The humid summers in Newark, Ohio, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You change the thermostat to a comfortable temperature. The air conditioner starts up right away. But, even after your air conditioner operates, your home still feels damp and sticky.
That’s not very comfortable.
It can be disappointing when the air conditioner seems to operate normally, yet your home doesn't actually feel very comfortable. If your rooms feel humid but thermostat says cool, you're in good company. It happens a lot.
Why is this? Temperature and humidity are two different measurements in your home. The temperature only tells you how warm or cool the air is within the room. It doesn't measure how much moisture is in the air. When humidity levels are extremely high, your home can feel 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 right and basic troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Newark, Ohio, home. That way, you’ll know when to contact experts like the team at Luikart 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 living space comfortable. Indoor humidity is another important consideration. Most homes are the most comfortable when indoor relative humidity stays 30-50 percent. 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 promote 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 lowering the temperature of the air without extracting enough moisture.
Reasons Your Home Feels Humid Even with the AC Running
Making your home in Newark, Ohio, high humidity can be a problem.
Plenty of area homeowners deal with the same question: Why does my house feel humid?
There are a variety of common explanations. Determining what's creating high idoor humidity is a key first step toward fixing the problem.
Below are several common reasons for indoor humidity problems in Newark, Ohio:
1. Oversized Air Conditioning
An AC unit that's larger than your home actually needs cools down your home too quickly. The problem is an oversized AC often doesn’t eliminate humidity effectively because it turns off before completing a complete cooling cycle.
2. Dirty Air Filter
A blocked air filter reduces airflow throughout your HVAC system. This makes it more difficult for your equipment to control humidity while cooling your home.
3. Blocked Condensate Drain
Your air conditioner removes moisture from your home’s air and drains it outside through a condensate line. If that drain becomes clogged, moisture can't leave the system properly, contributing to higher indoor humidity.
4. Dirty Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil removes both heat and moisture from your home's air. Dirt and grime on the coil limits its effectiveness and often requires professional AC repair services to fix.
5. Loose Ductwork
Ductwork transports cool air throughout your house. Openings in ductwork can pull warm, humid air from attics, crawl spaces or other uninhabited areas into your HVAC system. This added moisture makes it more difficult to maintain comfortable humidity levels.
6. Thermostat Fan is on “On” Setting Switch to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is running on "On" instead of "Auto", the blower continues to operate after the cooling cycle completes. This can blow moisture collected on the evaporator coil back into your home instead of giving it time for it to drain away.
7. Exceptionally Humid Weather
During the area’s very humid summer weather, your HVAC system has to operate more 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. Aging Heating and Cooling Equipment
As heating and cooling systems get older, they often become less efficient at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance enhances performance, improves efficiency and helps detect worn-out parts. Neglecting regular air conditioning maintenance can decrease performance, including your system's ability to reduce moisture.
Simple Checks to Make Before Contacting an HVAC Technician
If your home feels humid, there are several simple things you can check before scheduling service. These simple troubleshooting steps 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 condition and dehumidify your home effectively.
- Make sure the thermostat fan is set to Auto. This allows moisture to flow out after each cooling cycle instead of being circulated back into your living spaces.
- Check that supply and return vents are open and unobstructed. Rugs or household furnishings over the vents or closed vents can limit airflow throughout your home.
- Inspect for water around the indoor unit. Water by your AC equipment may indicate a clogged condensate drain or another drainage issue.
- Know how your air conditioning should run. If the AC is short cycling or turning on and off continuously, or it seems to run constantly without cooling your home, it's time to have the system evaluated 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 professional training and should always be handled 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 the right choice. Unlike portable units that only help reduce moisture in one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier connects to your HVAC system to control humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Luikart 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 damp climates or properties that struggle with humidity even with a properly functioning air conditioner.
Signs It's Time to Book HVAC Service
Ongoing HVAC humidity issues often trace back to an larger problem that needs professional repair. The technicians at Luikart Heating & Cooling will check refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to identify why your system isn't controlling humidity effectively. They can also inspect ductwork, condensate drainage and overall system sizing to identify the root cause.
We also can get you set up with a home HVAC tune-up. Routine seasonal tune-ups help identify small problems before they become complicated, costly repairs. That's why Luikart Heating & Cooling offers an HVAC maintenance plan that makes regular inspections budget-friendly and stress-free.
If basic troubleshooting doesn't fix the indoor humidity problems, trust Luikart Heating & Cooling for dependable HVAC service in Newark, Ohio.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 740-344-5497 today to restore your comfort.