Installers should offer you a free quote. 

Cellulose Insulation in an Attic

How much money will I save with the right attic insulation?

The EPA estimates that homeowners can save up to 15 percent on heating and cooling bills with the right amount of attic insulation. The national average comes to a savings of $200 per year, so your attic insulation could pay for itself in 10 years. Your results will vary based on several factors.

How long does it take a professional company to install attic insulation?

Anywhere from four to eight hours, depending on the size of the job.

Valley Insulation Best Home Insulation

How do I know if my attic insulation is bad or lacking?

Watch out for any of these seven signs:

  1. Drafts in your house. Airflow may let heat or cold into your home, which makes your HVAC system work harder to keep your family comfortable.
  2. Different temperatures throughout the house. If your downstairs living room feels comfortably warm or cool, but an upstairs bedroom feels frigid or sweltering (depending on the time of year), you might need new attic insulation.
  3. Condensation or moisture in the attic. Extreme temperature changes can let moisture into the attic, and you can prevent this through proper attic insulation.
  4. Higher-than-normal utility bills. Are your utility bills higher than normal, even taking into account any shifts in costs your utility company told you about in advance? Consider new attic insulation to solve this issue.
  5. HVAC system running more. If your air conditioning or furnace runs longer than normal, also taking into account extreme temperatures outside, your home may benefit from new attic insulation.
  6. Old insulation. When was the last time you improved the insulation in the upper levels of your home? If it’s been a decade or two, or the insulation is not up to current building codes, you might invest in new attic insulation.
  7. Pests in the attic. Bugs, mice, squirrels, and possums love to find warm spots in the winter. Your attic is a prime location for a nest to shelter from the frigid weather. You’ll need a professional pest control company to take care of any critters and then possibly replace some or all of your attic insulation in the meantime.

If you suspect bad attic insulation, a home energy audit can pinpoint the cause ahead of investing in this type of home improvement.

How often should I replace insulation in my attic?

You may never need to replace attic insulation because it lasts anywhere from 80 to 100 years. Your results may vary.

Valley Insulation Blown-In Insulation Machine

How do companies install attic insulation?

The overall process is straightforward, particularly when professional insulation installers have been in business for decades. Here’s what to expect:

  1. Start with a free quote. Once you contact your chosen attic insulation company, someone will come to your home to ascertain how much insulation you’ll need, the size of the project, and whether the workers will need to remove old insulation. 
  2. Sign the contract. Once you agree to a quote, you’ll sign a contract and make whatever payments are necessary to start the work.
  3. Set up a time. Set a time that works best for you. Typically, insulation companies work on weekdays.
  4. Move essential items out of the attic. Before the installers arrive, you need to remove any essential items out of your attic. Any boxes, furniture, or other items should go in a room that’s out of the way.
  5. Create a clear path for hoses. Depending on where the access to your attic is, you’ll need to create a clear path for vacuum hoses to go to your attic. Garage access is the easiest because installation companies can pull in the driveway and run hoses straight up the ladder to the attic. For second-story access, companies may run a hose through a window.
  6. A truck arrives on the big day! Your insulation company should arrive with a marked truck on the day of the install. In the back of the truck sits a large machine that has a powerful blower in it that moves the cellulose insulation from the machine to the attic through vacuum tubes. This is because blow-in insulation arrives in 50-pound blocks that the machine breaks up into smaller chunks for easy dispersal in the tubes.
  7. Installers will wear protective equipment, such as breathing masks and maybe goggles as well as long-sleeves and pants. Blow-in insulation is eco-friendly and safe, but companies want workers to be able to breathe easily when installing insulation.
  8. Maneuvering hoses. Workers will maneuver hoses around to cover every nook and cranny of your attic to the right depth. For Nu-Wool, the manufacturer recommends 1.6 pounds of insulation per cubic foot.
  9. Clean up at the end of the day. Your installation should last less than a day, typically just an afternoon. An insulation company will clean up any materials left over from the process before leaving. The team will get your signature to note that the job was completed to your satisfaction.

Who installs attic insulation in Greater Cincinnati?

Valley Insulation has been serving the Greater Cincinnati area since 1977. Our friendly staff will come to your home, give you a free estimate, and provide you with excellent customer service from start to finish for your attic insulation project. We promise to answer your questions every step of the way.

 Contact us online or call 513-353-4100 for more information.

Blow-In Insulation FAQs

Nu-Wool Insulation Cellulose Insulation

Valley Insulation is one of Cincinnati’s top insulation companies for installing blow-in insulation. We’ve been in business since 1977, and we know a thing or two about residential and commercial insulation.

Our staff answers several FAQs about blow-in insulation. 

What is blow-in insulation?

This type of home insulation refers to thick clumps of thick material filling the gaps in walls and on attic floors to improve heat exchange in your building.

Blow-in insulation pile

What is blow-in insulation made of?

