Why Does My Home Feel Humid?

Dealing with your bed sheets and clothes feeling damp at all times of the day? Or maybe your air conditioning is running as usual, but your home still feels humid. Don’t worry, there are a few factors that may be causing this excess indoor humidity.

At Baldwin Heating & Cooling, we’ve compiled a list of the most common causes, and how humidity can not only affect your air quality, but the health and the integrity of your home as well!

Causes for High Humidity in Your Home

AC Failing to Dehumidify

Your air conditioning system works hard to keep your home cool. But sometimes, if the evaporator coils that use refrigerant to convert all that hot air into cool air become frozen, they will no longer work at dehumidifying the air in your home! Additionally, dust, dirt and debris can block the coils and prevent them from cycling the air as normal. This too can prevent your AC from dehumidifying the air.

You should regularly check your coils to ensure they are working properly and free of any mess or debris, or call a professional to inspect your AC unit.

Overcrowding Your Home

Even if your AC is working normally and set at a cool temperature, if you have too many bodies inside your home, it will not be able to dehumidify it. Body heat and excess moisture in the air can quickly make your home more stuffy and sticky than it should be. If your air conditioning system does not have special dehumidifying properties, it will be no match. Talk to a professional about picking the best dehumidifier for your home.

Humidity Levels Outside

The weather outside can greatly affect the humidity inside your home. If you live in an area with high moisture, or frequent rain and heat, this can increase the humid air in your house. If your AC is not prepared for this kind of weather, you may need to look into replacing the HVAC system with something suitable. Talk to a local heating and cooling professional about which systems are best for the area you live in.

How Humidity Can Affect Your Health & Home

Humidity and Your Health

Besides making your home feel sticky and uncomfortable, excess humidity can seriously affect your and your family’s health. Humidity can lead to low energy levels, lethargy, dehydration, heat stroke, and possibly hyperthermia. Your air conditioning unit works hard to keep your home cool and comfortable.

Chances are if your home is humid, it is working overtime to dehumidify your home. This can lead to your AC using an excessive amount of energy and higher energy bills.

Humidity and Your Home

Additionally, an increase in humidity in the air can affect your home directly. Mold and mildew thrive off of humidity and high moisture, such as in the bathroom, laundry area, or around your kitchen. Humidity can cause mold to grow in fabric furnishings or tarnish wooden furniture and can weaken the structural integrity of your walls or ceilings, and lead to deterioration of paint.

Lastly, mold and mildew can trigger serious health problems or allergies. If you notice an increase in humidity with no change over time, call in a professional to assess the situation.

What You Can Do to Dehumidify Your Home

One measure you can take upon yourself is to add an indoor air quality machine to your home. While a humidifier can be great for those with breathing problems or skin conditions, as they add moisture back into the air. However, if you are dealing with too much moisture in the air, you will need a home dehumidifier.

If you are still unsure about how to fix your humidity levels, our team at Baldwin Heating & Air Conditioning has all the answers. Contact us today to figure out if an air purification system is suitable for your home!