2 Days Inside a Texas Attic: Insulation Removal + Blow-In, by Attic Fanatics on YouTube. 6 min 43 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 43 s
- Time to do it
- 2 days
- Difficulty
- Takes practice
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Put on your respirator, goggles, gloves and coveralls before you climb up. Loose insulation and old dust irritate your lungs and skin, so never skip the mask.
Clear the attic floor and set up lights. Lay knee boards across the joists so you can move without stepping through the ceiling.
Run the removal machine's hose up to the attic and set the machine outside or near the hatch, with a bag or bin to catch what comes out.
Vacuum the old insulation out, working from the far end of the attic back toward the hatch so you never stand on a cleared area you still need to cross.
Bag the debris and haul it out, then vacuum the joists and the remaining dust so the new insulation sits on a clean surface.
Air seal before you add anything. Foam the gaps around wires, top plates, plumbing and light fittings, and seal the attic hatch with weatherstripping and a rigid cover.
Fit baffles between the rafters at the eaves so the new insulation cannot block airflow from the soffit vents.
Check the depth chart on the insulation bag for your target R-value, then mark that height on a few joists with tape so you can see when you have enough.
Load the blower and blow the insulation in evenly, starting at the far end and backing toward the hatch. Keep it level and fluffed, not packed down.
Leave the hatch opening, walkway and any recessed lights clear, and mark the joists before you climb down.
Tips and common mistakes
Attics get dangerously hot, so work in the morning, drink water often and take breaks below.
Never bury non-IC-rated recessed lights or cover soffit vents, or you create a fire risk and kill your ventilation.
Settled insulation loses R-value over time, so measure depth rather than guessing.
Use a helper on the hose and a second person below to change bags.
Questions
Do I have to remove the old insulation first?
Only if it is wet, mouldy, pest-damaged or heavily compressed. Dry insulation in good shape can often just be topped up.
How do I know how much to blow in?
Find your climate zone's recommended R-value, then use the depth chart printed on the bag to get the inches needed.
Can one person do this?
It is possible but slow. A second person below to load the machine saves hours and keeps you out of the heat.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
