An insulation compaction device for installing insulation within an insulating structure of an appliance, the insulation compaction device comprising: a positive compression mechanism which is an operable piston that operates within a piston chamber, the piston chamber having a sidewall and a base that define an internal cavity which includes an insulating media; the positive compression mechanism selectively engaging the sidewall to selectively define a seal between the positive compression mechanism and the piston chamber, wherein the positive compression mechanism is operable to define a selected chamber volume of the internal cavity defined between the positive compression mechanism and the piston chamber; a valve positioned proximate the base, the valve defining selective communication between the internal cavity and an exterior of the piston chamber, wherein the valve is selectively operable in a passive state to release gas disposed within the piston chamber to the exterior, wherein the passive state is defined by an equalized pressure within the piston chamber during operation of the positive compression mechanism to define the selected chamber volume; and a pump mechanism in communication with the piston chamber via the valve to define an active state of the valve, wherein selective operation of the pump mechanism places the valve in the active state to define a chamber pressure of the internal cavity, the chamber pressure being less than the equalized pressure and being at least a partial vacuum, and wherein the positive compression mechanism and the pump mechanism are simultaneously operated to define a selected chamber environment defined by the selected chamber volume and one of the equalized pressure and the chamber pressure, characterized in that operation of the valve in the active state in conjunction with operation of the positive compression mechanism to the chamber volume defines a compressed/low pressure state of the insulating media within the selected chamber environment that corresponds to the desired insulation density. a positive compression mechanism which is an operable piston that operates within a piston chamber, the piston chamber having a sidewall and a base that define an internal cavity which includes an insulating media; the positive compression mechanism selectively engaging the sidewall to selectively define a seal between the positive compression mechanism and the piston chamber, wherein the positive compression mechanism is operable to define a selected chamber volume of the internal cavity defined between the positive compression mechanism and the piston chamber; a valve positioned proximate the base, the valve defining selective communication between the internal cavity and an exterior of the piston chamber, wherein the valve is selectively operable in a passive state to release gas disposed within the piston chamber to the exterior, wherein the passive state is defined by an equalized pressure within the piston chamber during operation of the positive compression mechanism to define the selected chamber volume; and a pump mechanism in communication with the piston chamber via the valve to define an active state of the valve, wherein selective operation of the pump mechanism places the valve in the active state to define a chamber pressure of the internal cavity, the chamber pressure being less than the equalized pressure and being at least a partial vacuum, and wherein the positive compression mechanism and the pump mechanism are simultaneously operated to define a selected chamber environment defined by the selected chamber volume and one of the equalized pressure and the chamber pressure, characterized in that operation of the valve in the active state in conjunction with operation of the positive compression mechanism to the chamber volume defines a compressed/low pressure state of the insulating media within the selected chamber environment that corresponds to the desired insulation density.