Dense-packing Insulation

There are many ways to insulate the sidewalls of a home, however only one way that the department of energy approves.

The old methods of insulating includes the two hole method and a one hole nozzle turn. Both of these methods, while providing better insulation than nothing - settles over a brief period of time. Of course the insulation settles at the highest (and weakest point) - allowing heat loss to occur.

Dense-packing costs more due to the labor and time involved. Once completed, the walls are extremely tight. When installing, the insulation tube is inserted completely in the wall's cavity. Insulation is then fed at 3.5# / CF. When the insulation slows, the tube is pulled slightly out and then thrust once again into the cavity, effectively squeezing out air which causes the settling. This process is repeated over and over per cavity until the cavity is full and tight.

This process is not only used for sidewalls, but slopes as well. The old school way of thinking stated that the slopes needed air in them to protect the roof. However, recent studies and procedures state that if the slopes are sealed at the bottom and there is insulation in the crown above the opening, the slopes can be dense-packed full - just like a wall. Since there is no air circulating, the roof sheeting is protected from the atmosphere changes.

Dense-packing is also used in floored attics to give the maximum R-value possible in a floored, non-conditioned space.

Lastly, there is only one way to truly insulate the walls of a brick home, and that is through the dense-pack method, interior drill. Some outfits will state that they can go through mortar joints on the outside, or through the basement going upwards. While these processes once again are better than nothing, they will fail when in comparison to the dense-pack method.

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