What Happens If You Compress Blown-In Insulation? Like batts, compressing blown-in
Here's what they say: When you compress fiber glass batt insulation, the R-value per inch goes up, but the overall R-value goes down because you have less inches or thickness of insulation. They include a general chart for how to tell what your R-value is with different levels of compression.
Don't squash the insulation as this can reduce its thermal performance by over 50%. Don't install loft boards directly to joists or trusses. Don't remove any insulation as this can reduce the thermal performance of the loft.
Squashing your insulation reduces its effectiveness by 50%
Numerous studies on the topic have indicated that there's a huge number of Britons who don't understand why doing this is so problematic. Mineral wool type insulation (the most common loft insulation) needs to retain its full depth in order to work effectively.
Fiberglass is made from glass fibers. Glass in the form of fibers is still glass, though, and it cuts. When you touch fiberglass insulation without protective gear, you run the risk of getting tiny glass shards embedded in your skin. This is why fiberglass makes you itch and can even cause severe rashes in some people.
While touching fiberglass doesn't usually lead to long-term effects on your health, exposure to it may cause intense itching, redness, or a rash. So, it's important to remove fiberglass from your skin as soon as possible so it doesn't come in contact with your eyes, nose, or throat.
Short-term Exposure
The symptoms of irritation are often nonspecific, temporary, and may include itching, coughing, or wheezing. High levels of exposure to airborne fiberglass may aggravate existing asthma or bronchitis-like conditions.
Insulation levels are specified by R-Value. R-Value is a measure of insulation's ability to resist heat flow. The higher the R-Value, the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R-38 or about 10 to 14 inches, depending on insulation type.
Insulation Degradation Can Be Fast or Slow
Nevertheless, even today, insulation is subject to many effects which can cause it to fail – electrical stress, mechanical damage, vibration, excessive heat or cold, dirt, oil, corrosive vapors, moisture from processes, or just the humidity on a muggy day.
Leaving Too Many Gaps
One of the biggest problems DIY homeowners face is leaving too many gaps in their insulation. Gaps or insulation that isn't secured correctly can leave the building structure open to air and moisture leaks. Spray foam insulation is best for reaching into small cracks and any areas left open.
Moisture damage
This can occur due to leaks in the roof or foundation, inadequate ventilation, or high humidity levels inside a building. Moisture can cause the insulation material to become compressed and lose its effectiveness, leading to increased energy consumption and potential mold growth.
Fiberglass and rock wool batts—2x4 walls can hold R-13 or R-15 batts; 2x6 walls can have R-19 or R-21 products.
The insulation should fit snugly in the cavity and leave no gaps. Make sure the vapor retarder on faced insulation is facing the conditioned interior space unless building codes specify otherwise. Cut the insulation to fit as necessary. Leave the pieces about 1 inch larger than the cavity to fill the space completely.
When fiberglass batts are compressed, both the thickness and the R-value go down. The deeper the cavity, the more the R-value is reduced. 14 inch R-49 insulation is reduced to R-44 when compressed to fit an 11 ⅞ inch space. Further compression of 5/8 of an inch (11 ¼ inches) reduces the R-value to R-42.
While fiber glass insulation can be compressed below labeled thickness and still achieve Grade I installation, manufacturers' instructions specify installation without compression to achieve labeled R-value.
You will want to bring up your attic up to R-38:
If your attic has 5-6″ of existing insulation, you'll want to install an R-19 to achieve a total of R-38.
Unless damaged, it can last 80 to 100 years in most houses before it needs to be replaced. However, insulation can start falling from fiberglass batts after 15 to 20 years, so if your insulation was installed in batts well over a decade ago, it might be time for an inspection or a home energy audit.
It is possible to over-insulate your house so much that it can't breathe. The whole point of home insulation is to tightly seal your home's interior. But if it becomes too tightly sealed with too many layers of insulation, moisture can get trapped inside those layers. That's when mold starts to grow.
While loft insulation is an effective way to improve energy efficiency and reduce heating costs, over-insulating can lead to several potential issues. Firstly, over-insulation can lead to poor ventilation in the attic, which can cause moisture buildup and increase the risk of mould growth.
The bottom line is the old insulation needs to be removed because it hinders the airflow into the attic, it can promote mold growth, and it is dirty.
Air Leakage
Fiberglass insulation is less dense than other types of insulation and does not create an airtight seal, which means air can travel freely through the insulation. This is called air leakage and it's one of the most common sources of energy loss in a house.
Health hazards of interacting with exposed insulation include: Risks of skin, eye and lung irritation. Potential for mold and mildew growth. Risk of increased health problems for kids, as uncovered insulation isn't child-proof.
What is the pink fluffy stuff on the walls? The pink fluffy material is usually fiberglass insulation, commonly used for its safety and efficiency. It does not contain asbestos.