Home Comfort Insights from Connecticut's Insulation Experts
Professional insights, money-saving tips, and real solutions for Connecticut homeowners.
The Cellulose Insulation Dry Pac System: A Guide for Contractors
For contractors looking for an efficient, high-performance insulation solution for new home construction and additions, the cellulose insulation dry pac system is an excellent choice. This method provides superior thermal performance, air sealing, and soundproofing while being cost-effective and eco-friendly.
If you’re a builder or contractor trying to hit high-performance targets without burning up the budget, it’s time to get familiar with the cellulose dry pac system.
This method isn’t new, but it’s been quietly outperforming batt insulation for decades. And if you’re building tight, energy-efficient homes—or you’re tired of callbacks from homeowners complaining about drafts and noise—you’ll want this in your playbook.
So What Is the Dry Pac System?
Short version: we staple up 6-mil poly, dense-pack cellulose behind it, and tape it off clean.
Long version: It’s a smarter way to insulate framed walls, locking in air sealing, soundproofing, and thermal performance all in one go.
Here’s how the install looks on site:
Step-by-Step for Contractors:
- Hang the Poly
Staple and stitch 6-mil poly over the stud bays after framing. That poly’s your containment. - Insert the Blowing Hose
Cut a small slit in the poly. Feed the hose deep into the cavity. We’re not fluffing—this is dense-pack. - Dense-Pack Cellulose
Use an insulation blower to pack each cavity solid. No voids. No settling later. Just clean, consistent fill. - Tape It Shut
Once the cavity’s full, tape the slit. The poly stays intact and does its job as an air barrier.
Why This Beats Batts (Every. Single. Time.)
✅ Higher R-Value Per Inch
Dense-pack cellulose gives you better thermal performance than fiberglass batts, hands down.
✅ Built-in Air Sealing
Done right, this system slows air movement like a champ—no need for extra air-sealing steps inside the wall.
✅ Soundproofing, Too
Your clients won’t hear what’s happening in the next room or outside. Big win for quality of life.
✅ No Settling, No Gaps
Because it’s packed to the right density (3.5–4.0 lbs/cu ft), it won’t sag or settle over time.
✅ Eco-Friendly & Code-Compliant
Made from recycled paper and treated with borate—safe, sustainable, and passes every code requirement you’ll run into.
✅ Mold, Pest & Fire Resistant
The borate treatment keeps critters and mold out, and adds a layer of fire protection your inspectors will like.
When to Use the Dry Pac System
If you’re working on:
✔️ New builds that need airtight performance
✔️ Additions that need to meet modern code
✔️ Passive house or energy-efficient designs
…this is your system.
Why Nealon?
We’ve been insulating shoreline homes and working with builders like you for 48 years. Our team knows the dry pac system inside and out—and we get in, get it done, and get out of your way so you can keep your build on schedule.
👉 Ready to line up insulation that actually performs? Contact Nealon Insulation for a walkthrough or quote.
What Is EnergizeCT? A Homeowner’s Guide to Energy Savings and Insulation Incentives
Learn how EnergizeCT helps Connecticut homeowners save on energy costs through rebates and insulation incentives. Discover how Nealon Insulation can help you maximize savings and improve home efficiency.
If you're a homeowner in Connecticut and you like saving money (who doesn’t?), let me introduce you to EnergizeCT. It’s one of the best-kept secrets out there when it comes to making your home more comfortable and more energy-efficient—without draining your wallet.
So What Is It?
EnergizeCT is a state-backed program that helps homeowners and businesses cut down on energy use and upgrade their homes with rebates, incentives, and expert services. It’s funded by your utility bills (yep, you’re already paying into it), and it’s managed by folks like Eversource, United Illuminating, DEEP, and PURA. Translation: it’s legit—and if you’re not using it, you’re leaving free money on the table.
How EnergizeCT Helps Homeowners
Here’s what’s in it for you:
🏠 Home Energy Assessments
Through the Home Energy Solutions (HES) program, you can get a pro to come out, check where your home is bleeding energy, and fix small stuff on the spot. Drafty doors? Leaky attic? They’ll pinpoint it and start sealing it up—same day.
💸 Rebates for Insulation
This is the big one. EnergizeCT offers huge incentives for insulation, sometimes covering half or more of the cost. It makes upgrading to high-performance insulation—like our dense-pack cellulose—way more affordable.
🔥 Lower Energy Bills
Better insulation = less work for your furnace and AC. Less work for your furnace and AC = more money staying in your pocket every month. It adds up fast.
😌 Year-Round Comfort
No more frozen toes in February or sweating through your T-shirt in July. Proper insulation helps keep your house the same temperature everywhere, all the time.
🌍 You’re Doing Right by the Planet
Less wasted energy means fewer emissions, which means a cleaner Connecticut for the next generation. And that feels pretty good, doesn’t it?
Where Nealon Insulation Comes In
At Nealon Insulation, we’ve been insulating homes on the Connecticut shoreline for 48 years, and we’ve been part of the EnergizeCT installer network for a long time. That means we know the ropes—and we make the whole thing easy for you.
