Sometimes it is necessary to state the obvious as people cannot believe that the easy answer is the one that is correct. This is indeed the case with blown in insulation. It is exactly what it seems to be. Insulation that is blown in to the area that it needs to insulate. Normally specialist equipment is used because the distance that the blown in insulation has to travel is quite great. Because air can get into every nook and cranny in the space that you wish to insulate it carries the blown in insulation into every available crevice as well. All gaps are filled thus making the insulation extremely effective. It keeps energy costs down and saves vital planetary resources.
In the past fiberglass insulation, in the form of batts or blankets, has been the most popular form of home insulation but now cellulose is gaining ground as the insulation material of choice. There is great debate raging in the home construction industry as to which insulation method is best and each form has its own merits and disadvantages.
To make blown in cellulose insulation shredded, generally recycled, newspapers are mixed with a variety of chemicals. To make fiberglass insulation molten glass is forced through small holes and the resultant fibers are bound together. Because it has a better R-value than most other sorts of insulation, cellulose blown in insulation can give greater efficiency for less bulk than fiberglass insulation and can easily flow around wall ties and obstructions within a cavity whereas it is much more difficult to get fiberglass to.
Cellulose blown in insulation is treated with a chemical that will retart fire if it tries to encompass it. Fiberglass insulation will also repel fire but once it ignites it lets off noxious gasses and burns very quickly. Fiberglass insulation needs to be kept away from electrical fixtures and fittings and also you must be wary when installing it near stove vents and chimneys. Cellulose blown in insulation can cause corrosion if it touches certain types of metal and this can be a problem if you don't know what sort of metal is installed in the area that you are applying blown in insulation to. This is not a problem with fiberglass insulation at it does not react with metal.
Blown in insulation is not usually a do it yourself project. It utilises specialist equipment that a blown in insulation contractor will be able to get hold of and will know how to use. The only problem here is if you have a small area to insulate. A contractor will have to charge you a standard price for his visit even if he is not there very long. In this instance it may be more practical to use fiberglass insulation even if it does not give the best insulation results.
As the arguments continue over blown in insulation versus fiberglass insulation make sure that you explore all options before you decide which type is best for your home.
Specialist equipment is normally used to install blown in insulation