The humid summers in Smyrna, Delaware, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You adjust the thermostat to a pleasant temperature. The air conditioning kicks on automatically. But, even after your cooling system operates, your home still feels humid and uncomfortable.
That’s not very comfortable.
It can be disappointing 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. Local homeowners often have this experience.
Why? Temperature and humidity are two different things. The temperature only tells you how comfortable the air is within your home. It doesn't measure how much moisture is in the air. When indoor moisture is extremely 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 home 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 Smyrna, Delaware, home. That way, you’ll know when you should contact experts like the team at Fletcher Plumbing, Heating & AC for support.
Why Your Home Can Feel Humid Even If the Temperature Is Cool
Your home's temperature is only part of what makes your home enjoyable. Humidity is also an equally important element to consider. The majority of homes are generally more comfortable when indoor relative humidity is between 30% and 50%. When a home has high indoor humidity, the air feels less comfortable, more oppressive and stickier—even if the actual air temperature is cool.
Too much indoor moisture can also encourage 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 chilling the air without pulling out enough moisture.
8 Common Reasons Your Home Feels Humid
Making your home in Smyrna, Delaware, muggy conditions can be a problem.
Many area homeowners deal with the same question: Why does my house feel humid?
There are a variety of common explanations. Identifying what's creating high idoor humidity is a good first step toward solving the problem.
Here are several common reasons for indoor humidity problems in Smyrna, Delaware:
1. Oversized Air Conditioning
An AC that's too big for your home cools your home too quickly. The problem is an oversized AC often doesn’t eliminate humidity effectively because it stops operating before completing a full cooling cycle.
2. Dirty Air Filter
A clogged air filter limits airflow throughout your heting and cooling system. This makes it challenging for your equipment to remove moisture while cooling your home.
3. Clogged Condensate Drain
Your air conditioning removes moisture from your indoor air and that excess water drains from the unit through a condensate line. If that drain becomes blocked, moisture can't drain from the system properly, contributing to excess moisture indoors.
4. Frozen Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil removes both heat and moisture from your home's air supply. Dirt and grime on the coil decreases its effectiveness and often requires professional AC repair services to fix.
5. Damaged Ductwork
Ductwork carries cool air throughout your home. Leaks in ductwork can allow 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 levels.
6. Thermostat Fan Set to “On” Change setting 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. Exceptionally Humid Weather
During the area’s extremely humid and hot summers, your HVAC system has to operate more to remove moisture from the air. Even when your cooling system is operating correctly, sometimes your home feels muggy because outdoor humidity continually enters your home through doors, windows and normal air leakage.
8. Older Heating and Cooling Equipment
As heating and cooling systems get older, they often become less effective at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance enhances performance, increases efficiency and helps find worn-out parts. Neglecting regular air conditioning maintenance can reduce performance, including your system's ability to remove moisture.
What You Can Check Before Scheduling an HVAC Technician
If your home feels humid, there are some simple things you can check before booking service. These strategies 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 cool and dehumidify your home effectively.
- 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 that supply and return vents are open and unblocked. Furniture over the vents or closed vents can reduce airflow throughout your home.
- Inspect for water around the indoor unit. Water by 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 checked by a professional.
Even if your thermostat still says cool but house feels humid, do not try repairs with refrigerant, electrical components or internal HVAC parts. DIY repairs may be tempting, but these repairs require specialized training and should always be handled by a qualified HVAC technician.
Could You Benefit from 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 help reduce moisture in one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier connects to your HVAC system to control humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Fletcher Plumbing, Heating & AC's indoor air quality solutions, a whole-home dehumidifier helps keep 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 still have humidity even with a properly functioning cooling system.
When It's Time to Request HVAC Service
Ongoing HVAC humidity issues often are caused by an underlying problem that needs professional repair. The technicians at Fletcher Plumbing, Heating & AC will check refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to identify why your system isn't managing humidity effectively. They can also evaluate ductwork, condensate drainage and overall system sizing to find the root cause.
We also can get you on the schedule for a home HVAC tune-up. Seasonal seasonal tune-ups help identify small problems before they become major breakdowns. That's why Fletcher Plumbing, Heating & AC offers an HVAC maintenance plan that makes regular inspections cost-effective and hassle-free.
If simple troubleshooting doesn't solve your problem, trust Fletcher Plumbing, Heating & AC for dependable HVAC service in Smyrna, Delaware.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 302-653-0503 today to fix your indoor humidity issues once and for all.