The humid summers in Lawrence, Kansas, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You adjust the thermostat to a pleasant temperature. The air conditioner begins running as expected. But, even after your AC cycles, your home still feels damp and sticky.
Now, you’re cool and damp.
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? Temperature and humidity are two different measurements in your home. A temperature only tells you how warm or cool the air is within your home. It doesn't measure the amount of moisture in the air. When moisture levels are too high, your home can feel several degrees 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 correct and easy troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Lawrence, Kansas, home. That way, you’ll know when you should contact experts like the team at Scott Temperature for support.
Why a Home Can Feel Humid Even Though the Temperature Is Cool
Indoor temperature is only part of what makes your living space enjoyable. Indoor humidity is also an equally important consideration. Many homes are typically more comfortable when indoor relative humidity falls 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.
High humidity 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 lowering the temperature of the air without pulling out enough moisture.
Home Feels Humid? Here are 8 Common Causes
Making your home in Lawrence, Kansas, excess moisture can be a frequent concern.
Countless area homeowners deal with the same question: Why does my home feel so humid?
There could be multiple reasons. Determining what's creating high idoor humidity is the best place to start toward fixing the problem.
Below are several common reasons for elevated indoor humidity in Lawrence, Kansas:
1. Oversized Air Conditioner
An AC unit that's larger than your home actually needs cools your home too quickly. The problem is an oversized AC often doesn’t reduce humidity effectively because it turns off before completing a complete cooling cycle.
2. Dirty 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. Clogged Condensate Drain
Your air conditioning removes moisture from the air in your home and drains it outside through a condensate line. If that drain becomes blocked, moisture can't exit the system properly, contributing to higher indoor humidity.
4. Dirty Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil extracts 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. Damaged Ductwork
Ductwork moves cool air throughout your living space. Gaps in ductwork can allow warm, humid air from attics, crawl spaces or other unused areas into your HVAC system. This additional moisture makes it more difficult to maintain comfortable humidity throughout your home.
6. Thermostat Fan Set to “On” Change to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is running on "On" instead of "Auto", the blower continues to operate after the cooling cycle completes. 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 and hot summers, your HVAC system has to run longer to remove moisture from the air. Even when your air conditioning is functioning as designed, sometimes your home feels muggy because outdoor humidity continues to seep into your home through doors, windows and normal air leakage.
8. Poorly Maintained HVAC Equipment
As heating and cooling systems age, they often become less effective at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance optimizes performance, improves efficiency and helps identify worn-out parts. Putting off regular air conditioning maintenance can reduce performance, including your system's ability to remove moisture.
Things to Check Before Contacting an HVAC Technician
If your house 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 effectively.
- Replace or inspect the air filter. A clean heating and cooling system air filter allows proper airflow, helping your system circulate air through and dehumidify your home better.
- Confirm 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.
- Check that supply and return vents are open and not covered up. Rugs or furniture over the vents or closed vents can limit airflow throughout your home.
- Check for water around the indoor unit. Water around your AC equipment may suggest a clogged condensate drain or another drainage-related issue.
- Monitor how your air conditioning 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 inspected by a professional.
Even if your thermostat still says cool but house feels humid, do not attempt repairs involving refrigerant, electrical components or system components. DIY repairs may be tempting, but these repairs require advanced training and should always be left to a qualified HVAC technician.
Does Your Home Need 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. Unlike portable units that only remove humidity from one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier connects to your HVAC system to control humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Scott Temperature's indoor air quality solutions, a whole-home dehumidifier helps keep 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 humid areas or properties that still have humidity even with a properly functioning cooling system.
When It's Time to Request HVAC Service
Home HVAC humidity issues often are caused by an larger problem that needs professional repair. The technicians at Scott Temperature will evaluate refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to find why your system isn't removing 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. Seasonal seasonal tune-ups help catch small problems before they become major breakdowns. That's why Scott Temperature offers an HVAC maintenance plan that makes regular inspections cost-effective and hassle-free.
If basic troubleshooting doesn't fix your problem, trust Scott Temperature for dependable HVAC service in Lawrence, Kansas.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 785-503-3712 today to restore your comfort.