The hot and humid summers in Wausau, Wisconsin, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You adjust the thermostat to a ideal temperature. The AC starts up as expected. But, even after your air conditioner cycles, your home still feels humid and uncomfortable.
That’s not very comfortable.
It can be frustrating when the air conditioner appears to work properly, yet your home doesn't actually feel comfortable. If your rooms feel humid but thermostat says cool, you're not the only homeowner. It happens a lot.
The reason is simple: Temperature and humidity are two different factors in indoor comfort. A temperature only tells you how comfortable the air is within the space. It doesn't measure the amount of moisture in the air. When moisture levels are extremely 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 indoor comfort levels, common reasons your home feels humid even when the temperature is comfortable and basic troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Wausau, Wisconsin, home. That way, you’ll know when you should contact experts like the team at Gilray Heating and Cooling for expert assistance.
Why a Home Can Feel Humid Even If the Temperature Is Cool
The temperature is only part of what makes your living space pleasant. Indoor humidity is an extremely important element to consider. The majority of homes are the most comfortable when indoor relative humidity is 30-50 percent. When a home has high indoor humidity, the air feels warmer, denser and stickier—even if the actual air temperature is cool.
High humidity can also encourage dangerous mold growth, mildew, bad smells 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.
Home Feels Humid? Here are 8 Common Causes
Making your home in Wausau, Wisconsin, muggy conditions can be a frequent concern.
Countless area homeowners wonder the same question: Why does my home feel so humid?
There are a variety of common explanations. Identifying what's creating high idoor humidity is the best place to start toward resolving the problem.
Let's look at several common reasons for high indoor humidity levels in Wausau, Wisconsin:
1. Oversized Air Conditioning
An air conditioner 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 proper cooling cycle.
2. Blocked Air Filter
A blocked air filter reduces airflow throughout your heting and cooling system. This makes it harder for your equipment to remove moisture while cooling your home.
3. Clogged Condensate Drain
Your air conditioner collects moisture from the air in your home and that excess water drains from the unit through a condensate line. If that drain becomes blocked, moisture can't drain from the system properly, contributing to increased humidity levels.
4. Dirty Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil pulls both heat and moisture from your home's air supply. Dirt buildup on the coil reduces its effectiveness and often requires professional AC repair services to fix.
5. Loose Ductwork
Ductwork transports cool air throughout your living space. Leaks in ductwork can draw warm, humid air from attics, crawl spaces or other unconditioned areas into your HVAC system. This added moisture makes it harder to maintain comfortable humidity levels.
6. Thermostat Fan Running on “On” Change to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is running on "On" instead of "Auto", the blower continues running after the cooling cycle ends. This can circulate 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 extremely humid and hot summers, your HVAC system has to operate more to remove moisture from the air. Even when your air conditioner 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 HVAC Equipment
As heating and cooling systems wear out over time, they often become less effective at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance optimizes performance, increases efficiency and helps detect worn-out parts. Neglecting regular air conditioning maintenance can decrease performance, including your system's ability to control moisture.
What You Can Check 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 heating and cooling system remove moisture more efficiently.
- Check your HVAC air filter. A clean HVAC air filter allows proper airflow, helping your system condition and dehumidify your home better.
- Confirm 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 unobstructed. Rugs or household furnishings over the vents or closed vents can limit airflow throughout your home.
- Look for water around the indoor unit. Water near your AC equipment may suggest a clogged condensate drain or another drainage issue.
- Monitor 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 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 involving refrigerant, electrical components or internal HVAC parts. DIY repairs may be tempting, but these repairs require advanced training and should always be performed by a qualified HVAC technician.
Does Your Home Need 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 the right choice. Unlike portable units that only help reduce moisture in one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier works alongside your HVAC system to manage humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Gilray Heating and Cooling'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 humid climates or properties that still have humidity even with a properly functioning cooling system.
When It's Time to Book HVAC Service
Ongoing HVAC humidity issues often trace back to an larger problem that requires professional repair. The technicians at Gilray Heating and Cooling will evaluate refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to determine why your system isn't controlling humidity effectively. They can also evaluate ductwork, condensate drainage and overall system sizing to find the root cause.
We also can get you scheduled for a heating and cooling tune-up. Seasonal seasonal tune-ups help identify small problems before they become major breakdowns. That's why Gilray Heating and Cooling offers an HVAC maintenance plan that helps make regular inspections cost-effective and hassle-free.
If basic troubleshooting doesn't fix the indoor humidity problems, trust Gilray Heating and Cooling for dependable HVAC service in Wausau, Wisconsin.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 715-515-7221 today to restore your comfort.