The humid summers in Newark, Ohio, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You set the thermostat to a pleasant temperature. The AC kicks on right away. But, even after your cooling system runs, your home still feels humid and uncomfortable.
Not a great feeling.
It can be disappointing when the air conditioner seems to be doing its job, yet your home doesn't actually feel very comfortable. If your rooms feel humid but thermostat says cool, you're not alone. Many area homeowners have this problem.
Why? Temperature and humidity are two different factors in indoor comfort. Your temperature only tells you how comfortable the air is within the room. 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 comfort, common reasons your home feels humid even when the temperature is comfortable and basic troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Newark, Ohio, home. That way, you’ll know when to reach out to experts like the team at Luikart Heating & Cooling for expert assistance.
Why a Home Can Feel Humid Even Though the Temperature Is Cool
Indoor temperature is only part of what makes your home enjoyable. Indoor humidity is also an equally important factor. The majority of homes are typically more comfortable when indoor relative humidity is 30-50 percent. When a home has high indoor humidity, the air feels less comfortable, heavier 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 extracting enough moisture.
8 Common Reasons Your Home Feels Humid
Residing in Newark, Ohio, high humidity can be a challenge.
Countless area homeowners ask the same question: Why does my home feel so humid?
There are a variety of common explanations. Determining what's creating humidity problems is the best place to start toward solving the problem.
Below are several common reasons for indoor humidity problems in Newark, Ohio:
Oversized Air Conditioning
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 remove humidity effectively because it shuts off before completing a proper cooling cycle.
2. Dirty Air Filter
A clogged air filter restricts airflow throughout your heting and cooling system. This makes it challenging for your equipment to control humidity while cooling your home.
3. Obstructed Condensate Drain
Your air conditioning removes moisture from the air in your home and and then it drains from the equipment through a condensate line. If that drain becomes clogged, moisture can't exit the system properly, contributing to excess moisture indoors.
4. Frozen Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil pulls 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 restore performance.
5. Leaky Ductwork
Ductwork carries cool air throughout your house. Openings in ductwork can allow warm, humid air from attics, crawl spaces or other uninhabited areas into your HVAC system. This extra moisture makes it more challenging to maintain comfortable humidity levels.
6. Thermostat Fan Set to “On” Change setting to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is set to "On" instead of "Auto", the blower continues to operate after the cooling cycle is finished. This can blow moisture collected on the evaporator coil back into your home instead of letting it to drain away.
7. Unusually Humid Weather
During the area’s especially humid summer weather, your HVAC system has to run longer to remove moisture from the air. Even when your AC is operating correctly, sometimes your home feels muggy because outdoor humidity keeps entering your home through doors, windows and normal air leakage.
8. Poorly Maintained Heating and Cooling Equipment
As HVAC systems get older, they often become less effective at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance improves performance, boosts 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 Calling an HVAC Technician
If your home feels humid, there are some simple things you can check before requesting service. These DIY tips are easy ways to improve indoor comfort by helping your HVAC system remove moisture more efficiently.
- Replace or inspect the air filter. A clean HVAC air filter allows proper airflow, helping your system circulate air through and dehumidify your home better.
- Verify the thermostat fan is set to Auto. This allows moisture to leave the system after each cooling cycle instead of being circulated back into your living spaces.
- Check to ensure your supply and return vents are open and unobstructed. Rugs or household furnishings over the vents or closed vents can restrict airflow throughout your home.
- Look for water around the indoor unit. Water around your AC equipment may signal a clogged condensate drain or another drainage-related issue.
- Monitor how your air conditioner 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 attempt repairs involving refrigerant, electrical components or internal HVAC parts. DIY repairs 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. Unlike portable units that only work in one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier connects to your HVAC system to manage humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Luikart Heating & Cooling's indoor air quality solutions, a whole-home dehumidifier makes 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 continue to have humidity even with a properly functioning air conditioner.
Signs It's Time to Request HVAC Service
Persistent HVAC humidity issues often trace back to an larger problem that needs professional repair. The technicians at Luikart Heating & Cooling will inspect refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to find why your system isn't controlling humidity effectively. They can also inspect ductwork, condensate drainage and overall system sizing to find the root cause.
We also can get you set up with a heating and cooling tune-up. Regular 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 helps make regular inspections cost-effective and hassle-free.
If simple troubleshooting doesn't fix the home’s humidity issues, trust Luikart Heating & Cooling for dependable HVAC service in Newark, Ohio.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 740-344-5497 today to take care of high indoor humidity issues for good.