Sprinter Van Wool Insulation

Never in my life did I think I would become so passionate about insulation.  Often hidden in the walls and out of sight, you could go an entire lifetime without thinking about what is insulating the homes that we spend so much time in, let alone give two shits about it.

What opened my eyes to the world of insulation was this video:

I began to view insulation as a filter to the air that we breathe to keep us alive.  Like water passing through a purifying filter before we drink it, much of the air we breathe passes through the insulation in our walls before it makes its way into our lungs.

Why should we settle for a dirty, toxic air filter such as fiberglass or polyurethane?

That’s where wool comes into the picture.  I was introduced to wool when I bought my van – the cedar siding was already installed, and wool was shoved behind the panels.  A layer of Reflectix lays directly on the metal, as a moisture barrier, although after learning more about wool and the incredible way it handles moisture, I do not believe the Reflectix is necessary.

The doors and cab had yet to be insulated.  Since skiing is my main jam and I will be living in my van all winter long, I needed to stuff every inch of van possible.    I did my research and came across Havelock Wool, a company based out of Reno, Nevada.  I called them up, and our phone conversation went something like this…

“Hi my name is Anna, I’d like more info on your wool insulation!!”

“Do you have a Sprinter van?”

“…yeeeeahhh? How’d you know?”

“Young girls don’t call us excited about insulation unless they have a Sprinter van.”

Hah.  He hit the nail right on the head.  A few months after that phone call, I took a trip to Reno, got a factory tour and picked up a bag of loose fill New Zealand wool.  This stuff is dreamy.  100% pure soft, fluffy, sheeps wool.  100% natural, non-toxic and free of asthma-advocating chemicals.

I removed the homemade panels from each of my doors (made from sheets of luan and these screw clips) and packed them tight with wool.  Of course I wore my favorite wool sweater hand-me-down from my mom 🙂

The difference is incredible.  The van is quieter when driving, and I am so much warmer overnight.

Bottom line, wool insulation should be the only insulation.  It handles moisture like a boss, keeps the heat in, dampens sound, and is a completely non-toxic filter for the air you breathe all night long.