The humid summers in Cache Valley, Utah, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You adjust the thermostat to a pleasant temperature. The air conditioning kicks on automatically. But, even after your cooling system runs, your home still feels moist and clammy.
Now, you’re cool and damp.
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 not the only homeowner. Local homeowners often have this experience.
Why is this? Temperature and humidity are two different factors in indoor comfort. The temperature only tells you how hot or cold the air is within your home. It doesn't measure how much moisture is in the air. When moisture levels are very high, your home can feel much hotter 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 comfortable and easy troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Cache Valley, Utah, home. That way, you’ll know when it’s time to contact experts like the team at Western Mechanical, Inc. for expert assistance.
Why Your Home Can Feel Humid Even If the Temperature Is Nice and Cool
Indoor temperature is only part of what makes your house pleasant. Indoor humidity is an extremely important consideration. Many homes are generally more comfortable when indoor relative humidity falls 30-50 percent. When a home has high indoor humidity, the air feels warmer, denser and stickier—even if the actual air temperature is cool.
High humidity can also contribute to dangerous mold growth, mildew, musty 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.
Reasons Your Home Feels Humid Even with the AC Running
Residing in Cache Valley, Utah, excess moisture can be a challenge.
Many area homeowners deal with the same question: Why does my house feel humid?
There are a variety of common explanations. Identifying 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 Cache Valley, Utah:
1. Oversized Air Conditioner
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 shuts off before completing a proper cooling cycle.
2. Blocked Air Filter
A blocked air filter reduces airflow throughout your HVAC system. This makes it more difficult for your equipment to remove moisture while cooling your home.
3. Blocked Condensate Drain
Your air conditioner collects moisture from your home’s air and drains it outside through a condensate line. If that drain becomes blocked, moisture can't exit the system properly, contributing to increased humidity levels.
4. Frozen Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil pulls 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 restore performance.
5. Leaky Ductwork
Ductwork transports cool air throughout your living space. Gaps in ductwork can allow 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 Set to “On” Switch to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is running on "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 letting it to drain away.
7. Extremely Humid Weather
During the area’s extremely humid summers, your HVAC system has to run longer to remove moisture from the air. Even when your cooling system 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. Older Heating and Cooling Equipment
As HVAC systems age, they often become less effective at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance improves performance, improves efficiency and helps detect worn-out parts. Putting off regular air conditioning maintenance can decrease performance, including your system's ability to remove moisture.
What You Can Check Before Scheduling an HVAC Technician
If your home feels humid, there are some simple things you can check before booking service. These simple troubleshooting steps are easy ways to improve indoor comfort by helping your HVAC system remove moisture more efficiently.
- Replace a dirty 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 leave the system after each cooling cycle instead of being sent back into your living spaces.
- Make sure supply and return vents are open and not covered up. Rugs or furniture over the vents or closed vents can reduce airflow throughout your home.
- Look for water around the indoor unit. Water near your AC equipment may indicate a clogged condensate drain or another drainage-related issue.
- Pay attention to how your AC should run. If the AC is short cycling or turning on and off frequently, 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 left to a qualified HVAC technician.
Could You Benefit from a Whole-Home Dehumidifier?
If you have humidity in your house during summer or year-round moisture problems, a whole-home dehumidifier may be the right choice. Compared with portable units that only remove humidity from one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier works with your HVAC system to control humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Western Mechanical, Inc.'s indoor air quality solutions, a whole-home dehumidifier keeps your home more comfortable while helping reduce the risk of mold, musty odors and excess moisture. It can be extremely beneficial for homes in humid climates or properties that still have humidity even with a properly functioning cooling system.
When You Need to Schedule HVAC Service
Persistent HVAC humidity issues often trace back to an underlying problem that needs professional repair. The technicians at Western Mechanical, Inc. will evaluate refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to determine why your system isn't removing humidity effectively. They can also check ductwork, condensate drainage and overall system sizing to find the root cause.
We also can get you scheduled for an HVAC tune-up. Routine seasonal tune-ups help identify small problems before they become complicated, costly repairs. That's why Western Mechanical, Inc. offers an HVAC maintenance plan that helps make regular inspections cost-effective and hassle-free.
If simple troubleshooting doesn't solve your problem, trust Western Mechanical, Inc. for dependable HVAC service in Cache Valley, Utah.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 435-753-5515 today to take care of high indoor humidity issues for good.