Can you vacuum up Fiberglass insulation?

[GoingUp]

Got a bunch of insulation that fell out of my attic opening when I was up there. Its all the gray blown in insulation stuff.

Is it OK for me to vacuum it up, or do I need to clean it up a different way?

 

[BW86]

Yup totally fine.

I actually just vacuumed up some a couple weeks ago with my 1 gallon shop vac

 

[ElFenix]

yes

that's actually how they got it up there

 

[miri]

use a vacuum with a HEPA filter or else that fiberglass is gonna break up and be dangerous inhaled

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

it's probably just cellulose if it's clumpy gray stuff.

 

[miri]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
it's probably just cellulose if it's clumpy gray stuff.

get it sampled to see if its asbestos, shouldnt cost much to find out. If it is then dont go anywhere near it.

 

[T3C]

Yup, should be no problem

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: miri

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
it's probably just cellulose if it's clumpy gray stuff.

get it sampled to see if its asbestos, shouldnt cost much to find out. If it is then dont go anywhere near it.

not likely, but possible.

Here is what vermiculite/zonolite (asbestos) may look like Link

Here is cellulose Link

 

[GoingUp]

Just bought this place and it just got finished getting built in November

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
Just bought this place and it just got finished getting built in November

definitely not asbestos then. Probably cellulose. Look at my pic above. Cellulose is no problem. If you vacuum up fiberglas, you do run the risk of dispersing the fibers into the air via the vacuum exhaust, but it's just a minor irritant. I'd sweep up as much as possible with a broom and vacuum the rest.

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: miri

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
it's probably just cellulose if it's clumpy gray stuff.

get it sampled to see if its asbestos, shouldnt cost much to find out. If it is then dont go anywhere near it.

not likely, but possible.

Here is what vermiculite/zonolite (asbestos) may look like Link

Here is cellulose Link

I think its cellulose. When I was crawling around in the attic yesterday, I saw a couple of little lines of news print in some of the insulation.

 

[DrPizza]

Wow, they use blown in for new home construction? I'd definitely go with fiberglass if I had the choice... that blown in stuff seems to create so much dust.

 

[bctbct]

cellulose is more fire retardant and has a higher R value.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Wow, they use blown in for new home construction? I'd definitely go with fiberglass if I had the choice... that blown in stuff seems to create so much dust.

cellulose is a little cheaper, and a little better R value for the same thinkness. Also, much easier to install properly.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: bctbct
cellulose is more fire retardant and has a higher R value.

fiberglass burns???
R-value is based on thickness. I still think cellulose is too dusty, but it is a heckuva lot cheaper. Then again, compared to the price of a house, it's not that bad. (I was just pricing it a few weeks ago... something with a really high R-value.. 20's or whatever is recommended for the attic, was well under a dollar per square foot.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: bctbct
cellulose is more fire retardant and has a higher R value.

fiberglass burns???
R-value is based on thickness. I still think cellulose is too dusty, but it is a heckuva lot cheaper. Then again, compared to the price of a house, it's not that bad. (I was just pricing it a few weeks ago... something with a really high R-value.. 20's or whatever is recommended for the attic, was well under a dollar per square foot.

R value isnt just based on thickness, its based on actual insulating ability.

hence why Poured concrete walls have become popular, they themselves have about an R-11 rating or so.

 

[Viper GTS]

Even if it were asbestos the dangers of that stuff are WAY overdone by the media.

Viper GTS