The warm summers in Wilkes Barre and Scranton, Pennsylvania, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature. The air conditioner begins running automatically. But, even after your air conditioner operates, your home still feels humid and uncomfortable.
Not a great feeling.
It can be frustrating when the air conditioner seems to be doing its job, yet your home doesn't actually feel very comfortable. If your rooms feel humid but thermostat says cool, you're not the only homeowner. Many area homeowners have this problem.
Why? Temperature and humidity are two different things. A temperature only tells you how warm or cool the air is within the space. It doesn't measure how much moisture is in the air. When indoor moisture is extremely high, your home can feel warmer than the thermostat indicates, due to indoor humidity problems.
In this guide, you'll learn how humidity affects your indoor comfort levels, common reasons your home feels humid even when the temperature is correct and basic troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Wilkes Barre and Scranton, Pennsylvania, home. That way, you’ll know when it’s time to call experts like the team at GLR Mechanical for support.
Why Your Home Can Feel Humid Even When the Temperature Is Right
Your home's temperature is only part of what makes your house enjoyable. The amount of moisture in the air is another important consideration. Many homes are the most comfortable when indoor relative humidity stays between 30% and 50%. When a home has high indoor humidity, the air feels hotter, more oppressive 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 removing enough moisture.
8 Common Reasons Your Home Feels Humid
Residing in Wilkes Barre and Scranton, Pennsylvania, excess moisture can be a problem.
Plenty of area homeowners deal with the same question: Why does my home feel so humid?
There are a variety of common explanations. Understanding what's creating excess humidity is a key first step toward fixing the problem.
Below are several common reasons for indoor humidity problems in Wilkes Barre and Scranton, Pennsylvania:
Oversized Air Conditioner
1. Oversized Air Conditioning
An air conditioner that's too big for your home cools down your home too quickly. The problem is an oversized AC often doesn’t remove humidity effectively because it stops operating before completing a proper cooling cycle.
2. Dirty Air Filter
A blocked air filter limits airflow throughout your HVAC system. This makes it challenging for your equipment to control humidity while cooling your home.
3. Obstructed Condensate Drain
Your air conditioning pulls out 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 leave the system properly, contributing to increased humidity levels.
4. Dirty Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil removes both heat and moisture from your home's air. Ice formation or excessive dirt 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 pull warm, humid air from attics, crawl spaces or other unconditioned areas into your HVAC system. This extra moisture makes it harder 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 push moisture collected on the evaporator coil back into your home instead of letting it to drain away.
7. Unusually Humid Weather
During the area’s very humid and hot summers, your HVAC system has to work harder 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. Aging Heating and Cooling Equipment
As HVAC systems age, they often become less efficient at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance improves performance, improves efficiency and helps detect worn-out parts. Putting off regular air conditioning maintenance can decrease performance, including your system's ability to reduce moisture.
Simple Checks to Make Before Scheduling an HVAC Technician
If your house feels humid, there are several simple things you can check before requesting service. These DIY tips are easy ways to improve indoor comfort by helping your HVAC system remove moisture more effectively.
- 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 better.
- Verify 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. Rugs or furniture over the vents or closed vents can reduce airflow throughout your home.
- Check for water around the indoor unit. Water near your AC equipment may signal a clogged condensate drain or another drainage issue.
- Know 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, it's time to have the system checked by a professional.
Even if your thermostat still says cool but house feels humid, do not try repairs involving refrigerant, electrical components or internal HVAC parts. Do-it-yourself fixes may be tempting, but these repairs require specialized training and should always be handled by 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 the right choice. Unlike portable units that only work in one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier works with your HVAC system to control humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of GLR Mechanical's indoor air quality solutions, a whole-home dehumidifier makes 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 cooling system.
Signs It's Time to Request HVAC Service
Persistent HVAC humidity issues often are caused by an larger problem that requires professional repair. The technicians at GLR Mechanical will evaluate refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to identify why your system isn't removing 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 an HVAC tune-up. Seasonal seasonal tune-ups help catch small problems before they become complicated, costly repairs. That's why GLR Mechanical offers an HVAC maintenance plan that makes regular inspections cost-effective and hassle-free.
If simple troubleshooting doesn't solve the indoor humidity problems, trust GLR Mechanical for dependable HVAC service in Wilkes Barre and Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 570-569-1873 today to take care of high indoor humidity issues for good.