The warm summers in Croydon, Pennsylvania, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature. The AC starts up automatically. But, even after your AC runs, your home still feels moist and clammy.
Now, you’re cool and damp.
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 not the only homeowner. Many area homeowners have this problem.
Why is this? Temperature and humidity are two different measurements in your home. A temperature only tells you how hot or cold the air is within the room. It doesn't measure how much moisture is in the air. When indoor moisture is extremely 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 indoor comfort levels, common reasons your home feels humid even when the temperature is right and basic troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Croydon, Pennsylvania, home. That way, you’ll know when you should call experts like the team at Indoor Comfort Systems HVAC for support.
Why Your Home Can Feel Humid Even Though the Temperature Is Nice and Cool
The temperature is only part of what makes your living space comfortable. Humidity is another important element to consider. The majority of homes are generally more comfortable when indoor relative humidity stays 30-50 percent. When a home has high indoor humidity, the air feels less comfortable, denser and stickier—even if the actual air temperature is cool.
Excess moisture can also promote 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 pulling out enough moisture.
Home Feels Humid? Here are 8 Common Causes
Residing in Croydon, Pennsylvania, excess moisture can be a problem.
Many area homeowners wonder the same question: What's making my house feel humid?
There could be multiple reasons. Determining what's creating excess moisture is a key first step toward solving the problem.
Here are several common reasons for elevated indoor humidity in Croydon, Pennsylvania:
Oversized Air Conditioning
1. AC is Too Large
An AC that's larger than your home actually needs cools down your home too quickly. The problem is an oversized AC often doesn’t remove humidity effectively because it stops operating before completing a complete cooling cycle.
2. Dirty Air Filter
A blocked air filter limits airflow throughout your HVAC system. This makes it challenging for your equipment to extract humidity while cooling your home.
3. Clogged Condensate Drain
Your air conditioning removes moisture from your home’s air and and then it drains from the equipment through a condensate line. If that drain becomes clogged, moisture can't drain from 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. Ice formation or excessive dirt on the coil limits its effectiveness and often requires professional AC repair services to fix.
5. Damaged Ductwork
Ductwork transports cool air throughout your home. Leaks in ductwork can pull warm, humid air from attics, crawl spaces or other unused areas into your HVAC system. This added moisture makes it more challenging to maintain comfortable humidity conditions.
6. Thermostat Fan is on “On” Setting Change setting to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is running on "On" instead of "Auto", the blower keeps running 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 very humid and hot summers, your HVAC system has to run longer to remove moisture from the air. Even when your air conditioner is working properly, sometimes your home feels muggy because outdoor humidity continually enters your home through doors, windows and normal air leakage.
8. Older HVAC Equipment
As home comfort systems age, they often become less capable at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance improves performance, boosts efficiency and helps detect worn-out parts. Skipping regular air conditioning maintenance can limit performance, including your system's ability to remove moisture.
Simple Checks to Make Before Scheduling an HVAC Technician
If your house feels humid, there are some simple things you can check before scheduling service. These strategies are easy ways to improve indoor comfort by helping your heating and cooling system remove moisture more efficiently.
- Check your HVAC 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 flow out after each cooling cycle instead of being circulated back into your living spaces.
- Check that supply and return vents are open and not covered up. Furniture over the vents or closed vents can restrict airflow throughout your home.
- Look for water around the indoor unit. Water around your AC equipment may suggest a clogged condensate drain or another drainage-related issue.
- Pay attention to how your air conditioner 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 perform repairs involving refrigerant, electrical components or internal HVAC 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 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 work in one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier works alongside your HVAC system to control humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Indoor Comfort Systems HVAC's indoor air quality solutions, a whole-home dehumidifier keeps your home more comfortable while reducing the risk of mold, musty odors and excess moisture. It can be extremely beneficial for homes in damp climates or properties that struggle with humidity even with a properly functioning air conditioner.
Signs It's Time to Request HVAC Service
Persistent HVAC humidity issues often are caused by an hidden problem that needs professional repair. The technicians at Indoor Comfort Systems HVAC will evaluate refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to identify why your system isn't removing humidity effectively. They can also check ductwork, condensate drainage and overall system sizing to pinpoint the root cause.
We also can get you on the schedule for an HVAC tune-up. Routine seasonal tune-ups help identify small problems before they become complicated, costly repairs. That's why Indoor Comfort Systems HVAC offers an HVAC maintenance plan that makes regular inspections easy and affordable.
If simple troubleshooting doesn't solve the indoor humidity problems, trust Indoor Comfort Systems HVAC for dependable HVAC service in Croydon, Pennsylvania.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 215-741-5505 today to take care of high indoor humidity issues for good.