The warm summers in Pocatello, Idaho, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You change the thermostat to a pleasant temperature. The air conditioning kicks on right away. But, even after your air conditioner operates, your home still feels humid and uncomfortable.
That’s not very comfortable.
It can be disappointing 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.
Why? Temperature and humidity are two different factors in indoor comfort. Your temperature only tells you how warm or cool the air is within the space. It doesn't measure the amount of moisture in the air. When humidity 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 home 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 Pocatello, Idaho, home. That way, you’ll know when to reach out to experts like the team at Vogts Heating & Air for expert assistance.
Why a Home Can Feel Humid Even If the Temperature Is Right
Indoor temperature is only part of what makes your home enjoyable. The amount of moisture in the air is also an equally important factor. The majority of homes are generally more comfortable when indoor relative humidity is between 30% and 50%. When a home has high indoor humidity, the air feels less comfortable, more oppressive and stickier—even if the actual air temperature is cool.
Too much indoor moisture can also promote 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 cooling the air without removing enough moisture.
8 Common Reasons Your Home Feels Humid
Living in Pocatello, Idaho, muggy conditions can be a challenge.
Plenty of area homeowners wonder the same question: Why does my house feel humid?
There are a variety of common explanations. Understanding what's creating excess humidity is the best place to start toward resolving the problem.
Here are several common reasons for elevated indoor humidity in Pocatello, Idaho:
1. Oversized Air Conditioning
An AC that's too big for your home cools your home too quickly. The problem is an oversized AC often doesn’t eliminate humidity effectively because it turns off before completing a complete cooling cycle.
2. Clogged Air Filter
A blocked air filter limits airflow throughout your HVAC system. This makes it harder for your equipment to remove moisture while cooling your home.
3. Obstructed Condensate Drain
Your air conditioning collects moisture from your home’s air and that excess water drains from the unit through a condensate line. If that drain becomes clogged, moisture can't exit the system properly, contributing to increased humidity levels.
4. Icy Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil pulls both heat and moisture from your home's air supply. Dirt buildup on the coil limits its effectiveness and often requires professional AC repair services to restore performance.
5. Loose 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 additional moisture makes it harder to maintain comfortable humidity throughout your home.
6. Thermostat Fan Set to “On” Change setting to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is running on "On" instead of "Auto", the blower keeps running 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. Exceptionally Humid Weather
During the area’s very humid summers, your HVAC system has to work harder to remove moisture from the air. Even when your air conditioning is operating correctly, sometimes your home feels muggy because outdoor humidity continually enters your home through doors, windows and normal air leakage.
8. Aging Heating and Cooling Equipment
As heating and cooling systems age, they often become less capable at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance improves performance, boosts efficiency and helps find worn-out parts. Skipping regular air conditioning maintenance can limit performance, including your system's ability to reduce moisture.
What You Can Check Before Calling an HVAC Technician
If your home feels humid, there are several simple things you can check before scheduling service. These strategies are easy ways to improve indoor comfort by helping your HVAC 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 circulate air through and dehumidify your home more efficiently.
- Make sure the thermostat fan is set to Auto. This allows moisture to flow out 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 limit 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.
- Pay attention to how your air conditioner should run. If the AC is short cycling or turning on and off continuously, 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 professional training and should always be performed by a qualified HVAC technician.
Does Your Home Need a Whole-Home Dehumidifier?
If you deal 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 remove humidity from one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier works alongside your HVAC system to manage humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Vogts Heating & Air's indoor air quality solutions, a whole-home dehumidifier helps keep your home more comfortable while helping reduce 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 cooling system.
When You Need to Request HVAC Service
Home HVAC humidity issues often point to an larger problem that needs professional repair. The technicians at Vogts Heating & Air will inspect refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to find why your system isn't managing humidity effectively. They can also check ductwork, condensate drainage and overall system sizing to identify the root cause.
We also can get you set up with a heating and cooling tune-up. Seasonal seasonal tune-ups help find small problems before they become potentially expensive repairs. That's why Vogts Heating & Air offers an HVAC maintenance plan that makes regular inspections easy and affordable.
If simple troubleshooting doesn't solve your problem, trust Vogts Heating & Air for dependable HVAC service in Pocatello, Idaho.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 208-244-7042 today to take care of high indoor humidity issues for good.