I have Styrofoam with recycle triangle on it with # 6 on it. Its from new TV packaging; Its clean. Its so warm when you hold it. Recycling collection won’t take it. Can’t I use it in my attic as extra insulation ?
2006-12-04 12:42:47 · 7 answers · asked by million$gon 7 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Construction supply industry does make styrofoam for insulation on purpose, and it is used on all new home construction too.
2006-12-04 13:07:18 · update #1
The link below is to a Dow site where they talk about using their styrofoam in an attic.
When you are talking about the solid styrofoam used for shipping televisions you are talking irregular shaped styrofoam. If you try building layers of it, there will be significant gaps between layers.
If you were starting with an empty attic and one of your choices was to insulate solely with television packing styrofoam, and you just threw them in place, I think you could likely fill the attic with the styrofoam and still not have the insulating value you'd get out of a 6" layer of good fiberglass insulation.
One other concern If you have blown in insulation, if you toss this television styrofoam on top of it, it will likely compress your blown insulation and your net effect could be negative.
If you have the fiberglass bats of insulation I'd say go for it. I don't think it could hurt to toss a styrofoam form on top of it.
2006-12-04 14:34:27 · answer #1 · answered by Coach 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't think using the styrofoam from packaging for your attic is a good idea as the pieces aren't big enough. However, I used smaller pieces to insulate the plumbing under my kitchen sink. The pipes are on an outside wall. I also lined the back walls of all the cabinets having outside walls (after a cup broke when hot coffee was put in it). Haven't had cold dishes or frozen pipes since. There is no danger of fire in the areas I've used this product. I use a solid piece of styrofoam is as a drill bit holder. They stand up and it's easy to find the size I need.
2006-12-07 00:12:24 · answer #2 · answered by grandmutt 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The best use for this type of plastic is to give it to a company that makes lightweight concrete. It keeps it out of our landfills and makes more efficient construction materials. There are environmental benefits on both end. I have attached a link to Earth 911's Arizona Resource Exchange as an example. I don't know where you live.
Here's the text of the posting:
We are seeking commercial suppliers of waste expanded polystyrene foam packaging, typically used to package electronics like TV's or VCR's. We are a local manufacturer in Phoenix and produce a light weight concrete block which uses large volumes of ground EPS directly into the cement mixture. EPS #6 can be baled, loose in bags, bundled, palletized, etc for ease of loading and unloading purposes. Please contact us for specs and pricing or email dhill@apexconsys.com for further details.
2006-12-05 05:00:39 · answer #3 · answered by Bo Peep 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A severe fire hazard. In the attic (depending on where you live), the climate on a hot day may attract insects...
2006-12-04 14:02:17 · answer #4 · answered by tjmartin2000 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I used similar stuff to add to my basement ceiling. It cut down on the noise as well as the dampness to the floor above.
2006-12-04 12:49:48 · answer #5 · answered by patty393 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well, from reading the answers, you can use it, or else you shouldn't
2006-12-04 16:31:47 · answer #6 · answered by T C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no toxic when it burns
2006-12-04 12:46:51 · answer #7 · answered by rmisbach 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