The hot and humid summers in Morgantown, West Virginia, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You change the thermostat to a ideal temperature. The AC kicks on as expected. But, even after your cooling system operates, your home still feels damp and sticky.
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 very comfortable. 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 things. 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 humidity 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 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 Morgantown, West Virginia, home. That way, you’ll know when to reach out to experts like the team at Mountain Air for expert assistance.
Why a Home Can Feel Humid Even Though the Temperature Is Nice and Cool
Indoor temperature is only part of what makes your living space comfortable. The amount of moisture in the air is another important factor. The majority of homes are typically more comfortable when indoor relative humidity falls 30-50 percent. When a home has high indoor humidity, the air feels less comfortable, more oppressive and stickier—even if the actual air temperature is cool.
High humidity can also encourage 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 chilling the air without extracting enough moisture.
Reasons Your Home Feels Humid Even with the AC Running
Living in Morgantown, West Virginia, high humidity can be a challenge.
Countless area homeowners ask the same question: What's making my house feel humid?
There could be multiple reasons. Identifying what's creating excess humidity is a key first step toward resolving the problem.
Let's look at several common reasons for high indoor humidity levels in Morgantown, West Virginia:
AC is Too Large
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 shuts off before completing a complete cooling cycle.
2. Blocked Air Filter
A blocked air filter restricts airflow throughout your heting and cooling system. This makes it harder for your equipment to extract humidity while cooling your home.
3. Obstructed Condensate Drain
Your air conditioning collects moisture from the air in your home and drains it outside through a condensate line. If that drain becomes clogged, moisture can't drain from the system properly, contributing to excess moisture indoors.
4. Icy Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil removes both heat and moisture from your home's air. Ice formation or excessive dirt on the coil decreases its effectiveness and often requires professional AC repair services to restore performance.
5. Loose Ductwork
Ductwork transports cool air throughout your house. Leaks in ductwork can draw warm, humid air from attics, crawl spaces or other unconditioned areas into your HVAC system. This extra moisture makes it more difficult to maintain comfortable humidity levels.
6. Thermostat Fan is on “On” Setting Change setting to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is set to "On" instead of "Auto", the blower continues running after the cooling cycle completes. This can circulate moisture collected on the evaporator coil back into your home instead of allowing it to drain away.
7. Exceptionally 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 continues to seep into your home through doors, windows and normal air leakage.
8. Poorly Maintained HVAC Equipment
As heating and cooling systems get older, they often become less effective at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance optimizes performance, improves efficiency and helps detect worn-out parts. Skipping regular air conditioning maintenance can decrease performance, including your system's ability to remove moisture.
What You Can Check Before Contacting an HVAC Technician
If your home feels humid, there are a few simple things you can check before scheduling service. These simple troubleshooting steps are easy ways to improve indoor comfort by helping your HVAC system remove moisture more effectively.
- Replace a dirty air filter. A clean HVAC air filter allows proper airflow, helping your system cool and dehumidify your home more efficiently.
- Confirm the thermostat fan is set to Auto. This allows moisture to drain away after each cooling cycle instead of being circulated back into your living spaces.
- Check to ensure your supply and return vents are open and not covered up. Rugs or 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 signal 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 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 perform repairs with refrigerant, electrical components or system components. Handling these repairs yourself may be tempting, but these repairs require professional training and should always be performed 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 the right choice. Unlike 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 Mountain Air's indoor air quality solutions, a whole-home dehumidifier keeps your home more comfortable while lowering the risk of mold, musty odors and excess moisture. It can be extremely beneficial for homes in humid areas or properties that struggle with humidity even with a properly functioning cooling system.
When It's Time to Request HVAC Service
Home HVAC humidity issues often point to an larger problem that needs professional repair. The technicians at Mountain Air will check refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to determine why your system isn't managing humidity effectively. They can also evaluate ductwork, condensate drainage and overall system sizing to pinpoint the root cause.
We also can get you on the schedule for a home HVAC tune-up. Seasonal seasonal tune-ups help catch small problems before they become potentially expensive repairs. That's why Mountain Air offers an HVAC maintenance plan that makes regular inspections cost-effective and hassle-free.
If basic troubleshooting doesn't solve the home’s humidity issues, trust Mountain Air for dependable HVAC service in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 304-244-3530 today to fix your indoor humidity issues once and for all.