The hot and humid summers in Auburn and Opelika, Alabama, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You change the thermostat to a pleasant temperature. The air conditioning starts up automatically. But, even after your air conditioner cycles, your home still feels moist and clammy.
Now, you’re cool and damp.
It can be annoying when the air conditioner seems to operate normally, yet your home doesn't actually feel pleasant. If your rooms feel humid but thermostat says cool, you're not the only homeowner. It happens a lot.
Why? Temperature and humidity are two different factors in indoor comfort. A temperature only tells you how hot or cold the air is within the room. It doesn't measure how much moisture is in the air. When moisture levels are very high, your home can feel several degrees warmer than the thermostat indicates, due to indoor humidity problems.
In this blog, you'll learn how humidity affects your indoor comfort levels, common reasons your home feels humid even when the temperature is comfortable and simple troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Auburn and Opelika, Alabama, home. That way, you’ll know when it’s time to contact experts like the team at Farnell Mechanical, Inc. for expert assistance.
Why a Home Can Feel Humid Even When the Temperature Is Nice and Cool
Indoor temperature is only part of what makes your living space pleasant. Indoor humidity is another important element to consider. Most homes are generally more comfortable when indoor relative humidity is in the 30-50% range. When a home has high indoor humidity, the air feels hotter, more oppressive and stickier—even if the actual air temperature is cool.
High humidity can also promote dangerous mold growth, mildew, unpleasant odors and other indoor air quality issues. That's why your house feels humid but the AC is running—your system may be lowering the temperature of the air without pulling out enough moisture.
Reasons Your Home Feels Humid Even with the AC Running
Making your home in Auburn and Opelika, Alabama, high humidity can be a challenge.
Countless area homeowners wonder the same question: Why does my home feel so humid?
There are several common causes. Identifying what's creating excess moisture is the best place to start toward fixing the problem.
Below are several common reasons for elevated indoor humidity in Auburn and Opelika, Alabama:
1. Oversized Air Conditioner
An AC that's bigger than your home needs cools down your home too quickly. The problem is an oversized AC often doesn’t reduce humidity effectively because it stops operating before completing a full cooling cycle.
2. Dirty Air Filter
A dirty air filter limits airflow throughout your HVAC system. This makes it harder for your equipment to remove moisture while cooling your home.
3. Obstructed Condensate Drain
Your air conditioning pulls out moisture from the air in your home and drains it outside through a condensate line. If that drain becomes blocked, moisture can't drain from the system properly, contributing to higher indoor humidity.
4. Frozen Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil removes both heat and moisture from your home's indoor air. Dirt and grime on the coil limits its effectiveness and often requires professional AC repair services to restore performance.
5. Damaged Ductwork
Ductwork moves cool air throughout your house. Leaks in ductwork can pull warm, humid air from attics, crawl spaces or other uninhabited areas into your HVAC system. This additional moisture makes it harder to maintain comfortable humidity conditions.
6. Thermostat Fan Set to “On” Change setting to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is set to "On" instead of "Auto", the blower keeps running after the cooling cycle completes. This can blow moisture collected on the evaporator coil back into your home instead of letting it to drain away.
7. Exceptionally Humid Weather
During the area’s extremely humid summers, your HVAC system has to work harder to remove moisture from the air. Even when your air conditioner is functioning as designed, sometimes your home feels muggy because outdoor humidity continually enters your home through doors, windows and normal air leakage.
8. Aging Heating and Cooling Equipment
As HVAC systems age, they often become less capable at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance improves performance, increases efficiency and helps find worn-out parts. Putting off regular air conditioning maintenance can limit performance, including your system's ability to reduce moisture.
Simple Checks to Make Before Contacting an HVAC Technician
If your house feels humid, there are a few simple things you can check before scheduling service. These strategies are easy ways to improve indoor comfort by helping your heating and cooling system remove moisture more efficiently.
- Replace a dirty air filter. A clean heating and cooling system air filter allows proper airflow, helping your system condition and dehumidify your home better.
- Confirm the thermostat fan is set to Auto. This allows moisture to drain away after each cooling cycle instead of being circulated back into your living spaces.
- Make sure supply and return vents are open and unobstructed. Rugs or furniture over the vents or closed vents can restrict airflow throughout your home.
- Inspect for water around the indoor unit. Water near your AC equipment may suggest a clogged condensate drain or another drain problem.
- Monitor how your AC should run. If the AC is short cycling or turning on and off frequently, or it seems to run constantly without cooling your home, it's time to have the system checked by a professional.
Even if your thermostat still says cool but house feels humid, do not try repairs involving refrigerant, electrical components or system components. Do-it-yourself fixes may be tempting, but these repairs require advanced training and should always be left to a qualified HVAC technician.
Could You Benefit from a Whole-Home Dehumidifier?
If you have humidity in your house during summer or year-round moisture problems, a whole-home dehumidifier may be worth considering. Unlike portable units that only work in one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier works with your HVAC system to control humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Farnell Mechanical, Inc.'s indoor air quality solutions, a whole-home dehumidifier keeps your home more comfortable while reducing the risk of mold, musty odors and excess moisture. It can be extremely beneficial for homes in humid climates or properties that struggle with humidity even with a properly functioning cooling system.
When It's Time to Request HVAC Service
Ongoing HVAC humidity issues often trace back to an larger problem that needs professional repair. The technicians at Farnell Mechanical, Inc. will evaluate refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to identify why your system isn't removing humidity effectively. They can also check ductwork, condensate drainage and overall system sizing to pinpoint the root cause.
We also can get you on the schedule for a heating and cooling tune-up. Seasonal seasonal tune-ups help identify small problems before they become major breakdowns. That's why Farnell Mechanical, Inc. offers an HVAC maintenance plan that helps make regular inspections budget-friendly and stress-free.
If basic troubleshooting doesn't fix your home’s humidity issues, trust Farnell Mechanical, Inc. for dependable HVAC service in Auburn and Opelika, Alabama.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 334-524-2458 today to fix your indoor humidity issues once and for all.