The humid summers in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You set the thermostat to a pleasant temperature. The AC starts up as expected. But, even after your AC runs, your home still feels moist and clammy.
That’s not very comfortable.
It can be frustrating when the air conditioner seems to be doing its job, yet your home doesn't actually feel comfortable. If your rooms feel humid but thermostat says cool, you're not alone. Local homeowners often have this experience.
The reason is simple: Temperature and humidity are two different factors in indoor comfort. A temperature only tells you how warm or cool the air is within your home. It doesn't measure how much moisture is in the air. When moisture levels are very high, your home can feel much hotter than the thermostat indicates, due to indoor humidity problems.
In this blog, you'll learn how humidity affects your indoor comfort levels, common reasons your home feels humid even when the temperature is right and basic troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, home. That way, you’ll know when to call experts like the team at Polar Air & Mechanical for support.
Why Your Home Can Feel Humid Even If the Temperature Is Nice and Cool
Your home's temperature is only part of what makes your home pleasant. The amount of moisture in the air is another important consideration. The majority of homes are typically more comfortable when indoor relative humidity falls 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 pulling out enough moisture.
Home Feels Humid? Here are 8 Common Causes
Living in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, excess moisture can be a challenge.
Plenty of area homeowners ask the same question: What's making my house feel humid?
There are several common causes. Determining what's creating excess humidity is a good first step toward fixing the problem.
Here are several common reasons for indoor humidity problems in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina:
AC is Too Large
1. Oversized Air Conditioning
An AC unit that's too big for your home cools down your home too quickly. The problem is an oversized AC often doesn’t reduce humidity effectively because it shuts off before completing a full cooling cycle.
2. Clogged Air Filter
A clogged air filter restricts airflow throughout your heting and cooling system. This makes it challenging for your equipment to extract humidity while cooling your home.
3. Clogged Condensate Drain
Your air conditioner removes moisture from your home’s air and and then it drains from the equipment through a condensate line. If that drain becomes restricted, moisture can't exit the system properly, contributing to higher indoor humidity.
4. Icy Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil extracts both heat and moisture from your home's air. Dirt and grime on the coil limits its effectiveness and often requires professional AC repair services to fix.
5. Loose Ductwork
Ductwork carries cool air throughout your living space. Openings in ductwork can draw warm, humid air from attics, crawl spaces or other unused areas into your HVAC system. This extra moisture makes it more difficult to maintain comfortable humidity levels.
6. Thermostat Fan Running on “On” Change setting to “Auto”
If your thermostat fan is running on "On" instead of "Auto", the blower continues to operate after the cooling cycle completes. This can circulate moisture collected on the evaporator coil back into your home instead of allowing it to drain away.
7. Exceptionally Humid Weather
During the area’s extremely humid summer weather, your HVAC system has to work harder to remove moisture from the air. Even when your AC is operating correctly, sometimes your home feels muggy because outdoor humidity continually enters your home through doors, windows and normal air leakage.
8. Older HVAC Equipment
As home comfort systems wear out over time, they often become less capable at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance optimizes performance, boosts efficiency and helps identify worn-out parts. Skipping regular air conditioning maintenance can decrease performance, including your system's ability to remove moisture.
Simple Checks to Make Before Contacting an HVAC Technician
If your home feels humid, there are several simple things you can check before booking service. These simple troubleshooting steps 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 condition 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.
- Look 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 cooling your home like it should, it's time to have the system inspected by a professional.
Even if your thermostat still says cool but house feels humid, do not try repairs with refrigerant, electrical components or system components. Do-it-yourself fixes may be tempting, but these repairs require specialized 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 a good option. As opposed to portable units that only work in one room or area, a whole-home dehumidifier works alongside your HVAC system to reduce humidity throughout your entire house.
Just one of Polar Air & Mechanical's indoor air quality solutions, a whole-home dehumidifier helps keep your home more comfortable while reducing 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 AC.
When You Need to Schedule HVAC Service
Persistent HVAC humidity issues often are caused by an hidden problem that needs professional repair. The technicians at Polar Air & Mechanical will check refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to identify why your system isn't controlling humidity effectively. They can also evaluate ductwork, condensate drainage and overall system sizing to pinpoint the root cause.
We also can get you set up with a home HVAC tune-up. Seasonal seasonal tune-ups help identify small problems before they become potentially expensive repairs. That's why Polar Air & Mechanical offers an HVAC maintenance plan that makes regular inspections budget-friendly and stress-free.
If basic troubleshooting doesn't fix the home’s humidity issues, trust Polar Air & Mechanical for dependable HVAC service in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 843-484-3783 today to fix your indoor humidity issues once and for all.
