[Greenbuilding] New HVAC unit

[bill.allen at verizon.net]

Bob,
I am interested in the details of "tubing".  Does it involve anything other than simply filling the stud cavities with cellulous?
Thanks,
Bill
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Klahn <Home-NRG at dnaco.net>
Sender: greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org
Date: Thu, 02 Jun 2011 07:19:48 
To: Green Building<greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Reply-to: Green Building <greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] New HVAC unit

Bobbi,

There are several wall blowing techniques out there, including some 
out-dated advice about drilling and blowing.  The only reliable 
technique I'm aware of is to 'tube' the wall.  This works well but takes 
a more powerful blowing machine than some of the big box rental units.  
Admittedly, our local big boxes have upgraded the machines they provide 
but I still get a Force I blower (which I know and trust) from a private 
rental outfit.

Since you are going to remove some of the drywall, why not remove one 
whole row of the planks (assuming that they are installed horizontally) 
near the bottom.  This would provide the access you need to tube and 
blow the wall.  (I use burlap sacking to block the space around the 
tube.  This also tends to allow the wall to dump the excess air pressure 
as you blow in the insulation.)

With a plank floor in the attic, you can also tube and blow it, just 
like a horizontal wall.  Then you can either lay batts out on the floor 
to boost the insulation or blow more loose-fill on top of the floor.  In 
the later case, it seems a shame to bury those nice old planks; I'd pull 
most of them for use elsewhere, leaving a solid walkway ( which could be 
ply (not OSB [personal prejudice]) just as well, freeing all of the 
planks.  If you use jacketed batt insulation for the top layer, you can 
roll sections back as you need storage space.

Bob Klahn

On 6/1/2011 11:03 PM, Bobbi Chukran wrote:
> Bob,
>
> Thanks so much for all the information!  We really appreciate it. I'm 
> glad you delayed doing the dishes, but sorry about the insomnia.  LOL.
>
> I forwarded your messages to Rudy the Husband and he's making a brand 
> new set of questions for the HVAC guys.
>
> A few things...there is no existing insulation whatsoever in the 
> entire house.
>
> The attic ceiling is floored with the same amazing planks that make up 
> the walls and the floors (long-leaf antique pine...yes, a SCORE for 
> me!  LOL)
>
> There is no plaster in the house; there's only 3/8" wallboard, lightly 
> textured, over the planks.  I'll probably remove some of that anyway 
> from a few of the rooms depending on the roughness of the planks for a 
> painted "cottagey" look.
>
> I've watched videos and read articles about the blown-in cellulose, 
> and am confident that we can do it ourselves.  We're very handy, and 
> have done almost all home projects over the years except build a 
> foundation.
>
> I actually know a woman who has a crew of guys here who do energy 
> audits and such, so I'll check with her about the possibility of a test.
>
> Thanks again!
>
> bobbi c.
>
>
> On Jun 1, 2011, at 9:10 PM, Bob Klahn wrote:
>
>> Bobbi,
>> I agree that blowing cellulose into the walls and ceiling are your 
>> best initial reinsulation options. With caveats.
> >
>
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