The hot and humid summers in Jefferson City, Missouri, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You set the thermostat to a ideal temperature. The air conditioning kicks on automatically. But, even after your cooling system cycles, your home still feels moist and clammy.
That’s not very comfortable.
It can be frustrating when the air conditioner seems to be doing its job, 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? Temperature and humidity are two different measurements in your home. A temperature only tells you how comfortable the air is within the space. It doesn't measure the amount of moisture in the air. When moisture levels are too 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 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 Jefferson City, Missouri, home. That way, you’ll know when it’s time to call experts like the team at Stieferman Heating Company Inc for expert assistance.
Why Your Home Can Feel Humid Even Though the Temperature Is Right
The temperature is only part of what makes your home enjoyable. The amount of moisture in the air is also an equally important factor. Many homes are generally more comfortable when indoor relative humidity falls 30-50 percent. When a home has high indoor humidity, the air feels hotter, denser and stickier—even if the actual air temperature is cool.
Too much indoor moisture can also contribute to 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 pulling out enough moisture.
Home Feels Humid? Here are 8 Common Causes
Living in Jefferson City, Missouri, muggy conditions can be a frequent concern.
Plenty of area homeowners wonder the same question: What's making my house feel humid?
There are a variety of common explanations. Identifying 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 Jefferson City, Missouri:
1. Oversized Air Conditioner
An air conditioner that's larger than your home actually needs cools your home too quickly. The problem is an oversized AC often doesn’t remove humidity effectively because it stops operating before completing a full cooling cycle.
2. Dirty Air Filter
A blocked air filter restricts airflow throughout your heting and cooling system. This makes it more difficult for your equipment to control humidity while cooling your home.
3. Clogged Condensate Drain
Your air conditioner pulls out moisture from the air in your home and that excess water drains from the unit through a condensate line. If that drain becomes clogged, moisture can't drain from the system properly, contributing to increased humidity levels.
4. Dirty Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil extracts both heat and moisture from your home's indoor air. Ice formation or excessive dirt on the coil decreases its effectiveness and often requires professional AC repair services to fix.
5. Damaged Ductwork
Ductwork transports cool air throughout your house. Leaks in ductwork can pull warm, humid air from attics, crawl spaces or other uninhabited areas into your HVAC system. This added moisture makes it harder to maintain comfortable humidity throughout your home.
6. Thermostat Fan is on “On” Setting Switch to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is running on "On" instead of "Auto", the blower keeps running after the cooling cycle ends. This can push 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 extremely 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. Poorly Maintained Heating and Cooling Equipment
As heating and cooling systems get older, they often become less capable 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 reduce moisture.
Simple Checks to Make Before Calling an HVAC Technician
If your house feels humid, there are several simple things you can check before scheduling service. These strategies are easy ways to improve indoor comfort by helping your HVAC system remove moisture more effectively.
- Check your HVAC air filter. A clean heating and cooling system air filter allows proper airflow, helping your system condition and dehumidify your home better.
- Confirm the thermostat fan is set to Auto. This allows moisture to drain away 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 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 suggest a clogged condensate drain or another drain problem.
- Pay attention to 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 improving comfort, 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 parts. Do-it-yourself fixes may be tempting, but these repairs require professional training and should always be handled by a qualified HVAC technician.
Does Your Home Need 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. Compared with portable units that only work in one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier connects to your HVAC system to control humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Stieferman Heating Company 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 especially helpful 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
Ongoing HVAC humidity issues often point to an underlying problem that requires professional repair. The technicians at Stieferman Heating Company Inc will evaluate refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to find why your system isn't controlling humidity effectively. They can also evaluate ductwork, condensate drainage and overall system sizing to pinpoint the root cause.
We also can get you scheduled for an HVAC tune-up. Routine seasonal tune-ups help find small problems before they become potentially expensive repairs. That's why Stieferman Heating Company Inc offers an HVAC maintenance plan that helps make regular inspections cost-effective and hassle-free.
If simple troubleshooting doesn't solve your indoor humidity problems, trust Stieferman Heating Company Inc for dependable HVAC service in Jefferson City, Missouri.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 573-635-3547 today to fix your indoor humidity issues once and for all.