Old duvets as loft insulation

JohnM20
JohnM20 Forum Participant Posts: 1,416
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edited February 2022 in General Chat #1

Although we have a substantial amount of conventional loft insulation I'm wondering if this can be enhanced by using old duvets and / or sleeping bags to increase the insulation layer. Can anyone see any problems with this idea?

Comments

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2022 #2

    The only problem that may occur is mold, fibreglass and spray foam is mold resistant.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2022 #3

    Considering you probably have electrical wires in your loft and the present insulation is fire resistant would it be sensible to add flammable materials?

  • SeasideBill
    SeasideBill Forum Participant Posts: 2,112
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    edited February 2022 #4

    Old duvets covered in years of accumulated dead skin cells and such stuff are probably more attractive to vermin than standard loft insulation materials?

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2022 #5

    What old duvets can be used for is to add insulation to windows. ,but I do not think it would be advisable to use them in your loft, but check with your house insurance first

  • JohnM20
    JohnM20 Forum Participant Posts: 1,416
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    edited February 2022 #6

    Thanks for your comments. Our duvets are washed quite regularly and are used in duvet covers so I'm not persuaded that they could be attractive to vermin. Also, are they any more flammable than all the other stuff that many of us keep in the loft all the time? There is quite a good air movement in our loft and we have never suffered from mould on anything else kept up there. I suppose my question should have been will they provide a meaningful increase in  insulation.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2022 #7

    I wonder if the density of the duvets would be a lot less than proper insulation and therefore unlikely to give much of a thermal lift? The recommended thickness of insulation is between 250 and 270 mm. I think I would just buy more insulation and send the duvets and sleeping bags to a homeless charity?

    David

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2022 #8

    Having just had field mice in our loft I think they'd love some nice soft bedding, they didn't find our proper insulation very tempting but gave it a go! 🐭🐭🐭

  • redface
    redface Forum Participant Posts: 1,701
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    edited February 2022 #9

    Speaking from experience NO!

    Mice will bed down, pee in them and even chew them up a bit.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited February 2022 #10

    Well you could allow the local cub scouts to get a little supervised camping experience in --  that could keep the meeces on the move if nothing else  wink

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