Here’s how we help:
- We Walk You Through the Rebate Process
We know which forms to fill out, what documentation you need, and how to make sure you don’t miss a single dollar of what you’re owed. - We Do It Right the First Time
We use high-quality cellulose insulation and experienced crews who treat your home like it’s their own. - We Maximize Your Savings
Because we understand the program inside and out, we’ll make sure your upgrades are optimized to get the most energy savings for the lowest out-of-pocket cost.
Ready to Start Saving?
EnergizeCT is here to help. We’re here to make sure you actually benefit from it.
👉 Contact Nealon Insulation today to schedule a consultation. We’ll handle the details, install the insulation, and help you cash in on every rebate available.
At Nealon, we don’t just stuff insulation in your walls—we help you build a better-performing home that stays comfortable and efficient all year long.
Let’s make it happen.
Understanding Your Old Home's Insulation Needs
Is your pre-1960s home wasting energy? Discover why traditional homes...
Connecticut’s full of charm—cobblestone streets, historic districts, and houses that have been standing since before disco was a thing. But if your home was built before the 1970s, there’s a good chance it’s missing something important: modern insulation.
That means higher energy bills, weird temperature swings, and cold floors that make you wonder why you ever left the city.
Let’s talk about why older homes leak energy like a sieve, and what you can do (without wrecking your plaster walls) to make your place way more comfortable—and efficient.
Why Older Homes Weren’t Built for Efficiency
If your house predates bell bottoms, odds are it was built at a time when:
❄️ Energy was Cheap
Nobody worried about heat loss when heating oil was practically free. Insulation just wasn’t part of the plan.
🧱 The Walls Were Solid (Literally)
Plaster, lath, brick—beautiful, but not designed for insulation. Many walls didn’t even have cavities to insulate.
🌬 Drafts Were Considered “Ventilation”
These homes were made to breathe. Trouble is, they still are. And now they’re breathing in cold air and breathing out your hard-earned money.
Signs Your Home’s Insulation Is… Not Great
Here’s how you know your house is under-insulated (or not insulated at all):
- 🔥 Your HVAC never shuts off but you’re still wrapping yourself in a blanket like it’s a cape.
- Cold drafts sneak in around the floors and walls every winter.
- One room’s roasting, another’s freezing—you play thermostat roulette all day.
- You get ice dams like clockwork after every snowfall.
- Your walls feel cold to the touch, even when the heat’s cranking.
- Mold or moisture shows up, especially near exterior walls.
If any of that sounds familiar, it’s time to talk about a retrofit.
The Best Way to Insulate Pre-1970s Homes
You don’t need to gut your house to bring it up to modern standards. You just need the right strategy—and the right crew.
1. Blown-In Cellulose for Walls
Most old homes have empty walls. Blown-in cellulose is the fix, and it doesn’t require tearing down plaster or drywall.
✅ We drill small holes, fill the cavity, and patch them up.
✅ It cuts drafts and bumps your energy efficiency way up.
✅ It’s eco-friendly and pest-resistant—win-win.
At Nealon Insulation, this is our bread and butter. We’ve been dense-packing cellulose into old shoreline homes for nearly 50 years.
2. Attic Insulation: Start Here, Always
Attics are the worst offenders when it comes to heat loss. Hot air rises—if it’s not sealed up top, it’s out the roof.
Best options:
- Blown-in cellulose – Fills every nook, seals air gaps, and performs year-round.
- Fiberglass batts – Cheaper, but you sacrifice air sealing.
🛠 Pro tip: Don’t forget attic baffles. They keep airflow steady and prevent moisture issues. No one wants mold in the rafters.
3. Basement & Crawl Space Insulation
Stone and concrete foundations may look tough, but they do nothing to keep the cold out. And if your floors are freezing, this is probably why.
Smart options:
- Spray foam or rigid foam board on the walls—for moisture control and insulation in one.
- Cellulose or fiberglass in the rim joists—stops major air leaks.
Once we seal up your basement or crawl space, your feet will thank you.
Don’t Let Old Age Be an Excuse
Your house might be 100 years old, but that doesn’t mean you have to live like it’s 1925. With the right insulation (and a crew that respects your home’s history), you can stay warm, save money, and still keep the charm.
Ready to stop heating the neighborhood?
👉 Contact Nealon Insulation for a free consultation. We’ll walk you through the smartest ways to upgrade without gutting your place—and make sure your beautiful old home is built to handle modern New England weather.
At Nealon, we don’t just do insulation. We preserve comfort—without compromising your home’s character.
Our Values
Building Trust Through Excellence, One Home At A Time
Integrity First and Always
We treat every home as if it were our own, providing honest assessments and transparent recommendations.
Quality Without Compromise
We use only premium materials and proven installation techniques.
Customer-First Approach
From your first energy assessment to the final inspection, your satisfaction is our priority.
Frequently Asked Questions?
Let's Work Together
Ready to transform your home into an energy-efficient haven? Schedule your free Estimate today and experience the Nealon difference for yourself.