The warm summers in Phoenix, Arizona, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature. The AC starts up right away. But, even after your cooling system runs, your home still feels humid and uncomfortable.
That’s not very comfortable.
It can be annoying 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. Local homeowners often have this experience.
Why? Temperature and humidity are two different things. The temperature only tells you how warm or cool 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 much hotter 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 comfortable and easy troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Phoenix, Arizona, home. That way, you’ll know when to call experts like the team at Integrity AC & Heating LLC for professional help.
Why Your Home Can Feel Humid Even When the Temperature Is Cool
Indoor temperature is only part of what makes your home pleasant. Indoor humidity is an extremely important element to consider. The majority of homes are the most comfortable when indoor relative humidity falls 30-50 percent. When a home has high indoor humidity, the air feels hotter, 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 lowering the temperature of the air without pulling out enough moisture.
Reasons Your Home Feels Humid Even with the AC Running
Residing in Phoenix, Arizona, excess moisture can be a challenge.
Countless area homeowners wonder the same question: Why does my house feel humid?
There could be multiple reasons. Understanding what's creating excess moisture is a key first step toward resolving the problem.
Below are several common reasons for indoor humidity problems in Phoenix, Arizona:
1. Oversized Air Conditioner
An AC that's bigger than your home needs lowers the temperature in your home too quickly. The problem is an oversized AC often doesn’t eliminate humidity effectively because it turns off before completing a full cooling cycle.
2. Dirty Air Filter
A dirty air filter limits airflow throughout your heting and cooling system. This makes it challenging for your equipment to extract humidity while cooling your home.
3. Obstructed Condensate Drain
Your air conditioning removes moisture from the air in your home and and then it drains from the equipment through a condensate line. If that drain becomes restricted, moisture can't drain from the system properly, contributing to higher indoor humidity.
4. Dirty 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 moves cool air throughout your house. Gaps 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 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 ends. This can blow moisture collected on the evaporator coil back into your home instead of allowing it to drain away.
7. Unusually Humid Weather
During the area’s very humid summer weather, your HVAC system has to operate more to remove moisture from the air. Even when your air conditioning is functioning as designed, sometimes your home feels muggy because outdoor humidity keeps entering your home through doors, windows and normal air leakage.
8. Aging HVAC Equipment
As HVAC systems wear out over time, they often become less effective at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance improves performance, improves efficiency and helps detect worn-out parts. Neglecting regular air conditioning maintenance can decrease performance, including your system's ability to remove moisture.
Things to Check Before Scheduling an HVAC Technician
If your home feels humid, there are some simple things you can check before requesting service. These DIY tips are easy ways to improve indoor comfort by helping your heating and cooling system remove moisture more effectively.
- Replace or inspect the 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 unblocked. Rugs or furniture over the vents or closed vents can limit airflow throughout your home.
- Inspect for water around the indoor unit. Water around your AC equipment may suggest a clogged condensate drain or another drain problem.
- Pay attention to how your AC 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 inspected by a professional.
Even if your thermostat still says cool but house feels humid, do not perform repairs involving refrigerant, electrical components or internal parts. DIY repairs 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 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 with your HVAC system to control humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Integrity AC & Heating LLC'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 still have humidity even with a properly functioning air conditioner.
When You Need to Schedule HVAC Service
Ongoing HVAC humidity issues often are caused by an underlying problem that requires professional repair. The technicians at Integrity AC & Heating LLC will inspect refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to find why your system isn't controlling humidity effectively. They can also evaluate ductwork, condensate drainage and overall system sizing to identify the root cause.
We also can get you on the schedule for a home HVAC tune-up. Seasonal seasonal tune-ups help catch small problems before they become major breakdowns. That's why Integrity AC & Heating LLC offers an HVAC maintenance plan that makes regular inspections cost-effective and hassle-free.
If basic troubleshooting doesn't fix your home’s humidity issues, trust Integrity AC & Heating LLC for dependable HVAC service in Phoenix, Arizona.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 602-971-0567 today to restore your comfort.