The best products are made of recycled paper materials, such as newspaper or cardboard. Other materials are made of glass or waste minerals.

Why should I invest in blow-in insulation?

This type of insulation is perfect for attic areas and interior walls with nooks and crannies that are impossible to fill with batt insulation because of the size and shape of the spaces. 

Is blow-in insulation eco-friendly?

Yes, in three ways.

  1. Some home insulation is made of post-consumer recycled newspaper or cardboard, which keeps this type of solid waste out of landfills.
  2. Quality home insulation can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars on your utility bills over the years, depending on how long you own your home. Reduced utility bills can lead to less combustion being used to generate electricity, which reduces carbon emissions.
  3. Some brands of home insulation take ten times less energy to produce than fiberglass batts or rolls, which allows you to reduce carbon emissions even more.

Is blow-in insulation better than rolls or batts?

Yes, because it fills in gaps better and has a higher R-value. Cellulose insulation carries an R-value of 3.8 per inch, while batts and rolls typically have an R-value of 3.2 per inch. This means that the more inches of insulation you add, the better it insulates versus the same thickness of batts or rolls.

Building installing blow-in insulation with a hose in a wall

Can insulation be blown into existing walls?

Yes, by using a specific process of drilling holes in walls. 

The process follows these steps:

  1. Home insulation installers will cut a round, 2-½ inch hold towards the top of a wall in between two studs.
  2. Installers hold a flexible tube in each hole while a high-powered blower distributes blow-in insulation into the wall cavity between the studs. This process takes a few minutes in each cavity.
  3. After installation companies complete this process with every wall cavity, they replace the wall cut-outs.
  4. Add a small amount of spackle to cover up the cut made in each wall cavity and dry it thoroughly.
  5. Paint over the wall cut-outs to make it appear as if you never cut into the wall for blow-in insulation.

Blowing insulation into walls offers a great way to insulate your existing residence for exterior walls. Since wall cavities are about 3 inches deep, you’ll get around 3 inches of high-quality insulation in the walls.

How long does blow-in insulation last?

Typically, anywhere from 20 to 30 years. It can degrade if moisture, pests, or rodents invade the insulation. However, it can last anywhere from 80 to 100 years under the right conditions. 

How much blow-in insulation do I need in my attic?

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends anywhere from 10 to 14 inches of attic insulation or around R-38. For Greater Cincinnati, experts recommend R-values of anywhere between R-38 and R-60, which is 10 inches to 16 inches of insulation.

Installer placing blow-in insulation into a blowing machine

How does an insulation blowing machine work?

Blowing insulation into your home takes some special machinery, but it is a simple process similar to vacuuming only in reverse.

  1. A large machine sits in the back of a truck, similar to a moving truck, allowing installers to feed insulation into the top of the machine. 
  2. Installers unwrap 30-pound packages of insulation before dropping them one at a time into the open-ended top of the machine.
  3. Slow-moving blades at the bottom of the machine turn the insulation to loosen it.
  4. Another set of blades, smaller than the first set, turn in a 90-degree direction from the larger ones. These blades feed into the tube.
  5. A powerful blower then moves the small clumps of blow-in insulation towards your home or business through a very long series of hoses.

Because the blowing machine is large and heavy, professional installers keep the machine in their truck for ease of use. The team might use ladders to access the attic, while several hose lengths make it easy to distribute the insulation. 

What are the best times of year to install blow-in insulation?

Spring and fall represent the two best times to get new insulation for your residential or commercial property. That’s because the temperatures are generally mild. Think late September to early November or late March to early May. These times may fill up fast, so book your installation as soon as you know you want to invest in this type of quality insulation.

How much does blow-in insulation cost to install?

On average, homeowners may spend $1 to $1.50 per square foot for home installation and anywhere from $40 to $70 per hour for technicians.

How long does it take to install blow-in insulation?

Most residential projects take around one day to install, depending on the size of the building. Larger projects may take two days, while commercial buildings may need up to a week.

Is blow-in insulation fire-resistant?

Yes, many types of insulation contain borate, which has fire-resistant properties. The best blow-in insulation brands have a Class A fire rating, which is the best rating you can find for reducing the spread of fire. This rating means a type of insulation withstands fire than other classifications.

Does blow-in insulation resist mold and insects?

Yes, thanks to borate compounds added to the insulation during the manufacturing process.

How much borate goes into blow-in insulation?

Up to 20 percent of the weight of each 30-pound block of insulation contains borate.

Is borate safe for humans?

Yes, the U.S. government has certified that borate is safe when used as part of home or commercial insulation.

Does blow-in insulation smell? 

Some brands may have a slight newsprint smell because manufacturers make it out of recycled newspapers.

Who installs blow-in insulation in Greater Cincinnati?

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 excellent customer service from start to finish. We promise to answer your questions every step of the way.

 Contact us online or call 513.353.4100 for more information.

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