The warm summers in Marshalltown, Iowa, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You adjust the thermostat to a comfortable temperature. The AC kicks on automatically. But, even after your AC cycles, your home still feels moist and clammy.
That’s not very comfortable.
It can be frustrating when the air conditioner appears to work properly, yet your home doesn't actually feel comfortable. If your rooms feel humid but thermostat says cool, you're in good company. Local homeowners often have this experience.
Why is this? Temperature and humidity are two different measurements in your home. The temperature only tells you how comfortable the air is within the space. It doesn't measure how much moisture is in the air. When moisture levels are too 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 indoor comfort levels, common reasons your home feels humid even when the temperature is comfortable and easy troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Marshalltown, Iowa, home. That way, you’ll know when it’s time to call experts like the team at Kapaun & Brown for support.
Why a Home Can Feel Humid Even When the Temperature Is Cool
Indoor temperature is only part of what makes your house pleasant. Humidity is another important consideration. The majority of homes are the most 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 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 cooling the air without pulling out enough moisture.
Reasons Your Home Feels Humid Even with the AC Running
Making your home in Marshalltown, Iowa, high humidity can be a challenge.
Plenty of area homeowners deal with 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 resolving the problem.
Here are several common reasons for high indoor humidity levels in Marshalltown, Iowa:
1. Oversized Air Conditioner
An air conditioner that's bigger than your home needs lowers the temperature in your home too quickly. The problem is an oversized AC often doesn’t remove humidity effectively because it turns off before completing a full cooling cycle.
2. Blocked Air Filter
A clogged air filter restricts airflow throughout your HVAC system. This makes it harder for your equipment to extract humidity while cooling your home.
3. Clogged Condensate Drain
Your AC removes moisture from your indoor air and drains it outside through a condensate line. If that drain becomes restricted, moisture can't leave the system properly, contributing to higher indoor humidity.
4. Dirty Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil pulls both heat and moisture from your home's indoor air. Ice formation or excessive dirt on the coil reduces its effectiveness and often requires professional AC repair services to restore performance.
5. Loose Ductwork
Ductwork carries cool air throughout your living space. Openings in ductwork can draw 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 throughout your home.
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 is finished. This can circulate moisture collected on the evaporator coil back into your home instead of allowing it to drain away.
7. Extremely Humid Weather
During the area’s extremely humid summer weather, your HVAC system has to work harder to remove moisture from the air. Even when your cooling system is functioning as designed, 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 wear out over time, they often become less capable at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance enhances performance, increases efficiency and helps identify worn-out parts. Neglecting regular air conditioning maintenance can limit performance, including your system's ability to control moisture.
Simple Checks to Make Before Contacting an HVAC Technician
If your house feels humid, there are some simple things you can check before requesting service. These DIY tips are easy ways to improve indoor comfort by helping your AC or heating system remove moisture more efficiently.
- Replace or inspect the air filter. A clean heating and cooling system air filter allows proper airflow, helping your system cool and dehumidify your home effectively.
- Make sure 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.
- Make sure supply and return vents are open and not covered up. Furniture over the vents or closed vents can limit airflow throughout your home.
- Check 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 frequently, 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 attempt repairs involving refrigerant, electrical components or system components. 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 a good option. As opposed to portable units that only work in one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier works with your HVAC system to manage humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Kapaun & Brown'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 especially helpful for homes in humid areas or properties that struggle with humidity even with a properly functioning air conditioner.
Signs It's Time to Schedule HVAC Service
Persistent HVAC humidity issues often are caused by an hidden problem that needs professional repair. The technicians at Kapaun & Brown will inspect refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to find why your system isn't controlling humidity effectively. They can also inspect ductwork, condensate drainage and overall system sizing to pinpoint the root cause.
We also can get you set up with a heating and cooling tune-up. Regular seasonal tune-ups help catch small problems before they become potentially expensive repairs. That's why Kapaun & Brown offers an HVAC maintenance plan that helps make regular inspections budget-friendly and stress-free.
If basic troubleshooting doesn't fix your problem, trust Kapaun & Brown for dependable HVAC service in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 641-321-6747 today to take care of high indoor humidity issues for good.