The warm summers in Des Moines, Iowa, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You adjust the thermostat to a comfortable temperature. The air conditioner kicks on automatically. But, even after your air conditioner operates, your home still feels damp and sticky.
Not a great feeling.
It can be frustrating 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 the only homeowner. Local homeowners often have this experience.
The reason is simple: Temperature and humidity are two different things. 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 very 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 home comfort, common reasons your home feels humid even when the temperature is comfortable and simple troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Des Moines, Iowa, home. That way, you’ll know when to contact experts like the team at Heartland Heating & Cooling for expert assistance.
Why a Home Can Feel Humid Even When the Temperature Is Nice and Cool
The temperature is only part of what makes your home pleasant. Humidity is another important element to consider. The majority of homes are the most comfortable when indoor relative humidity is in the 30-50% range. 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, 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 extracting enough moisture.
8 Common Reasons Your Home Feels Humid
Living in Des Moines, Iowa, high humidity can be a challenge.
Many area homeowners wonder the same question: What's making my house feel humid?
There are a variety of common explanations. Understanding what's creating excess humidity is a key first step toward solving the problem.
Below are several common reasons for elevated indoor humidity in Des Moines, Iowa:
1. AC is Too Large
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 remove humidity effectively because it turns off before completing a proper cooling cycle.
2. Blocked Air Filter
A blocked air filter limits airflow throughout your HVAC system. This makes it more difficult for your equipment to remove moisture while cooling your home.
3. Obstructed Condensate Drain
Your AC collects moisture from the air in your home and drains it outside through a condensate line. If that drain becomes blocked, moisture can't exit the system properly, contributing to excess moisture indoors.
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 fix.
5. Loose Ductwork
Ductwork carries cool air throughout your house. Openings in ductwork can draw warm, humid air from attics, crawl spaces or other uninhabited areas into your HVAC system. This additional moisture makes it more difficult to maintain comfortable humidity throughout your home.
6. Thermostat Fan Running on “On” Switch to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is set to "On" instead of "Auto", the blower keeps running after the cooling cycle is finished. This can blow 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 summers, your HVAC system has to run longer to remove moisture from the air. Even when your air conditioner is operating correctly, sometimes your home feels muggy because outdoor humidity continually enters your home through doors, windows and normal air leakage.
8. Aging HVAC Equipment
As home comfort systems get older, they often become less efficient at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance enhances performance, boosts efficiency and helps detect worn-out parts. Putting off regular air conditioning maintenance can decrease 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 several simple things you can check before booking service. These DIY tips are easy ways to improve indoor comfort by helping your HVAC system remove moisture more efficiently.
- Replace a dirty air filter. A clean heating and cooling system air filter allows proper airflow, helping your system circulate air through and dehumidify your home better.
- Make sure the thermostat fan is set to Auto. This allows moisture to flow out after each cooling cycle instead of being circulated back into your living spaces.
- Check to ensure your supply and return vents are open and not covered up. Rugs or household furnishings over the vents or closed vents can restrict airflow throughout your home.
- Look for water around the indoor unit. Water near your AC equipment may indicate a clogged condensate drain or another drainage-related issue.
- Know how your air conditioner should run. If the AC is short cycling or turning on and off repeatedly, or it seems to run constantly without improving comfort, 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 involving refrigerant, electrical components or internal parts. Do-it-yourself fixes may be tempting, but these repairs require advanced training and should always be left to 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 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 manage humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Heartland Heating & Cooling's indoor air quality solutions, a whole-home dehumidifier makes your home more comfortable while reducing the risk of mold, musty odors and excess moisture. It can be extremely beneficial for homes in humid areas or properties that continue to have humidity even with a properly functioning air conditioner.
When It's Time to Schedule HVAC Service
Persistent HVAC humidity issues often are caused by an larger problem that needs professional repair. The technicians at Heartland Heating & Cooling will inspect 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 identify the root cause.
We also can get you scheduled for an HVAC tune-up. Routine seasonal tune-ups help catch small problems before they become complicated, costly repairs. That's why Heartland Heating & Cooling offers an HVAC maintenance plan that helps make regular inspections cost-effective and hassle-free.
If simple troubleshooting doesn't fix your home’s humidity issues, trust Heartland Heating & Cooling for dependable HVAC service in Des Moines, Iowa.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 515-986-5007 today to fix your indoor humidity issues once and for all.