The humid summers in Haines City, Florida, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You set the thermostat to a pleasant temperature. The air conditioner kicks on right away. But, even after your AC cycles, your home still feels damp and sticky.
Not a great feeling.
It can be frustrating when the air conditioner seems to operate normally, 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.
The reason is simple: Temperature and humidity are two different measurements in your home. The temperature only tells you how hot or cold the air is within the space. It doesn't measure how much moisture is in the air. When humidity levels are very high, your home can feel warmer than the thermostat indicates, due to indoor humidity problems.
In this article, you'll learn how humidity affects your indoor comfort levels, common reasons your home feels humid even when the temperature is correct and basic troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Haines City, Florida, home. That way, you’ll know when it’s time to reach out to experts like the team at Air Commander's Heating & Air Conditioning Co. for support.
Why Your Home Can Feel Humid Even If the Temperature Is Cool
Indoor temperature is only part of what makes your house pleasant. Humidity is another important element to consider. Most homes are generally more comfortable when indoor relative humidity stays in the 30-50% range. When a home has high indoor humidity, the air feels less comfortable, more oppressive and stickier—even if the actual air temperature is cool.
Excess moisture can also contribute to dangerous mold growth, mildew, unpleasant odors 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 removing enough moisture.
Home Feels Humid? Here are 8 Common Causes
Living in Haines City, Florida, excess moisture can be a frequent concern.
Plenty of area homeowners ask the same question: What's making my house feel humid?
There are several common causes. Identifying what's creating high idoor humidity is the best place to start toward solving the problem.
Here are several common reasons for high indoor humidity levels in Haines City, Florida:
AC is Too Large
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 full cooling cycle.
2. Clogged Air Filter
A clogged air filter reduces airflow throughout your heting and cooling system. This makes it harder for your equipment to remove moisture while cooling your home.
3. Clogged Condensate Drain
Your air conditioner removes moisture from your home’s air and and then it drains from the equipment through a condensate line. If that drain becomes restricted, moisture can't exit the system properly, contributing to higher indoor humidity.
4. Frozen Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil removes both heat and moisture from your home's air. Dirt and grime on the coil limits its effectiveness and often requires professional AC repair services to fix.
5. Loose Ductwork
Ductwork transports cool air throughout your home. Openings in ductwork can pull warm, humid air from attics, crawl spaces or other unused areas into your HVAC system. This extra moisture makes it harder to maintain comfortable humidity conditions.
6. Thermostat Fan is on “On” Setting Switch to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is running on "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. Unusually Humid Weather
During the area’s extremely humid summers, your HVAC system has to operate more to remove moisture from the air. Even when your AC is operating correctly, sometimes your home feels muggy because outdoor humidity continually enters your home through doors, windows and normal air leakage.
8. Aging HVAC Equipment
As home comfort systems get older, they often become less capable at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance optimizes performance, boosts efficiency and helps identify worn-out parts. Putting off regular air conditioning maintenance can reduce performance, including your system's ability to reduce moisture.
Simple Checks to Make Before Contacting an HVAC Technician
If your home feels humid, there are several simple things you can check before booking service. These DIY tips are easy ways to improve indoor comfort by helping your AC or heating system remove moisture more efficiently.
- Replace a dirty 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 flow out after each cooling cycle instead of being circulated back into your living spaces.
- Make sure supply and return vents are open and unblocked. Rugs or furniture over the vents or closed vents can reduce airflow throughout your home.
- Check for water around the indoor unit. Water around your AC equipment may indicate 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 repeatedly, or it seems to run constantly without cooling your home, 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 work in one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier works with your HVAC system to control humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Air Commander's Heating & Air Conditioning Co.'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 especially helpful for homes in humid climates or properties that struggle with humidity even with a properly functioning air conditioner.
When 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 Air Commander's Heating & Air Conditioning Co. will check refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to identify why your system isn't managing humidity effectively. They can also inspect ductwork, condensate drainage and overall system sizing to find the root cause.
We also can get you on the schedule for an HVAC tune-up. Seasonal seasonal tune-ups help identify small problems before they become major breakdowns. That's why Air Commander's Heating & Air Conditioning Co. offers an HVAC maintenance plan that helps make regular inspections easy and affordable.
If simple troubleshooting doesn't fix the indoor humidity problems, trust Air Commander's Heating & Air Conditioning Co. for dependable HVAC service in Haines City, Florida.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 863-869-2587 today to fix your indoor humidity issues once and for all.
