Just noticed my attic insulation settled way more than I expected in 18 months

I checked my attic in June 2023 and the blown-in cellulose was about 14 inches deep. Checked again last weekend and it's down to maybe 9 inches in some spots. Pretty sure it's from wind leaks and just gravity over time. Has anyone else in Amarillo seen that much settling with their insulation? I'm wondering if I need to add more or just leave it.

3 comments

3 Comments

wyatt13517d ago

...and honestly, that's a pretty big drop in just 18 months. I mean, blown-in cellulose is known to settle, but 5 inches seems like a lot unless you had some real airflow problems up there. I'd check your soffit vents and make sure they aren't blocked by the insulation itself, 'cause if the wind is pushing through and moving the stuff around, it'll settle way faster. My neighbor had the same issue outside of Canyon and he ended up having to add R-value on top of what was already there after just two years. Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather top it off now than let it keep dropping and lose more heat in the winter. You can get a free estimate from a couple places in town pretty easy.

jamie80417d ago

Settling is actually a good thing, it means the insulation is packing down to full R-value and any extra is just wasting money.

robert65917d ago

Totally agree Wyatt, I had the exact same thing happen at my place. Had blown in cellulose done about two years ago and it dropped like a rock. I ended up crawling up there and found the soffit vents were completely buried, which didn't help at all. I just ended up renting a blower from the hardware store and topping it off myself. Saved a bundle and it hasn't settled nearly as much since I cleared the vents. Always worth checking that airflow first.