Fiberglass or cellulose Insulation?

[Geo-TH,In]

To make this post simple I have an area in a crawl space that I have no access to without removing the carpet and unscrewing the floor. A critter got in that area and removed all the insulation from the exterior wall. I can't find a dead critter. The critter is not a mouse or it would have left mouse droppings behind. It looked like it made a nest but didn't stay long.
Less than 2 ft away from the exterior wall I have water lines. I plan to drill 3 inch holes in the siding and inject insulation. I have some old siding I can cover the hole with. I have equipment to termite treat the ground.
Then I want to fill that space with fiberglass or cellulose insulation.
What would you use fiberglass or cellulose?
Which would be eaten by termites?
This is the first time in 22 years that this has happened. I know the critter likes fiberglass.
I left plenty of mouse bait hoping it would kill any returning critter. I may leave it a big bowl of antifreeze too.

 

[MSD]

We went from cellulose to fiberglass and back to the cellulose when I was building houses. We found the fiberglass let in more wind or air movement than the cellulose. Around the light boxes you could always feel a draft with the fiberglass but not so with the cellulose. This is in ceiling applications. As for wall spaces we always used blanket fiberglass with no problems.

 

[da.bees]

I doubt critters like fiberglass any better than cellulose, either will make a nest. Cellulose is primarily made of plant material,more specifically recycled paper so you know what that means if it gets wet.

 

[Vito]

Did you consider foam? Not sure if filling the entire cavity is good for air movement in the crawl space.

Vito

 

[showcrop]

Sounds like snakes. They can travel through mole passages, and especially through stonewall foundations.

 

[504]

What I like about the cellulose is it is fire resistant and it kills mice that eat it.

 

[sms]

I'm not sure what you are insulating. If it is a wall cavity I would consider expanding foam, they have some new ones almost guaranteed to completely fill cavities. If it is an open space I would consider cellulose.

 

[kencombs]

To make this post simple I have an area in a crawl space that I have no access to without removing the carpet and unscrewing the floor. A critter got in that area and removed all the insulation from the exterior wall. I can't find a dead critter. The critter is not a mouse or it would have left mouse droppings behind. It looked like it made a nest but didn't stay long.
Less than 2 ft away from the exterior wall I have water lines. I plan to drill 3 inch holes in the siding and inject insulation. I have some old siding I can cover the hole with. I have equipment to termite treat the ground.
Then I want to fill that space with fiberglass or cellulose insulation.
What would you use fiberglass or cellulose?
Which would be eaten by termites?
This is the first time in 22 years that this has happened. I know the critter likes fiberglass.
I left plenty of mouse bait hoping it would kill any returning critter. I may leave it a big bowl of antifreeze too.

It would depend on the volume and shape of the space IMO. I can't tell from the description exactly what you are dealing with, the entire height of the wall or just the bottom part, one stud cavity or many etc etc,

But in general I would prefer cellulose unless the entire cavity is open. If it's open either would work. Blown in cellulose is better for filling a cavity from one end as it packs tightly. And as others mentioned it also allows less air movement.

I have a difficult time getting batts to fit tightly enough to do that.

Years ago we did a house that had no insulation. Drilled holes top and bottom of the cavities, blew it full of cellulose then plugged the holes with round plastic caps. Worked well.

 

[Tony in SD]

Did you consider foam? Not sure if filling the entire cavity is good for air movement in the crawl space.

Vito

X2

 

[Mule Meat]

Cellulose is better at repelling rodents than fiberglass. Cellulose being loose will fall on a burrowing rodent as they dig. They do not like that and will often times go off to find a more suitable place to build a nest.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Cellulose is better at repelling rodents than fiberglass. Cellulose being loose will fall on a burrowing rodent as they dig. They do not like that and will often times go off to find a more suitable place to build a nest.

I read that termites don't like the taste of cellulose. It is treated with boric acid.

 

[paul]

Don’t forget about rock/ mineral wool.

Paul

 

[showcrop]

Cellulose is better at repelling rodents than fiberglass. Cellulose being loose will fall on a burrowing rodent as they dig. They do not like that and will often times go off to find a more suitable place to build a nest.

I had some exterior boards off my 160 year old house last year. I found that the mice like the blown in cellulose just fine.