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What is blown-in insulation?

Blown-in insulation is loose fibre, usually fiberglass, cellulose or rock wool, that a blowing machine packs into attic floors and wall cavities so it fills around wires, pipes and other obstacles.

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By InstaBids editorial team with AI research agents. Updated

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What is blown in insulation made of?

Blown-in insulation is made of loose fibres, most often fiberglass, cellulose or rock wool. The DOE Building America Solution Center explains where each comes from: cellulose is recycled paper, fiberglass is partly recycled, and rock wool is spun from furnace slag: “This fire-retardant insulation is made from recycled newspaper and boxes and does a good job of slowing airflow, even at loose-fill densities.” Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), read 2026-10-30. “Currently, about 20 to 40 percent of the fiberglass sold as insulation is recycled.” Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), read 2026-10-30. “Rock wool is similar to fiberglass in that it is spun from molten material, but from blast-furnace slag rather than glass.” Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), read 2026-10-30.

How do federal and state energy guides define blown in insulation?

North Carolina's state energy office describes blown-in insulation as loose-fill fibre blown into wall cavities and attic joist spaces, and the DOE and ENERGY STAR guides place it mainly on the attic floor, where a blowing machine does the work: In North Carolina's state energy guidance, “Loose-fill insulation consists of fiberglass, cellulose, rock wool, or some other type of fibers that are blown into wall cavities or attic joist spaces.” Source: North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality / State Energy Office (Waste Reduction Partners), read 2026-10-30. “Loose-fill insulation such as blown cellulose or blown fiberglass can be installed at the ceiling plane/attic floor to improve thermal performance in a vented attic.” Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), read 2026-10-30. “If you choose to add loose fill, it may be wise to hire a professional, as the application requires the use of a blowing machine, although some home improvement stores offer rentals of this machine.” Source: ENERGY STAR (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy), read 2026-10-30.

What is the R-value of blown in insulation?

Blown-in insulation is rated by R-value per inch, and the figure depends on the material. The DOE Building America Solution Center lists the settled R-value per inch for each of the three common loose-fill types, along with how densely each is packed: “The settled density range for loose-fill cellulose is 1.5 to 2.0 lb/ft3 (36 to 24 kg/m3) and its settled R-value per inch is from 3.2 to 3.8 (0.222 to 0.2636 RSI per cm).” Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), read 2026-10-30. “The settled density range for loose-fill fiberglass is 0.5 to 1.0 lb/ft3 (10 to 14 kg/m3) and its settled R-value per inch is from 2.2 to 2.7 (0.1526 to 0.1873 RSI per cm).” Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), read 2026-10-30. “The settled density for loose-fill rock wool is 1.7 lb/ft3 (27 kg/m3) and its settled R-value per inch is from 3.0 to 3.3 (0.208 to 0.229 RSI per cm).” Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), read 2026-10-30.

How thick should blown in insulation be?

Thickness depends on the R-value you are aiming for, and ENERGY STAR gives a target for most attics. Both ENERGY STAR and the DOE Building America Solution Center also stress that the layer be even, with no low spots or gaps: “The recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R-38 or about 10 to 14 inches, depending on insulation type.” Source: ENERGY STAR (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy), read 2026-10-30. “The depth of coverage should be even across the field of the attic.” Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), read 2026-10-30. “If your attic insulation covers your joists and is distributed evenly, you probably have enough.” Source: ENERGY STAR (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy), read 2026-10-30.

Does blown in insulation settle over time?

Yes, blown-in insulation settles after it is installed, and by how much depends on the material. The DOE Building America Solution Center gives the percentages for each type, and North Carolina's state energy office explains what settling does to an attic: “Loose-fill cellulose will settle from 10 to 20 percent over time due to gravity and vibration.” Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), read 2026-10-30. “Loose-fill fiberglass will settle at a rate of from 2 to 4 percent over time.” Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), read 2026-10-30. In North Carolina's state energy guidance, “In an attic, settling results in a nonuniform distribution of the insulation, which can reduce its effectiveness.” Source: North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality / State Energy Office (Waste Reduction Partners), read 2026-10-30. “If fluffing occurs, the project requires fewer bags of insulation, which allows air to flow through the insulation more easily and leads to excessive settling.” Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), read 2026-10-30.

Does blown in insulation have asbestos?

Asbestos shows up in the attic loose-fill record through vermiculite, a naturally occurring mineral that is a different material from the cellulose, fiberglass and rock wool described above. The DOE guide warns that older loose-fill may be vermiculite, and the EPA describes how to recognise it: “Older loose-fill may be vermiculite insulation which can contain asbestos.” Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), read 2026-10-30. “Vermiculite insulation is a pebble-like, pour-in product and is usually gray-brown or silver-gold in color.” Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, read 2026-10-30. “A mine near Libby, Montana, was the source of over 70 percent of all vermiculite sold in the United States from 1919 to 1990.” Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, read 2026-10-30.

Can blown in insulation get wet?

Wet blown-in insulation behaves differently by material. The DOE Building America Solution Center says cellulose can store a little water but breaks down when it is saturated, while fiberglass is not permanently damaged by saturation: “Additional advantages include the ability to store small amounts of water and, because it is usually manufactured locally, it is not shipped long distances.” Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), read 2026-10-30. “Cellulose has the disadvantages of breaking down when it gets saturated with water and it is relatively heavy.” Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), read 2026-10-30. “Fiberglass is lighter than cellulose and will not be permanently damaged if it is saturated with water.” Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), read 2026-10-30.

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