Blown in insulation and can lights.

[RSKY]

I really need to blow some insulation into my attic. The old stuff from the 70's has settled out and there are spots where the snow melted off the roof very fast last year. My problem is that there are twenty can lights in the house. These things get HOT! Would I be safe covering them in insulation or do I need to get LED bulbs for them? I put four LEDs in the kitchen lights and the room is actually a little brighter than before. Cheapest I can find the LEDs are at Sam's Club and it will cost a little more than $150 to replace the remainder.

I hate to throw away good bulbs but I hate to take the chance of burning the house down.

Anybody got any experience with this?

RSKY

 

[davesl708]

Putting insulation over the can lights will prevent the lights from cooling. I would check with the manufacturer to see if they are ok with this or should install an airspace around them to keep them cool. The space around can lights varies with manufacturer.

 

[k0ua]

My house has insulation over some can lights. But won't the cost of the LED replace ment bulbs be payed back in about a year from the reduced energy usage? Not to mention the peace of mind. Get some good LED's and let the savings begin. I like the Cree brand.

 

[Coyote machine]

Can lights are either IC or non-IC. IC = insulation contact.
BUT, Home Depot has some slim base LED lights that replace the incandescent/halogen or whatever you're using now for 2 bulbs for under $10. The face of the bulb fits the can opening like a regular flood, and the base of the bulb is tapered down toward the receptacle. They are Phillips 9.5Watt, replacement for 65 Watt soft white, dimmable, etc. A 10 year extended warranty is available by registering the bulbs...
The part # is: 046677456887 BR30 LED SLIM SW 2PK 2@9.98

These are what I'm replacing my kitchen can lights with, as we 'speak'. Don't put insulation over your attic ceiling cans without making absolutely sure it is safe to do so. If it were me, I'd use blown in cellulose. you can rent the machine at home centers and buy the cellulose there too. It is WAY more effective than fiberglass batts.

 

[Industrial Toys]

They have kept changing the design and codes for these recessed lights. It may be a good idea to switch them out for current models.

 

[k0ua]

And if your interested in the payback time of the LED. Let's use an example of a bank of 4 of the 65 watt BR30 bulbs. 4x 65=260 watts. Let's use 250 watts to make calculations easy. Let's say they operate 4 hours a day. Let's say electricity costs .12 per killowat hour where you live. That might be low but let's go with that.

So 250 watts x4 hours =1 killiwatt hour per day so you spend 12 cents per day and x365day a year. So $43.80 per year to operate.

Now the LEDs are 9 watts of usage and by my eyes are every bit as bright if not brighter, if you get the daylight color. So you you have 9 x4 =36 watts x 4 hours per day= .144 killiwatt hours per day x.12 = $.0172 per day x365 days a year= $6.31 a year to operate them. So a savings of $37.49 per year. I just bought some Cree daylights BR30's for 5.97 each. So about 25 bucks with tax. 37.29 - 25 equal a payback in less than a year then every year they last past that (estimated life of 22 years) is just money in your pocket. Throw the old bulbs in the trash. They are costing you money every single day.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have been trying to pospone buying any LED lights until the prices come down somewhat. I heat electrically, with a little wood heat now and then. Could one make an argument for Edison type bulbs adding some heat to the house?

 

[k0ua]

I have been trying to pospone buying any LED lights until the prices come down somewhat. I heat electrically, with a little wood heat now and then. Could one make an argument for Edison type bulbs adding some heat to the house?

yes, but it is pretty expensive heat. And it is heat in the summer and winter.. I just now put in 4 more of the Cree daylight BR30's I paid 5.97 each. It was "Entergy special pricing" at Home Depot. Entergy is the local power company there. They are 9 watts each so all 4 are just 36 watts which is way less than one standard 65 watt bulb.

 

[Bengineer]

I really need to blow some insulation into my attic. ... RSKY

You don't want to pack insulation around old non-IC cans. A fire at 2am ain't on the fun activities list.

IMO, the first step is to seal your homes' envelope. For your "add insulation" project, seal the attic deck to stop air flowing between your interior and attic

This would include either replacing your can fixtures with ICAT rated ones or making foamboard boxes to cover each one.

Then you would add insulation to the existing. Don't forget to place baffles at each soffit vent to avoid blocking them.

Lots of info on both sealing & insulating @ energy.gov.. If you're the DIY type, it's not hard, just dirty, grubby work in tight quarters. If not, there are contractors for more $$$, less roofing nail divots in the cranium.

It's not so much that you'll save money, unless the snow melt leads to a roof failure, but that you'll be more comfortable year round and have lower heating & cooling bills.

 

[jeff9366]

Or consider having foam insulation spray-installed under your roof. Foam is far superior in insulation value to anything else. Foam comes in water base, which is quick to install and oil base, which dries rigid, adding great structural strength, but requires installation in three layers, due to heat generated in the mixing/spraying process.

My new construction home is NOT vented.