The warm summers in Wilmington, Delaware, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You set the thermostat to a ideal temperature. The air conditioning kicks on as expected. But, even after your cooling system cycles, your home still feels damp and sticky.
Not a great feeling.
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 not alone. Local homeowners often have this experience.
Why is this? Temperature and humidity are two different factors in indoor comfort. A temperature only tells you how warm or cool the air is within the room. It doesn't measure how much humidity is in your home. When humidity levels are 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 correct and simple troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Wilmington, Delaware, home. That way, you’ll know when you should reach out to experts like the team at Ambience HVAC, Inc. for expert assistance.
Why Your Home Can Feel Humid Even When the Temperature Is Nice and Cool
The temperature is only part of what makes your house pleasant. Indoor humidity is an extremely important factor. The majority of 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, denser 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 chilling the air without removing enough moisture.
Home Feels Humid? Here are 8 Common Causes
Living in Wilmington, Delaware, high humidity can be a frequent concern.
Many area homeowners ask the same question: Why does my house feel humid?
There are a variety of common explanations. Understanding what's creating excess moisture is a key first step toward solving the problem.
Here are several common reasons for high indoor humidity levels in Wilmington, Delaware:
1. AC is Too Large
An air conditioner that's too big for your home lowers the temperature in your home too quickly. The problem is an oversized AC often doesn’t eliminate humidity effectively because it turns off before completing a full cooling cycle.
2. Clogged Air Filter
A dirty air filter restricts airflow throughout your heting and cooling system. This makes it more difficult for your equipment to remove moisture while cooling your home.
3. Blocked Condensate Drain
Your air conditioner pulls out moisture from the air in your home and drains it outside through a condensate line. If that drain becomes clogged, moisture can't leave the system properly, contributing to excess moisture indoors.
4. Dirty Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil extracts both heat and moisture from your home's air. Dirt buildup on the coil limits its effectiveness and often requires professional AC repair services to restore performance.
5. Damaged Ductwork
Ductwork moves 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 more challenging to maintain comfortable humidity levels.
6. Thermostat Fan Running on “On” Change to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is set to "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 giving it time for it to drain away.
7. Unusually Humid Weather
During the area’s very humid and hot summers, your HVAC system has to operate more to remove moisture from the air. Even when your air conditioner 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. Older HVAC Equipment
As home comfort systems wear out over time, they often become less capable at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance enhances performance, boosts efficiency and helps identify worn-out parts. Skipping regular air conditioning maintenance can decrease performance, including your system's ability to reduce moisture.
Things to Check Before Calling an HVAC Technician
If your house feels humid, there are some simple things you can check before scheduling service. These DIY tips are easy ways to improve indoor comfort by helping your AC or heating system remove moisture more efficiently.
- Check your HVAC air filter. A clean heating and cooling system air filter allows proper airflow, helping your system circulate air through 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 sent back into your living spaces.
- Check to ensure your supply and return vents are open and not covered up. Furniture over the vents or closed vents can restrict airflow throughout your home.
- Check for water around the indoor unit. Water near your AC equipment may signal a clogged condensate drain or another drain problem.
- Monitor how your AC 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 attempt repairs involving refrigerant, electrical components or internal parts. Handling these repairs yourself may be tempting, but these repairs require specialized training and should always be handled by a qualified HVAC technician.
Should You Get 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 worth considering. Compared with portable units that only remove humidity from one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier works with your HVAC system to manage humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Ambience HVAC, Inc.'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 a great choice for homes in damp climates or properties that struggle with humidity even with a properly functioning AC.
When You Need to Request HVAC Service
Home HVAC humidity issues often point to an hidden problem that needs professional repair. The technicians at Ambience HVAC, Inc. will evaluate refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to determine why your system isn't controlling humidity effectively. They can also inspect ductwork, condensate drainage and overall system sizing to identify the root cause.
We also can get you scheduled for a heating and cooling tune-up. Regular seasonal tune-ups help identify small problems before they become potentially expensive repairs. That's why Ambience HVAC, Inc. offers an HVAC maintenance plan that makes regular inspections easy and affordable.
If simple troubleshooting doesn't solve your home’s humidity issues, trust Ambience HVAC, Inc. for dependable HVAC service in Wilmington, Delaware.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 302-239-HVAC (4822) today to fix your indoor humidity issues once and for all.