The warm summers in Loganville, Georgia and surrounding areas, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You set the thermostat to a pleasant temperature. The air conditioner starts up automatically. But, even after your air conditioner operates, your home still feels humid and uncomfortable.
Not a great feeling.
It can be disappointing when the air conditioner seems to operate normally, yet your home doesn't actually feel comfortable. If your rooms feel humid but thermostat says cool, you're in good company. It happens a lot.
Why? Temperature and humidity are two different measurements in your home. Your temperature only tells you how comfortable the air is within the room. It doesn't measure how much humidity is in your home. When moisture levels are very high, your home can feel much hotter than the thermostat indicates, due to indoor humidity problems.
In this article, you'll learn how humidity affects your comfort, common reasons your home feels humid even when the temperature is correct and basic troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Loganville, Georgia and surrounding areas, home. That way, you’ll know when to reach out to experts like the team at Tony Beck Heating & Cooling for expert assistance.
Why a Home Can Feel Humid Even If the Temperature Is Nice and Cool
Indoor temperature is only part of what makes your home pleasant. Humidity is another important factor. The majority of homes are generally more comfortable when indoor relative humidity falls 30-50 percent. 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 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 removing enough moisture.
Home Feels Humid? Here are 8 Common Causes
Living in Loganville, Georgia and surrounding areas, high humidity can be a challenge.
Countless area homeowners deal with the same question: Why does my home feel so humid?
There are several common causes. Understanding what's creating humidity problems is a key first step toward resolving the problem.
Here are several common reasons for indoor humidity problems in Loganville, Georgia and surrounding areas:
1. AC is Too Large
An AC that's too big for your home 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 proper cooling cycle.
2. Clogged Air Filter
A dirty air filter limits airflow throughout your heting and cooling system. This makes it challenging for your equipment to remove moisture while cooling your home.
3. Obstructed Condensate Drain
Your AC pulls out moisture from the air in your home and that excess water drains from the unit through a condensate line. If that drain becomes blocked, moisture can't leave the system properly, contributing to higher indoor humidity.
4. Dirty Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil extracts both heat and moisture from your home's indoor air. Dirt buildup on the coil limits its effectiveness and often requires professional AC repair services to fix.
5. Damaged Ductwork
Ductwork transports cool air throughout your living space. Gaps in ductwork can allow warm, humid air from attics, crawl spaces or other unconditioned areas into your HVAC system. This additional moisture makes it more challenging to maintain comfortable humidity conditions.
6. Thermostat Fan Running on “On” Change setting to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is set to "On" instead of "Auto", the blower continues running after the cooling cycle is finished. This can circulate moisture collected on the evaporator coil back into your home instead of allowing it to drain away.
7. Extremely Humid Weather
During the area’s especially humid summer weather, your HVAC system has to work harder to remove moisture from the air. Even when your AC is working properly, sometimes your home feels muggy because outdoor humidity continually enters your home through doors, windows and normal air leakage.
8. Poorly Maintained HVAC Equipment
As HVAC systems age, they often become less efficient at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance improves performance, improves efficiency and helps find worn-out parts. Putting off regular air conditioning maintenance can limit performance, including your system's ability to control moisture.
Things to Check Before Contacting an HVAC Technician
If your home 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 AC or heating system remove moisture more efficiently.
- Replace or inspect the air filter. A clean heating and cooling system air filter allows proper airflow, helping your system cool and dehumidify your home better.
- Make sure 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.
- Check that supply and return vents are open and unobstructed. Furniture over the vents or closed vents can reduce airflow throughout your home.
- Inspect for water around the indoor unit. Water around your AC equipment may indicate a clogged condensate drain or another drainage-related issue.
- Monitor how your AC should run. If the AC is short cycling or turning on and off repeatedly, or it seems to run constantly without improving comfort, it's time to have the system checked by a professional.
Even if your thermostat still says cool but house feels humid, do not attempt repairs involving refrigerant, electrical components or internal parts. Do-it-yourself fixes may be tempting, but these repairs require advanced training and should always be performed by a qualified HVAC technician.
Could You Benefit from a Whole-Home Dehumidifier?
If you struggle with humidity in your house during summer or year-round moisture problems, a whole-home dehumidifier may be worth considering. As opposed to portable units that only remove humidity from one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier works with your HVAC system to reduce humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Tony Beck Heating & Cooling's indoor air quality solutions, a whole-home dehumidifier keeps your home more comfortable while lowering the risk of mold, musty odors and excess moisture. It can be extremely beneficial for homes in humid areas or properties that still have humidity even with a properly functioning air conditioner.
Signs It's Time to Request HVAC Service
Ongoing HVAC humidity issues often trace back to an hidden problem that needs professional repair. The technicians at Tony Beck Heating & Cooling will inspect refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to determine why your system isn't managing humidity effectively. They can also evaluate ductwork, condensate drainage and overall system sizing to find the root cause.
We also can get you on the schedule for a home HVAC tune-up. Routine seasonal tune-ups help find small problems before they become complicated, costly repairs. That's why Tony Beck Heating & Cooling offers an HVAC maintenance plan that makes regular inspections budget-friendly and stress-free.
If basic troubleshooting doesn't solve your home’s humidity issues, trust Tony Beck Heating & Cooling for dependable HVAC service in Loganville, Georgia and surrounding areas.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 770-466-2924 today to take care of high indoor humidity issues for good.
