The humid summers in Newton, Iowa, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You set the thermostat to a ideal temperature. The air conditioning begins running as expected. But, even after your air conditioner cycles, your home still feels damp and sticky.
Not a great feeling.
It can be annoying when the air conditioner seems to be doing its job, yet your home doesn't actually feel comfortable. If your rooms feel humid but thermostat says cool, you're not alone. Many area homeowners have this problem.
Why? Temperature and humidity are two different things. A temperature only tells you how hot or cold the air is within the space. It doesn't measure how much humidity is in your home. When humidity levels are too 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 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 Newton, Iowa, home. That way, you’ll know when it’s time to reach out to experts like the team at Brookwood Inc for expert assistance.
Why Your Home Can Feel Humid Even Though the Temperature Is Nice and Cool
Indoor temperature is only part of what makes your home comfortable. Indoor humidity is another important element to consider. The majority of homes are the most comfortable when indoor relative humidity falls in the 30-50% range. When a home has high indoor humidity, the air feels warmer, heavier and stickier—even if the actual air temperature is cool.
Too much indoor moisture can also encourage 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.
Home Feels Humid? Here are 8 Common Causes
Making your home in Newton, Iowa, high humidity can be a frequent concern.
Countless area homeowners deal with the same question: What's making my house feel humid?
There are a variety of common explanations. Understanding what's creating excess moisture is a good first step toward resolving the problem.
Let's look at several common reasons for high indoor humidity levels in Newton, Iowa:
1. Oversized Air Conditioner
An AC unit that's too big for your home lowers the temperature in your home too quickly. The problem is an oversized AC often doesn’t reduce humidity effectively because it stops operating before completing a proper cooling cycle.
2. Dirty Air Filter
A clogged air filter limits airflow throughout your HVAC system. This makes it challenging for your equipment to remove moisture while cooling your home.
3. Obstructed Condensate Drain
Your AC removes moisture from your home’s air and and then it drains from the equipment through a condensate line. If that drain becomes clogged, moisture can't leave the system properly, contributing to higher indoor humidity.
4. Frozen Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil extracts both heat and moisture from your home's air supply. Ice formation or excessive dirt on the coil decreases its effectiveness and often requires professional AC repair services to restore performance.
5. Leaky Ductwork
Ductwork transports cool air throughout your house. Leaks 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 levels.
6. Thermostat Fan Running on “On” Change setting to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is set to "On" instead of "Auto", the blower continues to operate after the cooling cycle ends. This can circulate 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 especially 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 keeps entering your home through doors, windows and normal air leakage.
8. Poorly Maintained Heating and Cooling Equipment
As home comfort systems wear out over time, they often become less capable at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance improves performance, increases efficiency and helps find worn-out parts. Skipping regular air conditioning maintenance can limit performance, including your system's ability to remove moisture.
What You Can Check Before Scheduling an HVAC Technician
If your house feels humid, there are a few 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 effectively.
- Check your HVAC air filter. A clean HVAC air filter allows proper airflow, helping your system cool and dehumidify your home better.
- Verify the thermostat fan is set to Auto. This allows moisture to flow out after each cooling cycle instead of being blown 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 reduce airflow throughout your home.
- Look for water around the indoor unit. Water around your AC equipment may signal a clogged condensate drain or another drain problem.
- 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 attempt repairs involving refrigerant, electrical components or internal parts. DIY repairs may be tempting, but these repairs require advanced training and should always be performed by a qualified HVAC technician.
Should You Get a Whole-Home Dehumidifier?
If you have humidity in your house during summer or year-round moisture problems, a whole-home dehumidifier may be worth considering. Unlike portable units that only help reduce moisture in one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier works alongside your HVAC system to manage humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Brookwood Inc'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 a great choice for homes in humid areas or properties that continue to have humidity even with a properly functioning cooling system.
Signs It's Time to Schedule HVAC Service
Persistent HVAC humidity issues often trace back to an larger problem that requires professional repair. The technicians at Brookwood Inc will evaluate refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to find 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 scheduled for a home HVAC tune-up. Routine seasonal tune-ups help find small problems before they become complicated, costly repairs. That's why Brookwood Inc offers an HVAC maintenance plan that makes regular inspections budget-friendly and stress-free.
If basic troubleshooting doesn't solve your problem, trust Brookwood Inc for dependable HVAC service in Newton, Iowa.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 641-693-6216 today to take care of high indoor humidity issues for good.
