Happy New Year to our Royal Palm Beach neighbors! January is traditionally the month of resolutions. We resolve to get healthier, to organize our homes, and, almost universally, to save money after the heavy spending of the holiday season.
As you review your household budget for 2026, take a close look at your utility bill. Does it feel higher than it should be? Many homeowners in Royal Palm Beach live in the beautiful, established neighborhoods built during the boom of the late 1980s and 1990s—communities like The Willows, Saratoga, and La Mancha. While these homes have stood the test of time, the materials inside their attics often have not. If your home still has its original insulation, you might be throwing money away every time your HVAC system turns on. Here is why your attic needs a check-up this January.
The "Great Settling" of the 90s
Most homes built in our area 25 to 35 years ago were insulated with blown-in fiberglass or cellulose. When it was brand new, it was fluffy and thick, sitting high above the floor joists.
However, gravity and humidity are relentless. Over three decades of Florida weather, that fluffy material naturally settles and compresses.
The Science: Insulation works by trapping air pockets that slow down heat transfer. As the material flattens out, it loses those air pockets.
The Result: What started as an R-30 rating (the measure of thermal resistance) may have degraded to R-15 or lower. Effectively, your home is wearing a threadbare t-shirt when it needs a thick winter coat.
Why You Feel It in January
You might think insulation only matters in the summer, but January reveals the flaws in your thermal envelope.
Heat Rises: When you turn on your heat pump during a chilly 50-degree night, you are paying to warm the air inside your home. Physics dictates that this warm air rises.
The Escape: If your attic insulation is thin, that expensive heat passes right through the ceiling drywall and escapes into the cold attic. Your heating system then has to run continuously to replace the heat you are losing. This is why you might feel chilly drafts even when the heat is on, and why your electric bill spikes in winter.
The "Floor Joist" Test (DIY Check)
You don’t need expensive equipment to see if you have a problem. You just need a flashlight and a ladder. Pop your head into the attic hatch (safely!) and look across the floor.
The Rule of Thumb: Can you see the wooden floor beams (joists)?
The Verdict: If you can see the wood beams sticking up above the insulation, you do not have enough insulation. In a properly insulated Florida home, the material should be a thick blanket that completely buries the beams by several inches.
The Summer Bonus: Preparing for the Heat
Fixing this issue in January is a strategic move for the summer ahead. The same thin barrier that lets heat out in winter lets heat in during July.
The Oven Effect: In summer, your attic can reach 140°F. Without a thick layer of insulation, that heat radiates down into your bedrooms. This forces your AC to run longer cycles, wearing out the motor and driving up costs.
The Fix: By “topping off” your insulation now, you are essentially pre-paying for lower cooling bills later this year.
The Solution: A Clean and Simple Top-Off
The good news is that you rarely need to remove the old insulation. Professional remediation usually involves blowing a fresh, high-density layer of modern insulation directly over the existing material. This restores your R-Value to current building codes (typically R-38) quickly and affordably.
A Smart Resolution for RPB Families
Improving your home’s efficiency is one of the few resolutions that pays you back. It lowers your monthly overhead, extends the life of your expensive HVAC equipment by reducing its workload, and makes your home more comfortable for the family year-round.
Start 2026 with a smarter, more efficient home. For expert Home Efficiency and AC Services, trust Richard’s AC. We proudly serve homeowners in Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Lake Worth, and across Palm Beach County.
Stop the energy drain. Contact us today to schedule an attic efficiency inspection!
