Denim insulation’s a mixed bag, for sure. I’ve seen it dry out faster than fiberglass too, but I’ve also had a couple spots where it clumped up and got a bit funky—guess it depends on airflow and how much water you’re dealing with. If you’re in a spot with chronic leaks, I’d still lean toward something less absorbent, but for one-off incidents, denim’s not the worst.
On the rodent front, I’ve never had much faith in those sprays either. The mesh sleeves are a pain, but if you cut them a little longer than you think you need, you can slide them on and then bunch them up to fit tight corners. Not perfect, but better than chewed PEX at 2 AM.
For midnight pipe bursts, my go-to is always: 1) shut off main, 2) open lowest faucet to drain, 3) grab towels and buckets, 4) temporary patch with rubber and hose clamps if you can’t get a plumber right away. Not glamorous, but it’ll buy you a few hours of sleep... sometimes.
I get the appeal of denim insulation, but honestly, I’m always a bit wary of anything that can hold onto moisture—even if it dries out faster than fiberglass. Mold risk just freaks me out. I’d rather deal with a little extra cost upfront for something less absorbent than have to rip out walls later. Has anyone tried sheep’s wool? Supposedly it’s naturally resistant to mold and pretty eco-friendly, but I haven’t seen it used much around here. Curious how it holds up in a real leak situation.
I totally get where you’re coming from about the mold risk. I’ve looked into sheep’s wool too, but the price tag kinda scared me off. I read it can absorb a ton of moisture and still not get moldy, which sounds awesome, but I wonder how it actually smells after a leak? Like, does it ever get that wet dog vibe? I’m all for eco-friendly stuff, but if it’s gonna cost double and maybe still be weird after a flood, I dunno...
I read it can absorb a ton of moisture and still not get moldy, which sounds awesome, but I wonder how it actually smells after a leak? Like, does it ever get that wet dog vibe?
I’ve actually had a unit where the previous owner used sheep’s wool insulation, and I’ll be honest—it did its job with moisture, but the smell after a leak was... not great. Not quite wet dog, but definitely earthy, and it lingered for weeks even after drying out. Maybe it’s better than mold, but it’s not exactly pleasant either.
I get the eco-friendly angle, but after dealing with a couple of midnight pipe bursts over the years, I lean toward materials that are easy to rip out and replace if things go sideways. The cost of wool is one thing, but the hassle of drying it out or replacing it after a big leak is another. Sometimes the old-school stuff like fiberglass (with proper vapor barriers) is just less headache in the long run. Not perfect, but at least you know what you’re dealing with when disaster strikes.
I’ve wondered about that too, especially after helping my uncle with a leak last winter. He had cellulose insulation, and the smell was just musty, not really “wet dog,” but it stuck around for ages. I’m curious if sheep’s wool is actually better in the long run or just different problems? The idea of ripping out soggy insulation at 3 AM isn’t super appealing either way. Does anyone actually prefer the natural stuff after dealing with a flood, or is it just more hassle than it’s worth?
