The humid summers in Winnipeg, Manitoba, can get muggy and uncomfortable. You change the thermostat to a ideal temperature. The air conditioning kicks on as expected. But, even after your air conditioner runs, your home still feels humid and uncomfortable.
Not a great feeling.
It can be annoying 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 in good company. Local homeowners often have this experience.
Why? Temperature and humidity are two different factors in indoor comfort. The temperature only tells you how warm or cool the air is within the room. It doesn't measure the amount of moisture in the air. When indoor moisture is very high, your home can feel warmer 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 correct and easy troubleshooting steps you can try to reduce humidity in your Winnipeg, Manitoba, home. That way, you’ll know when you should contact experts like the team at Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning for expert assistance.
Why Your Home Can Feel Humid Even Though the Temperature Is Right
Your home's temperature is only part of what makes your home comfortable. Humidity is another important factor. The majority of homes are generally more comfortable when indoor relative humidity stays 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.
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 extracting enough moisture.
Home Feels Humid? Here are 8 Common Causes
Residing in Winnipeg, Manitoba, muggy conditions can be a problem.
Many area homeowners ask the same question: What's making my house feel humid?
There are a variety of common explanations. Determining what's creating humidity problems is the best place to start toward solving the problem.
Here are several common reasons for elevated indoor humidity in Winnipeg, Manitoba:
1. Oversized Air Conditioning
An AC unit that's bigger than your home needs cools your home too quickly. The problem is an oversized AC often doesn’t reduce humidity effectively because it stops operating before completing a complete cooling cycle.
2. Clogged Air Filter
A dirty air filter reduces airflow throughout your heting and cooling system. This makes it more difficult for your equipment to remove moisture while cooling your home.
3. Clogged Condensate Drain
Your AC collects 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 drain from the system properly, contributing to excess moisture indoors.
4. Frozen Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil removes both heat and moisture from your home's indoor air. Dirt and grime on the coil limits its effectiveness and often requires professional AC repair services to fix.
5. Leaky Ductwork
Ductwork moves cool air throughout your home. 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” Switch 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 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 summers, your HVAC system has to work harder to remove moisture from the air. Even when your air conditioner is working properly, sometimes your home feels muggy because outdoor humidity continues to seep into your home through doors, windows and normal air leakage.
8. Older HVAC Equipment
As heating and cooling systems get older, they often become less capable at controlling humidity. HVAC maintenance optimizes performance, increases efficiency and helps find worn-out parts. Neglecting regular air conditioning maintenance can reduce performance, including your system's ability to control moisture.
Simple Checks to Make Before Scheduling an HVAC Technician
If your house feels humid, there are some simple things you can check before scheduling service. These strategies are easy ways to improve indoor comfort by helping your heating and cooling system remove moisture more effectively.
- Replace a dirty 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 reduce airflow throughout your home.
- Inspect for water around the indoor unit. Water near 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 frequently, or it seems to run constantly without cooling your home, 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 involving refrigerant, electrical components or internal parts. Handling these repairs yourself may be tempting, but these repairs require professional training and should always be performed by a qualified HVAC technician.
Should You Get a Whole-Home Dehumidifier?
If you have humidity in your house during summer or year-round moisture problems, a whole-home dehumidifier may be a good option. 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 Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning's indoor air quality solutions, a whole-home dehumidifier keeps your home more comfortable while helping reduce the risk of mold, musty odors and excess moisture. It can be extremely beneficial for homes in humid areas or properties that still have humidity even with a properly functioning AC.
When You Need to Schedule HVAC Service
Persistent HVAC humidity issues often point to an larger problem that needs professional repair. The technicians at Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning will check refrigerant charge, airflow, blower performance and evaporator coils to determine why your system isn't removing humidity effectively. They can also check 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. Regular seasonal tune-ups help find small problems before they become potentially expensive repairs. That's why Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning offers an HVAC maintenance plan that makes regular inspections budget-friendly and stress-free.
If simple troubleshooting doesn't solve the indoor humidity problems, trust Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning for dependable HVAC service in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Schedule HVAC service online or call 204-813-7767 today to fix your indoor humidity issues once and for all.
