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It’s technically possible to install loose-fill cellulose insulation without a blower, but it’s much more time-consuming, tedious, and dangerous. You’ll need to wear the proper protective coverings to handle the cellulose after it’s been doused in boric acid; use a shovel when you can to transport the material from the bag into the wall cavity.

That said, if you purchase cellulose materials at a home improvement store, ask if they rent out blowers for free or at a discounted rate. In many cases, if you buy the material from the store, they’ll rent out the blower at no extra cost.

How to dispose of insulation depends on a few factors, including the condition of the material. While you can simply bag up and throw away many kinds of insulation, some municipalities offer recycling, so it's worth checking with yours. If there are contaminants such as asbestos in your insulation, abatement and specialized disposal are often necessary.

A vapor barrier keeps moisture out of the crawl space, while insulation reduces the amount of unconditioned air—and sometimes moisture—that enters the space. Coupling a vapor barrier with insulation can help prevent humidity and related moisture damage in a crawl space while also making your home more energy-efficient. Just be sure to use insulation that won’t get damaged from moisture, like rigid foam board or expanding spray foam insulation.

The most obvious con of injection foam is the cost. It’s much more expensive to install than fiberglass or spray foam, but it may be your only option (unless you want to remove entire walls around the home). Another con is that it involves drilling into existing material, which has to be repaired after the foam is injected. Some injection foams are made from products that aren’t environmentally friendly, and improper installation can lead to trapped moisture, which can lead to expensive mold remediation down the road.