The warm summers in Chester, Illinois, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You change the thermostat to a comfortable temperature. The air conditioner starts up automatically. But, even after your AC operates, your home still feels moist and clammy.
Not a great feeling.
It can be annoying when the air conditioner appears to work properly, yet your home doesn't actually feel pleasant. If your rooms feel humid but thermostat says cool, you're in good company. Many area homeowners have this problem.
Why is this? Temperature and humidity are two different measurements in your home. The temperature only tells you how hot or cold the air is within your home. It doesn't measure the amount of moisture in the air. When indoor moisture is 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 right and simple troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Chester, Illinois, home. That way, you’ll know when you should call experts like the team at Korando Heating & Cooling, Inc. for support.
Why a Home Can Feel Humid Even When the Temperature Is Right
The temperature is only part of what makes your home enjoyable. Indoor humidity is an extremely important element to consider. The majority of homes are generally more comfortable when indoor relative humidity is in the 30-50% range. When a home has high indoor humidity, the air feels less comfortable, denser and stickier—even if the actual air temperature is cool.
Too much indoor moisture 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 cooling the air without extracting enough moisture.
Reasons Your Home Feels Humid Even with the AC Running
Residing in Chester, Illinois, muggy conditions can be a challenge.
Countless area homeowners deal with the same question: Why does my house feel humid?
There are a variety of common explanations. Determining what's creating humidity problems is a key first step toward fixing the problem.
Here are several common reasons for high indoor humidity levels in Chester, Illinois:
1. AC is Too Large
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 reduce humidity effectively because it turns off before completing a full cooling cycle.
2. Blocked Air Filter
A blocked air filter limits airflow throughout your heting and cooling system. This makes it harder for your equipment to control humidity while cooling your home.
3. Clogged Condensate Drain
Your AC pulls out moisture from the air in your home and and then it drains from the equipment through a condensate line. If that drain becomes blocked, moisture can't drain from the system properly, contributing to increased humidity levels.
4. Icy Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil removes both heat and moisture from your home's indoor air. Dirt and grime on the coil limits its effectiveness and often requires professional AC repair services to fix.
5. Loose Ductwork
Ductwork moves cool air throughout your living space. Openings 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 difficult to maintain comfortable humidity conditions.
6. Thermostat Fan is on “On” Setting Change to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is set to "On" instead of "Auto", the blower continues to operate after the cooling cycle ends. This can blow moisture collected on the evaporator coil back into your home instead of allowing it to drain away.
7. Unusually Humid Weather
During the area’s very humid summers, your HVAC system has to work harder to remove moisture from the air. Even when your cooling system is operating correctly, sometimes your home feels muggy because outdoor humidity continually enters your home through doors, windows and normal air leakage.
8. Older Heating and Cooling Equipment
As home comfort systems get older, they often become less effective at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance optimizes performance, improves efficiency and helps find worn-out parts. Skipping 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 a few simple things you can check before requesting service. These strategies are easy ways to improve indoor comfort by helping your heating and cooling 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 more efficiently.
- Make sure the thermostat fan is set to Auto. This allows moisture to drain away after each cooling cycle instead of being blown back into your living spaces.
- Make sure supply and return vents are open and unblocked. Furniture over the vents or closed vents can restrict airflow throughout your home.
- Check for water around the indoor unit. Water around your AC equipment may suggest a clogged condensate drain or another drain problem.
- 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 improving comfort, it's time to have the system inspected by a professional.
Even if your thermostat still says cool but house feels humid, do not try repairs with refrigerant, electrical components or system components. Do-it-yourself fixes may be tempting, but these repairs require specialized training and should always be left to a qualified HVAC technician.
Does Your Home Need a Whole-Home Dehumidifier?
If you have humidity in your house during summer or year-round moisture problems, a whole-home dehumidifier may be worth considering. Unlike portable units that only remove humidity from one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier works alongside your HVAC system to manage humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Korando Heating & Cooling, Inc.'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 a great choice for homes in damp climates or properties that still have humidity even with a properly functioning air conditioner.
Signs It's Time to Request HVAC Service
Persistent HVAC humidity issues often point to an larger problem that requires professional repair. The technicians at Korando Heating & Cooling, Inc. will check refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to identify 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 scheduled for a home HVAC tune-up. Seasonal seasonal tune-ups help catch small problems before they become complicated, costly repairs. That's why Korando Heating & Cooling, Inc. offers an HVAC maintenance plan that helps make regular inspections budget-friendly and stress-free.
If basic troubleshooting doesn't fix the indoor humidity problems, trust Korando Heating & Cooling, Inc. for dependable HVAC service in Chester, Illinois.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 618-826-2151 today to restore your comfort.
