Can Insulation Be Reused?

Posted on December 15, 2016

At Overhead Door Co. of Indianapolis & Muncie, we are often asked if insulation can be reused. It’s understandable that homeowners want to save money when possible by only replacing damaged insulation, and simply reusing any insulation that is still in good condition. However, the answer to this question largely depends on the type of insulation at hand. Keep reading to learn more about the types of insulation that CAN, in fact, be reused.

Fiberglass Insulation

Fiberglass Insulation is one type of insulation that can be reused after initial installation. When installed by trained professionals, it can be easily removed and put back in place. It’s important to always hire a reputable insulation contractor to ensure proper installation and possible removal in the future.

Cellulose Insulation

Cellulose insulation consists of up to 80 – 85% recycled material. For Indianapolis homeowners who want to be environmentally-friendly, cellulose is the perfect choice of insulation material. And again, when installed by professionals, cellulose insulation can be completely recovered and reused on-site. Special machines are used in the blown-in process, allowing excess material to be vacuumed up and blown back in or salvaged for future projects.

Insulation Contractors in the Indianapolis Area

Whether you decide to go with fiberglass or cellulose insulation for your next project, the pros at Overhead Door Co. of Indianapolis & Muncie can get the job done! We have experience installing all types of insulation in homes and commercial properties throughout the Indianapolis area and beyond.

Contact us for more information regarding which type of insulation you should choose, or to schedule insulation services now!

Adding New Insulation Over Old Layers

Posted on July 26, 2016

Do you need more insulation in your home? If it was built in the 1970s or earlier, chances are it does! Older homes often don’t meet today’s energy efficiency standards and are under-insulated. Think it may be time to re-insulate? Can you put new insulation on top of old insulation? This is a question we get a lot.

In short, yes—you can install new insulation over old insulation. Keep reading to learn more!

Can I Add New Insulation Over Existing Layers?

According to ENERGY STAR®, you can put new insulation over old insulation, “unless it is wet. If it is wet or appears that the insulation has previously been wet, you should look for the cause and repair the problem…” Wet insulation is problematic, as it can lead to mold, mildew and sometimes the rotting of ceilings or roof rafters.

Although insulation professionals will handle the installation for you, here are some things to keep in mind about removing old insulation and installing new insulation over old insulation, according to ENERGY STAR:

“Faced” insulation should not be placed on top of existing insulation in the attic. Any new batt or roll insulation installed over existing insulation in the attic needs to be without a vapor retarder (face). The vapor retarder on top of or between layers of insulation can trap moisture. Any existing batt or roll insulation in the attic should have the facing against the attic drywall floor or no facing at all.

Batt or rolled insulation or blown loose-fill insulation (fiberglass or cellulose) can be installed on top of old insulation.

Insulation should be rolled out perpendicular to the joists—and unfaced rolls should be used.

Rolled insulation should not be tacked down. The R-value can be reduced if the insulation is squashed or flattened.

It’s recommended to air seal before installing insulation since air leaks can hinder the performance of insulation and significantly reduce the energy efficiency and comfort of your home.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you don’t have to worry about all this. Professionals will be able to answer any questions you have—and handle your entire home insulation project.

If you live in the Indianapolis area, the team at Overhead Door Co. of Indianapolis & Muncie can help. We have experience installing all types of insulation. Contact us today to learn more about our services or if you’re ready for a quote!

When to Remove Insulation

Posted on June 3, 2015

The official start of summer is almost here—it’s starting to get hotter and the kids will be out of school in a few weeks. Summer camp and pool time are probably on your mind, but you should also be thinking of ways to keep your energy bills low while staying cool and comfortable.

As one of the biggest sources of energy loss in homes, the attic is a great place to start. What shape is your current insulation in? Should you remove and replace it? Should you add to it?

Keep reading to learn more!

Can I Add Insulation Over Existing Insulation?

Sometimes insulation removal isn’t necessary—new batt or rolled insulation, or blown loose-fill cellulose or fiberglass, can often be installed over old insulation. But it’s important to keep the following in mind:

“Faced” insulation should not be placed on top of existing insulation in the attic. Batt or roll insulation installed over existing insulation in the attic shouldn’t have a vapor retarder (face), which can trap moisture. Existing batt or roll insulation should have the facing against the attic drywall floor or no facing at all.

Insulation should be rolled out perpendicular to the joists—and unfaced rolls should be used.

Rolled insulation should not be tacked down (if the insulation is flattened, the R-value can decrease).

Learn more by visiting ENERGY STAR online »

How Long Does Insulation Last?

It starts with how old your insulation is. Unfortunately, insulation doesn’t last (and perform effectively) for years and years. If you just moved into a newly built house two years ago, you are most likely good to go. Modern homes are well insulated and more energy-efficient than homes built even a decade ago! You should consider re-insulating and call an insulation company if your home was built in the 1970s or earlier or if you’ve been living in your home for years without ever checking things like insulation levels (especially if you’re not sure when the home was built).

