The attic is one of the biggest sources of heat loss in a typical home, and blown-in fiberglass is one of the most practical, cost-effective ways to stop it. At The Home Insulators, we've installed loose-fill fiberglass in attics across Westchester, Rockland, and Bergen County homes since 2015.
What Blown-In Fiberglass Insulation Is
Blown-in (or loose-fill) fiberglass is made of millions of fine, spun-glass fibers that are blown through a hose to form a deep, even blanket across your attic floor. Because it's installed as loose material rather than pre-cut pieces, it flows around framing, wiring, ductwork, and the irregular gaps that rigid batts often leave open.
Loose-fill fiberglass delivers roughly R-2.2 to R-2.7 per inch, so attics are built up to the depth needed to reach the total R-value your home should have. A few things make it a strong attic choice:
- It's non-combustible and needs no added fire treatment.
- It won't absorb water, and it resists mold and most pests.
- It fills tight, awkward cavities that batts tend to bridge over.
- It can be blown right on top of existing insulation to boost a shallow attic.
Getting the Depth — and the Air Sealing — Right
For our climate here in the New York and New Jersey suburbs, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends attic insulation in the range of about R-49 to R-60. Many older homes we visit have far less than that, sometimes only a few inches of settled, decades-old material. Blowing fiberglass to the correct measured depth is what closes that gap.
Depth alone isn't the whole story. Insulation slows the conduction of heat, but it does very little to stop air leakage — and warm household air constantly rises and escapes through gaps around light fixtures, top plates, plumbing stacks, and the attic hatch. That's why we air seal first, then insulate. Skip the air sealing and conditioned air simply bypasses even a thick layer of insulation, wasting much of its value.
How Blown-In Compares
Standard fiberglass batts run about R-3 to R-4 per inch and can perform well in open, standard-width joist bays. But attics are rarely that tidy — they're full of obstructions and uneven spacing. Blown-in fiberglass wins in those spaces because it forms a continuous, seamless layer with no seams or compression to undermine performance. During your audit we'll tell you plainly which approach, or combination, fits your attic.
Signs Your Attic Needs Attention
Homeowners usually call us when they notice one or more of these:
- Rooms that never feel evenly heated or cooled, especially on upper floors.
- Heating and cooling bills that keep climbing.
- Ice dams forming along the roof edge in winter.
- Being able to see the tops of the ceiling joists when you look across the attic.
Proper air sealing and blown-in insulation together address all of these, and many of our customers see energy savings of 20% or more.
If your attic could use attention, the best first step is a free energy audit. We'll measure your existing insulation, check for air leaks, and give you a clear, no-pressure recommendation. Call The Home Insulators today at 914-825-6824 to schedule your free audit and find out how much more comfortable — and efficient — your home can be.