The humid summers in Auburn and Opelika, Alabama, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You adjust the thermostat to a ideal temperature. The air conditioner kicks on right away. But, even after your AC cycles, your home still feels damp and sticky.
Now, you’re cool and damp.
It can be disappointing when the air conditioner appears to work properly, yet your home doesn't actually feel pleasant. If your rooms feel humid but thermostat says cool, you're not alone. Many area homeowners have this problem.
Why is this? Temperature and humidity are two different factors in indoor comfort. A temperature only tells you how warm or cool the air is within the space. It doesn't measure the amount of moisture in the air. When indoor moisture is too high, your home can feel warmer than the thermostat indicates, due to indoor humidity problems.
In this article, you'll learn how humidity affects your indoor comfort levels, common reasons your home feels humid even when the temperature is right and simple troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Auburn and Opelika, Alabama, home. That way, you’ll know when to call experts like the team at Farnell Mechanical, Inc. for support.
Why a Home Can Feel Humid Even If the Temperature Is Cool
Your home's temperature is only part of what makes your home comfortable. The amount of moisture in the air is also an equally important element to consider. Many homes are typically more comfortable when indoor relative humidity falls in the 30-50% range. When a home has high indoor humidity, the air feels less comfortable, denser and stickier—even if the actual air temperature is cool.
High humidity can also contribute to dangerous mold growth, mildew, bad smells and other indoor air quality issues. That's why your house feels humid but the AC is running—your system may be chilling the air without pulling out enough moisture.
Home Feels Humid? Here are 8 Common Causes
Living in Auburn and Opelika, Alabama, muggy conditions can be a problem.
Plenty of area homeowners ask the same question: Why does my house feel humid?
There are several common causes. Determining what's creating excess humidity is a good first step toward solving the problem.
Here are several common reasons for elevated indoor humidity in Auburn and Opelika, Alabama:
Oversized Air Conditioning
1. AC is Too Large
An AC that's larger than your home actually needs cools down your home too quickly. The problem is an oversized AC often doesn’t reduce humidity effectively because it turns off before completing a proper cooling cycle.
2. Dirty Air Filter
A clogged air filter reduces airflow throughout your HVAC system. This makes it more difficult for your equipment to extract humidity while cooling your home.
3. Obstructed Condensate Drain
Your air conditioning removes moisture from the air in your home and that excess water drains from the unit through a condensate line. If that drain becomes clogged, moisture can't drain from the system properly, contributing to increased humidity levels.
4. Dirty Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil removes both heat and moisture from your home's indoor air. Dirt and grime on the coil decreases its effectiveness and often requires professional AC repair services to fix.
5. Loose Ductwork
Ductwork transports cool air throughout your house. Gaps in ductwork can draw warm, humid air from attics, crawl spaces or other unused areas into your HVAC system. This additional moisture makes it harder to maintain comfortable humidity levels.
6. Thermostat Fan Set to “On” Change setting to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is running on "On" instead of "Auto", the blower keeps running after the cooling cycle is finished. This can push moisture collected on the evaporator coil back into your home instead of giving it time for it to drain away.
7. Unusually Humid Weather
During the area’s very humid and hot summers, your HVAC system has to work harder to remove moisture from the air. Even when your AC is operating correctly, sometimes your home feels muggy because outdoor humidity continues to seep into your home through doors, windows and normal air leakage.
8. Poorly Maintained Heating and Cooling Equipment
As home comfort systems get older, they often become less efficient at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance optimizes performance, increases efficiency and helps detect worn-out parts. Neglecting regular air conditioning maintenance can decrease performance, including your system's ability to control moisture.
Things to Check Before Scheduling an HVAC Technician
If your house feels humid, there are several simple things you can check before booking service. These DIY tips are easy ways to improve indoor comfort by helping your heating and cooling system remove moisture more effectively.
- Replace or inspect the air filter. A clean HVAC air filter allows proper airflow, helping your system cool and dehumidify your home effectively.
- Confirm the thermostat fan is set to Auto. This allows moisture to drain away after each cooling cycle instead of being sent back into your living spaces.
- Check to ensure your supply and return vents are open and not covered up. Rugs or furniture over the vents or closed vents can limit airflow throughout your home.
- Look for water around the indoor unit. Water by your AC equipment may indicate a clogged condensate drain or another drain problem.
- Monitor how your air conditioning should run. If the AC is short cycling or turning on and off frequently, or it seems to run constantly without cooling your home like it should, it's time to have the system inspected by a professional.
Even if your thermostat still says cool but house feels humid, do not try repairs involving refrigerant, electrical components or internal HVAC parts. Handling these repairs yourself may be tempting, but these repairs require advanced training and should always be handled by a qualified HVAC technician.
Does Your Home Need a Whole-Home Dehumidifier?
If you have humidity in your house during summer or year-round moisture problems, a whole-home dehumidifier may be a good option. Unlike portable units that only remove humidity from one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier works alongside 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 helps keep your home more comfortable while helping reduce the risk of mold, musty odors and excess moisture. It can be a great choice for homes in humid areas or properties that still have humidity even with a properly functioning cooling system.
When It's Time to Schedule HVAC Service
Home HVAC humidity issues often are caused by an hidden problem that needs professional repair. The technicians at Farnell Mechanical, Inc. will evaluate refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to determine why your system isn't controlling humidity effectively. They can also evaluate ductwork, condensate drainage and overall system sizing to find the root cause.
We also can get you scheduled for a heating and cooling tune-up. Regular seasonal tune-ups help find small problems before they become complicated, costly repairs. That's why Farnell Mechanical, Inc. offers an HVAC maintenance plan that helps make regular inspections cost-effective and hassle-free.
If simple troubleshooting doesn't solve the 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 take care of high indoor humidity issues for good.