Can you use a fiberglass blower for cellulose insulation?

Can you use a fiberglass blower for cellulose insulation?

Nope. In fact, it requires less because of the way fiberglass expands (cellulose does not expand) when the package is opened. This is why blown-in fiberglass installs faster than cellulose. This reduces both labor costs and wear and tear on equipment.

How heavy is an insulation blower?

A typical rental insulation blower has a hopper capacity of 4.25 cubic feet or 25 pounds, pushing out 350 pounds of insulation per hour. Weighing 177 pounds, it will require a truck to transport it to your home.

Can I use a shop vac to remove insulation?

So, if you want to remove blown-in insulation, you need to buy a high-powered shop vacuum with a very large capacity. Alternatively, you can also rent specialized HEPA-filter insulation removal equipment from a facility which rents out specialized tools and equipment.

How much cellulose insulation do I need for attic?

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, it’s recommended that attics have an R-38 to R-49, or about 12 to 15 of fiberglass or cellulose insulation.

Can I install cellulose insulation without a blower?

Since cellulose insulation is compressively packaged you cannot install it without using a blowing machine. I do not recommend trying to do this by hand. A few bags may not qualify you for loan of a machine, but you can certainly rent one from a big box home center or an equiment rental service.

How do I install cellulose insulation in my attic without a blower?

At 3.5 per inch of material, the R-value of blown-in cellulose is 23% better per inch than fiberglass batts! According to research done at the Oak Ridge National Lab, fiberglass loses up to 50% of its R-value in very cold conditions; making cellulose a better choice for homes in northern climates.

Is blown-in cellulose better than blown-in fiberglass?

Yes, it is. And you can absolutely install loose fill insulation without a machine. If you have a small section that you need to tackle, this is a great way to get it done without the hassles of weighty machinery.

How do you load an insulation blower?

Since cellulose insulation is compressively packaged you cannot install it without using a blowing machine. I do not recommend trying to do this by hand. A few bags may not qualify you for loan of a machine, but you can certainly rent one from a big box home center or an equiment rental service.

How does an insulation blower work?

Easy to handle around corners and up stairs for most blown in insulation applications, Flexaustxae Mark 2 Insulation Hose comes in 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, and 4 dia. sizes in standard 25 and 50 ft.

What is the easiest way to remove insulation?

Certainly, if you slice and dice the batt, small enough, you can remove fiberglass batts with any insulation removal vacuum.

How many inches of cellulose do I need in my attic?

The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R-38 or about 10 to 14 inches, depending on insulation type.

How do you calculate cellulose insulation needed?

To determine how much cellulose insulation you need, take the square footage of the space and divide it by either the depth or the desired R-value.

How many inches of blown cellulose is R38?

11.6

How many inches of blown-in cellulose insulation do I need?

With blown-in cellulose insulation, that would require insulation to a depth of 10 inches. If there is already insulation, measure the current depth and subtract to determine the amount needed to bring the attic to the recommended level for the desired R-Value.

Can you apply cellulose insulation by hand?

Wouldn’t it be far easier to just bring a few bales home and sprinkle it around by hand? Yes, it is. And you can absolutely install loose fill insulation without a machine. If you have a small section that you need to tackle, this is a great way to get it done without the hassles of weighty machinery.

Can you put in cellulose insulation without a blower?

Since cellulose insulation is compressively packaged you cannot install it without using a blowing machine. I do not recommend trying to do this by hand. A few bags may not qualify you for loan of a machine, but you can certainly rent one from a big box home center or an equiment rental service.

Can you install cellulose by hand?

Cellulose insulation is often made from recycled newspaper. While it’s faster to blow into place loose insulation made from cellulose, you can also save the cost of renting equipment and install it by hand

Which type of blown in insulation is best?

Fiberglass

What are the disadvantages of cellulose insulation?

Cons of Cellulose Insulation It generates a lot of dust during installation. It is heat-resistant and has a high R-value. Cellulose insulation is prone to sagging and settling. It is heavily treated with fire-retardant chemicals.

How long does cellulose blown in insulation last?

30 years

What insulation is better than fiberglass?

Mineral Wool Insulation In many ways, mineral wool is a superior insulation product. It has a higher R-value per inch compared to fiberglass, about a 22-37% higher R-value. It contains 70% recycled material, making it a greener product than fiberglass at 20-30% recycled material..

Can you use blown in insulation without blower?

Since cellulose insulation is compressively packaged you cannot install it without using a blowing machine. I do not recommend trying to do this by hand. A few bags may not qualify you for loan of a machine, but you can certainly rent one from a big box home center or an equiment rental service.

Is blown in insulation a good idea?

Blown-In Insulation is a Good Investment Adding loose-fill insulation to your attic is one of the fastest paybacks of any home improvement project. The amount of money you save on energy costs will add up quickly over the next couple of years, more than paying for itself, and even bringing a return on your investment.

How does blown in fiberglass insulation work?

It consists of plastic filaments fortified with recycled glass spun into fibers. The glass slows the spread of heat, cold, sound and can reduce residential energy costs by up to 40 percent. And because fiberglass is, well, glass, it is also moisture-resistant.

How do you safely remove insulation?

Assuming your attic is about 1,500 square feet in size, hiring a professional team who are properly trained and are bringing the right equipment can take about 4 to 6 hours to remove your attic insulation. If you’re opting to do it yourself, you might find yourself working for about 6 to 18 hours