SOUTH MIAMI Blog

How to get your attic ready for summer

This summer, we’re in for some sweltering heat in South Florida. Already in June, the heat index (how hot it feels) reached up to 102 degrees in Miami-Dade County - a temperature that’s not only uncomfortable but also potentially dangerous for our health. That’s why it’s even more important to be able to cool down indoors but, with the heat burning down on our roofs, our homes and A/C units have to work hard to achieve a cool climate. As a consequence, equipping your home (and specifically your attic!) with the best heat protection possible is your best option when it comes to fighting off the heat. We’ve collected a couple tips on how to prepare your attic for summer so you can relax and stay cool in your home.

Tips to get your attic ready for summer

Attic Cleaning

The first step in fixing anything is to properly clean it and prepare it for whatever maintenance or installation you are going to do. Your attic always seems like the perfect spot to store away all those items you can't bear to part with, but don't want cluttering your house. However, most things should actually not be stored in the attic.

Cardboard Boxes

Many of us store cardboard boxes full of stuff we need out of sight, out of mind in the attic. Or even boxes full of nostalgic items filled with memories like photo books. However, these cardboard boxes could turn into a delicious buffet for mice and other pests as they are attracted by the cardboard and glue used in the construction of the boxes. That means, you’re not only inviting unwanted visitors but you’re also most likely losing whatever is in that box because the mice will eat away on it.

Books, papers or cleaning supplies

These three seem like a random collection of items but they all belong to the same category - flammable materials. Any chemicals or paper-based materials present a fire hazard, especially if you also have some of your electrical boxes up in the attic. One spark from a fuse and these items would help a fire spread quicker than anything else. 

Furniture or Holiday Decorations

Especially in an under- or non-insulated home, an attic in South Florida becomes an unbearably hot environment which will actually damage items that you might want to use later, like holiday decorations you’re saving for the next year. Those lovely Christmas ornaments could quite literally melt in under the Florida sun. 

As you can see, there’s few items that should actually be stored in an attic but most of us have already accumulated so many things that it seems too big of a task to take them down. That’s why there are professionals who can bring all of those things down and discard whatever is not needed anymore. Contact Javier from Koala Insulation of South Miami about an attic cleaning today!

Attic Insulation

As the highest part of your home, your roof and therefore attic gets direct sun exposure and the heat accumulates. That’s why a thermal radiant barrier and insulation are often used to lower your attic’s temperature and therefore prevent heat damage to your home and high energy costs from the hot air leaking into your air-conditioned living space. Just with insulation alone, you can notice a temperature difference of up to 20 degrees in your attic. This means that there will be less heat entering your living space and your A/C won’t have to work so hard this summer.

According to House Logic, homeowners can save over $600 per year with new attic insulation, depending on the type that’s installed. Making sure that you have enough insulation installed to properly cover the attic space is important as old or little insulation will not have the desired temperature-regulating effect nor lower your bills. EnergyStar.gov recommends adding more insulation if the current amount is even with or below the floor joists. If you can see your attic’s floor, it’s time to install more attic insulation. Contact Koala Insulation of South Miami now to have a professional come out to our home and inspect your attic.

Air Sealing

Attic insulation alone is very effective but won’t necessarily suffice in turning your home into its most energy-efficient version. You will get the most benefits from your insulation, if you improve your home’s overall thermal envelope in order to save as much energy as possible. That means, checking your attic’s roof and floor for air leaks between the outside and inside as well as your attic and your living space. Most attics have air leaks in one or more of these places:

• Attic hatch
• Wiring holes
• Holes for plumbing and pipes
• Dropped soffits that are open to the attic
• Recessed lights
• Furnace flue or duct chaseway

Air leaks in these places allow for air, and therefore heat, transfer which is hotter outside air traveling into your space. Air Sealing is a procedure that not only helps sealing air leaks to prevent heat transfer but also keeps Florida’s high humidity out of your home. Air sealing is a stand-alone application to close those leaks but also the perfect add-on to your insulation. Insulation combined with air sealing is the optimal solution to regulate the temperature in your attic and therefore your home and provides the biggest energy savings. 

Call Koala Insulation of South Miami for all your attic needs - we offer all services from attic cleaning, insulation removal, insulation installation and air sealing!