The hot and humid summers in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature. The AC begins running as expected. But, even after your air conditioner cycles, your home still feels damp and sticky.
That’s not very comfortable.
It can be frustrating when the air conditioner appears to work properly, yet your home doesn't actually feel very comfortable. If your rooms feel humid but thermostat says cool, you're in good company. Many area homeowners have this problem.
The reason is simple: Temperature and humidity are two different measurements in your home. Your temperature only tells you how hot or cold the air is within the room. It doesn't measure how much moisture is in the air. 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 right and basic troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Highlands Ranch, Colorado, home. That way, you’ll know when you should call experts like the team at PS Cool Heat for professional help.
Why Your Home Can Feel Humid Even When the Temperature Is Cool
Your home's temperature is only part of what makes your home enjoyable. The amount of moisture in the air is an extremely important consideration. Most homes are typically more comfortable when indoor relative humidity is 30-50 percent. When a home has high indoor humidity, the air feels less comfortable, heavier and stickier—even if the actual air temperature is cool.
High humidity 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 lowering the temperature of the air without extracting enough moisture.
Home Feels Humid? Here are 8 Common Causes
Residing in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, excess moisture can be a problem.
Countless area homeowners wonder the same question: Why does my home feel so humid?
There are several common causes. Determining what's creating excess moisture is a good first step toward fixing the problem.
Below are several common reasons for elevated indoor humidity in Highlands Ranch, Colorado:
1. AC is Too Large
An AC that's larger than your home actually needs lowers the temperature in your home too quickly. The problem is an oversized AC often doesn’t reduce humidity effectively because it shuts off before completing a full cooling cycle.
2. Dirty Air Filter
A clogged air filter limits airflow throughout your HVAC system. This makes it more difficult for your equipment to extract humidity while cooling your home.
3. Blocked Condensate Drain
Your AC collects moisture from your home’s air and drains it outside through a condensate line. If that drain becomes clogged, moisture can't leave the system properly, contributing to increased humidity levels.
4. Frozen Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil extracts both heat and moisture from your home's indoor 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 living space. Leaks in ductwork can draw warm, humid air from attics, crawl spaces or other unused areas into your HVAC system. This extra moisture makes it more difficult to maintain comfortable humidity throughout your home.
6. Thermostat Fan is on “On” Setting Switch to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is running on "On" instead of "Auto", the blower continues to operate after the cooling cycle completes. This can blow 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 especially humid summer weather, your HVAC system has to operate more to remove moisture from the air. Even when your AC is functioning as designed, sometimes your home feels muggy because outdoor humidity continues to seep into your home through doors, windows and normal air leakage.
8. Older Heating and Cooling Equipment
As HVAC systems get older, they often become less effective at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance improves performance, improves efficiency and helps find worn-out parts. Skipping regular air conditioning maintenance can limit performance, including your system's ability to remove moisture.
Simple Checks to Make Before Scheduling an HVAC Technician
If your house feels humid, there are a few simple things you can check before requesting service. These strategies are easy ways to improve indoor comfort by helping your HVAC system remove moisture more effectively.
- Replace or inspect the air filter. A clean HVAC air filter allows proper airflow, helping your system circulate air through and dehumidify your home more efficiently.
- Make sure the thermostat fan is set to Auto. This allows moisture to leave the system 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.
- Check for water around the indoor unit. Water by your AC equipment may indicate a clogged condensate drain or another drainage-related issue.
- Pay attention to how your air conditioning should run. If the AC is short cycling or turning on and off continuously, or it seems to run constantly without cooling your home like it should, it's time to have the system evaluated 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 advanced training and should always be left to a qualified HVAC technician.
Does Your Home Need 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. As opposed to portable units that only work in one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier connects to your HVAC system to control humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of PS Cool Heat's indoor air quality solutions, a whole-home dehumidifier helps keep your home more comfortable while lowering the risk of mold, musty odors and excess moisture. It can be extremely beneficial for homes in damp climates or properties that struggle with humidity even with a properly functioning cooling system.
When It's Time to Book HVAC Service
Home HVAC humidity issues often point to an hidden problem that requires professional repair. The technicians at PS Cool Heat will evaluate refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to find why your system isn't controlling humidity effectively. They can also check 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 find small problems before they become major breakdowns. That's why PS Cool Heat offers an HVAC maintenance plan that makes regular inspections easy and affordable.
If simple troubleshooting doesn't fix the home’s humidity issues, trust PS Cool Heat for dependable HVAC service in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 720-613-2210 today to fix your indoor humidity issues once and for all.