When to Remove Your Insulation

You should remove insulation in your walls, attic, basement or crawl space if it is:

Old
Wet or damp
Rodent infested
Moldy
Sagging or loose
Damaged by fire or anything else

Insulation Services in the Indianapolis Area

If you need professional insulation removal and installation services in central Indiana, the team at Overhead Door Co. of Indianapolis & Muncie can help. We have experience working with all types of homes and can install fiberglass and spray foam.

How Much Can Insulation Save?

Posted on September 15, 2014

Are you looking for ways to save on your energy bills? Been considering re-insulating your home? In our experience, insulation is one of the best ways to save money and maximize energy efficiency. Many homeowners want to know specifics when it comes to insulation savings.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a single, clear-cut answer in regards to how much home insulation can save you. A number of factors come into play—from the size of your house to the type of HVAC systems you have. While you can get answers by talking to an insulation professional, there are some tools online you can use as well.

Insulation Savings

By visiting the CIMA (Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association) website, you can calculate insulation savings. With this tool, you can measure the financial impact of increasing your insulation performance by entering your data into the insulation calculator—the size of your house, the cost of your energy, etc. The calculator will return information about what you would save this year and in the future.

Another tool you can use is the home energy saver tool. It calculates your energy bills using your current rates and information such as where you live, when your home was built, whether you have a basement or not, and more. After filling in your data, you’ll get back your current yearly energy costs and how much you can potentially save with upgrades.

Keep in mind—although these tools can give you general ideas of the insulation savings you could see, they may not be completely accurate. As mentioned, talking to an insulation company is the best way to determine not only how much you can save with insulation but important information like how much insulation your home specifically needs, areas of your home that need the most insulation, etc. This is why we never recommend DIY insulation projects!

What Else Can You Do?

Fortunately, there are many other ways you can help increase your home’s overall energy efficiency in addition to insulation. Two things the team at Overhead Door Co. of Indianapolis & Muncie recommends are:

Replace your old garage door with an insulated one. Energy-efficient, insulated garage doors can help reduce your bills and keep your home more comfortable year-round. They also add extra protection from the elements to your garage’s interior.

Air seal your home. Ideally, a home should be sealed and insulated. Air sealing and insulation services should complement each other! A home that is properly insulated but not air sealed isn’t as energy-efficient as it could be because air leaks reduce the effectiveness of insulation.

Home Insulation Services in Central Indiana

If you need to install more insulation in your central Indiana area home, look no further. Overhead Door Co. of Indianapolis & Muncie installs spray foam and fiberglass insulation and can help you maximize the energy efficiency and comfort of your home.

Types of Insulation

Posted on January 14, 2013

When you’re getting ready to install insulation in your new home or re-insulate your existing home, you need to talk to professional insulation contractors, but it’s helpful to know some background information beforehand.

Knowing a little bit about insulation—including the different types and basic information about them—can make communication with the insulation company much easier, and you won’t be as confused.

There are a number of different insulation materials—the one you use (and how much you install) will depend on factors such as:

Where you need to insulate
Whether or not it’s a new construction or retrofit project
Where you live
How old your home is
And more

Different Types of Insulation

The different types of insulation materials include:

Fiberglass

Fiberglass insulation is one of the oldest types of insulation. It can be either a blanket system (rolls and batts) or loose-fill/blown-in. Usually fiberglass insulation is pink, but it can be different colors.

How it works: Fiberglass insulation traps heat in its tiny fibers, stopping conductive heat flow.

Where it’s installed: Fiberglass insulation can be installed anywhere—attic floors, walls, crawl spaces, basements and walls.

Cellulose

Made of up to 80 percent recycled material (mostly newspaper), cellulose insulation is one of the most environmentally friendly types of insulation available. It is also one of the best types of insulation to use for soundproofing.

How it works: Cellulose insulation, like fiberglass, stops conductive heat transfer.

Where it’s installed: Cellulose insulation can be installed in walls, attics, basements and crawl spaces.

Spray Foam

Superior at sealing and filling in small gaps and crevices in your house’s envelope, spray foam insulation can help reduce outside noises and make your home more comfortable year round.

How it works: Spray foam stops convective heat flow.

Where it’s installed: Spray foam insulation is typically installed in the walls.

Radiant Barrier

Radiant barrier insulation works differently than thermal insulation. Radiant barriers are great warm weather products, especially for homes with cooling air ducts in the attic.

How it works: Reflective insulation stops radiant heat.

Where it’s installed: Radiant barrier insulation is installed in attics, right under the roof. It helps reflect heat from the sun, keeping your home a lot cooler and more comfortable (in fact, homes with radiant barrier insulation can be up to 10 degrees cooler than homes with no attic insulation).

If you need insulation contractors in central Indiana (in the Indianapolis, Muncie and Kokomo areas), there’s only one name you need to know: Overhead Door Co. of Indianapolis & Muncie! We install high-quality spray foam and fiberglass.

Now that you know a little bit more about the different types of insulation, you can talk to our insulation experts to determine which type(s) you need and where you need to insulate.