Does the air in your home feel like a steamy sauna, yet your AC seems to work fine? Are you wondering why your air conditioner isn’t dehumidifying well? Humidity is a major concern for many Florida homeowners as it causes discomfort, leads to health issues and poses a threat to your property. In this post, we will help you figure out why your home feels muggy.
From there, you can partner with a certified AC specialist to solve the humidity issue, improve your comfort and safeguard your family’s health.
Humidity and Air Conditioning Systems
A functioning AC provides some dehumidification as it cools. AC experts recommend air conditioning humidity levels at home to be between 40% and 60%. When humidity is beyond these levels, your AC has to work harder to remove the extra moisture. But if there is another underlying problem, your unit won’t get the job done.
Some obvious signs that your AC isn’t dehumidifying your home include:
The air inside your home feels moist
There is a damp smell in some parts of the house
Your windows and mirrors are foggy
Walls, floors, and shelves feel moist
You feel sticky and sweaty at night and even during the day
Flaring up of allergy symptoms like wheezing or coughing
Let’s now look at possible causes of humidity.
Your Air Conditioner is Oversized
It’s easy to think that a larger AC system will easily create a comfortable indoor environment. But when it comes to AC systems, bigger is not always better. A wrongly sized AC unit will do a poor job of regulating both humidity and indoor temperatures.
It will cool the house quickly, but then the thermostat will send a signal to shut down the system before the indoor humidity is reduced to a comfortable level. That’s why you should always work with an experienced AC company to determine the right-size system for your home.
Dirty Evaporator Coils
Your AC unit’s evaporator is the part that cools and dehumidifies the air. It pulls the excess moisture from the air, condenses it to water, and ejects it out of your home through the AC drain line. When the evaporator coil is covered in dirt, that layer reduces the ability of water to condensate on the coil. If this happens, your home will feel muggy. To avoid this, have a professional AC technician service your unit at least once a year.
Your Thermostat Setting is Wrong
If your thermostat is set on the wrong fan setting, you may experience humidity problems. Your thermostat fan setting controls the fan of your AC. When the thermostat is in “AUTO” mode, it will only run when your home needs cooling. When set to “ON” the AC fan will work throughout. The ON setting keeps air constantly moving over the coil, meaning that water will not have a chance to condense. The moist air will just blow over the coil and get back inside your home. Switch your thermostat to the auto setting.
Your Old AC Unit Can’t Handle the Load
When your AC unit approaches its twilight years, many of its parts wear down, making it less efficient at cooling and dehumidifying your home. Even if it looks like it’s running normally, you can’t really tell whether it’s functioning efficiently unless you schedule an AC inspection. If your AC is over 15 years and it’s constantly failing, consult a professional about getting a replacement.
Remember to Schedule an AC Tune-Up
One of the best ways to avoid humidity issues in your Florida home is to stick to your AC maintenance schedule. This ensures the technician identifies the root of the humidity problem and services components that may affect the performance of your system.
If you need a licensed and insured AC contractor you can rely on in Sarasota or Bradenton, FL, call Veteran Air Conditioning today!
