How to install cellulose insulation around recessed lighting.
Cellulose insulation around can lights.
Cellulose insulation made from recycled materials such as old newspaper and jeans is environmentally friendly but cellulose is.
Loose fill cellulose insulation can settle around and conform to most of the obstructions found in walls and attics.
Loose fill cellulose is relatively inexpensive yet still has an r value of about 3 5 per inch of thickness compared to fiberglass r value between r3 to r4 per inch.
Here s what you can do to prevent problems if you plan to install recessed lights that are going to protrude in to your attic make sure they re airtight ic rated lights.
Notice that i said regular insulation such as fiberglass or cellulose insulation not spray foam insulation.
If i replace those bulbs with leds will that reduce the heat enough so i can insulate around the existing lighting cans.
You re gonna need it.
After the lights are installed be sure to double down on the amount of insulation above the lights.
Ic or in contact recessed can lights are designed to be installed with regular insulation installed directly beside or on top of them.
I want to replace them with these led ones that home depot sells.
When heat builds up in a recessed can light it can.
Spray foam insulation is an air seal and works a lot better than regular insulation does.
So for an average installation of a single room of 240 square feet blown in insulation of either fiberglass or cellulose will cost between 650 and 670 while the same space insulated using fiberglass.
How to insulate around can lights.
Insulation should be kept away from recessed can lights because the insulation does not allow the heat generated by the lights to dissipate.
When walls are already finished injecting loose fill cellulose insulation is one of the few ways of adding.
The cans have holes in them so my precious warm air is leaking right out of these areas.
The recessed lights in my house are accessible from the attic but there s no insulation around them because it says on the fixtures that they need to vent the heat generated by incandescent bulbs.
I took a look at the insulation around the recessed light cans from the attic and there is none.