Guides for South Florida homeowners
Plain-language answers about the air in your South Florida home.
Guides
Attic insulation for South Florida homes: R-values
For a South Florida attic in Climate Zone 1, Energy Star recommends adding R30 to an uninsulated attic and R25 on top of 3 to 4 inches of existing insulation. Florida's energy code sets R-30 for new ceilings in Zone 1. Air sealing and moisture checks come first. Savings vary by home.
Dryer vents in condos and high-rises: what to know
Condo and high-rise dryer vents often run a long way, through walls, shafts, or up to a roof, so lint is hard to see. Florida's mechanical code sets a default maximum duct length of 35 feet, reduced for bends. Ask your association who is responsible, and have your own vent cleaned once a year.
How often to clean air ducts in South Florida
Every 3 to 5 years for most homes; sooner with pets, allergies, a recent renovation or a move. In South Florida, long air conditioning seasons and humidity make a regular look worthwhile, and a camera look tells you whether your ducts are due.
Signs your dryer vent needs cleaning
Your dryer vent probably needs cleaning if clothes take longer than normal to dry, the dryer or laundry room gets very hot, or little air comes out of the outside hood. NFPA data lists failure to clean as the leading cause of home dryer fires. Blue Pelican recommends a yearly cleaning, which removes the lint fire hazard and helps clothes dry faster.
What a duct camera inspection shows
A duct camera inspection puts a small camera inside your ducts so you can see their real condition: dust build-up, debris, moisture stains, damaged insulation, or signs of pests. The EPA names visual inspection and remote photography as ways to check ducts. It cannot confirm mold on its own.
What UV light in an air handler does and does not do
A UV lamp in an air handler shines ultraviolet light on the cooling coil and drain pan area. The EPA says a properly designed unit may reduce biological growth on those wet surfaces, but typical home units have limited effectiveness and do not replace filtration. Results vary by system, lamp placement, and moisture control.
From the blog
Hurricane season checklist: ducts, dryer vent and attic
Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. Before a storm, change your filter, check the condensate drain, clean the dryer vent, and look at the attic and roof vents. After a storm, check for water. The EPA says materials dried within 24 to 48 hours usually do not grow mold.
Dust after a renovation: when to clean your ducts
After a renovation, clean your ducts only if an inspection shows construction dust inside them. The EPA advises sealing vents and not running the system during dusty work. NADCA recommends inspecting and verifying the system is clean before it runs again. A camera look inside, wherever your system allows it, shows what is there.
Closing up your home for the summer: a snowbird checklist
Before you leave a South Florida home for the summer, service the air conditioner, change the filter, clean the dryer lint filter and vent, and plan how humidity will be controlled. A Florida Solar Energy Center study and University of Florida guidance both focus on low indoor humidity.
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