The warm summers in Iowa City, Iowa, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You adjust the thermostat to a ideal temperature. The air conditioner kicks on automatically. But, even after your air conditioner operates, your home still feels moist and clammy.
Now, you’re cool and damp.
It can be annoying when the air conditioner seems to be doing its job, yet your home doesn't actually feel 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 measurements in your home. A 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 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 home comfort, common reasons your home feels humid even when the temperature is correct and easy troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Iowa City, Iowa, home. That way, you’ll know when it’s time to call experts like the team at Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning for support.
Why a Home Can Feel Humid Even Though the Temperature Is Right
Indoor temperature is only part of what makes your house enjoyable. The amount of moisture in the air is an extremely important element to consider. Most homes are typically more comfortable when indoor relative humidity is 30-50 percent. When a home has high indoor humidity, the air feels warmer, more oppressive and stickier—even if the actual air temperature is cool.
Too much indoor moisture 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 cooling the air without pulling out enough moisture.
Home Feels Humid? Here are 8 Common Causes
Making your home in Iowa City, Iowa, high humidity can be a frequent concern.
Countless area homeowners ask the same question: Why does my house feel humid?
There are several common causes. Identifying what's creating excess humidity is a key first step toward resolving the problem.
Let's look at several common reasons for indoor humidity problems in Iowa City, Iowa:
1. Oversized Air Conditioning
An AC unit that's bigger than your home needs lowers the temperature in your home too quickly. The problem is an oversized AC often doesn’t remove humidity effectively because it turns off before completing a proper cooling cycle.
2. Clogged Air Filter
A clogged air filter restricts airflow throughout your heting and cooling system. This makes it harder for your equipment to extract humidity while cooling your home.
3. Clogged Condensate Drain
Your air conditioner collects moisture from your home’s air and and then it drains from the equipment through a condensate line. If that drain becomes restricted, moisture can't leave the system properly, contributing to higher indoor humidity.
4. Frozen Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil removes both heat and moisture from your home's air supply. Dirt and grime on the coil decreases its effectiveness and often requires professional AC repair services to fix.
5. Damaged Ductwork
Ductwork moves cool air throughout your house. Leaks 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 levels.
6. Thermostat Fan Set to “On” Change to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is set to "On" instead of "Auto", the blower keeps running after the cooling cycle is finished. This can circulate 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 operate more to remove moisture from the air. Even when your AC is working properly, sometimes your home feels muggy because outdoor humidity continues to seep into 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 optimizes performance, boosts efficiency and helps identify worn-out parts. Putting off regular air conditioning maintenance can decrease performance, including your system's ability to remove moisture.
Simple Checks to Make Before Calling an HVAC Technician
If your home feels humid, there are several simple things you can check before scheduling service. These DIY tips are easy ways to improve indoor comfort by helping your HVAC system remove moisture more effectively.
- Replace a dirty air filter. A clean HVAC air filter allows proper airflow, helping your system cool and dehumidify your home more efficiently.
- Make sure 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 furniture over the vents or closed vents can restrict airflow throughout your home.
- Check for water around the indoor unit. Water by your AC equipment may signal a clogged condensate drain or another drainage issue.
- Know how your AC should run. If the AC is short cycling or turning on and off repeatedly, 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 with refrigerant, electrical components or internal parts. DIY repairs may be tempting, but these repairs require professional training and should always be left to a qualified HVAC technician.
Should You Get a Whole-Home Dehumidifier?
If you deal with humidity in your house during summer or year-round moisture problems, a whole-home dehumidifier may be the right choice. As opposed to 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 Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning's indoor air quality solutions, a whole-home dehumidifier makes your home more comfortable while helping reduce the risk of mold, musty odors and excess moisture. It can be especially helpful for homes in humid areas or properties that continue to 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 larger problem that requires professional repair. The technicians at Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning will check refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to identify why your system isn't controlling humidity effectively. They can also check ductwork, condensate drainage and overall system sizing to identify the root cause.
We also can get you scheduled for an HVAC tune-up. Regular seasonal tune-ups help find small problems before they become potentially expensive repairs. That's why Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning offers an HVAC maintenance plan that makes regular inspections easy and affordable.
If basic troubleshooting doesn't solve the home’s humidity issues, trust Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning for dependable HVAC service in Iowa City, Iowa.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 319-337-3520 today to fix your indoor humidity issues once and for all.
