Living in Florida, we are used to the heavy, thick air outside. But when you walk through your front door, you expect a refreshing blast of cool, dry air.
However, many homeowners face a frustrating problem: The thermostat says 72 degrees, but the house feels “clammy.” Your skin feels sticky, the air smells slightly musty, and you just can’t get comfortable without lowering the temperature even more (which skyrockets your electric bill).
If your AC is running but your home feels like a swamp, something is wrong.
At Fast Air Conditioning Repair, we know that cooling is only half the battle. Your air conditioner’s second job—and perhaps its most important one in our climate—is Dehumidification. Let’s explore why your system might be failing this crucial task.
How Does Your AC Remove Humidity?
Many people think an AC unit adds “coldness” to a room. In reality, it removes heat and moisture.
Inside your air handler, there is a component called the Evaporator Coil. As warm air from your house blows over this cold coil, moisture in the air condenses into water droplets (just like a cold soda can on a hot day). This water drips into a pan and drains out of your house.
If this process is interrupted or inefficient, the moisture stays in the air, leaving you with that uncomfortable, sticky feeling.
Is Your AC Unit Actually “Too Big” For Your Home?
This sounds counterintuitive. Wouldn’t a bigger, more powerful AC cool the house faster?
Yes, it will—and that is exactly the problem. This is a common issue known as Short Cycling.
If your AC unit is oversized for your square footage, it will cool the air down to your set temperature very quickly (in 5 or 10 minutes) and then shut off.
- The Result: The air temperature is low, but the unit didn’t run long enough to pull the humidity out of the air.
- The Fix: An AC needs to run for consistent, longer cycles to effectively dehumidify. A properly sized unit balances cooling speed with moisture removal.
Could Frozen Coils Be The Culprit?
If your evaporator coil gets too cold, the condensation can freeze into a block of ice instead of draining away.
When the coil is frozen, air cannot pass through it effectively. This restricts the system’s ability to remove moisture. As the ice eventually melts, it can overwhelm your drain line and cause water damage, but while it’s frozen, your humidity levels will spike.
Common Causes of Frozen Coils:
- Dirty Air Filters: Restricts airflow, causing the coil to drop in temperature.
- Low Refrigerant: Changes the pressure in the system, leading to freezing.
- Dirty Coils: Layers of dust insulate the coil, preventing heat transfer.
Why Is High Humidity Dangerous For Your Home?
Ignoring high indoor humidity isn’t just a comfort issue; it’s a health and property issue.
The ideal indoor humidity level is between 45% and 55%. Once it creeps above 60%, you are inviting trouble.
- Mold & Mildew Growth: Mold loves damp, cool environments. It can grow in your ducts, on your drywall, and in your carpets.
- Dust Mites: These allergens thrive in humid environments, worsening asthma and allergy symptoms.
- Structural Damage: Excess moisture can warp wood flooring and damage furniture over time.
How Can Fast Air Conditioning Repair Solve The Problem?
You don’t have to live in a clammy house. If lowering the thermostat isn’t fixing the humidity, you need a professional assessment.
Fast Air Conditioning Repair specializes in diagnosing airflow and humidity issues. We don’t just check if the machine turns on; we check how it performs.
Our Humidity Solutions:
- Load Calculation: We can determine if your current unit is the right size for your home.
- Coil Cleaning: We deep clean your evaporator coils to ensure maximum moisture removal.
- Fan Speed Adjustment: Sometimes, simply slowing down the blower fan allows the air to spend more time over the cold coil, pulling out more water.
- Whole-Home Dehumidifiers: For ultimate comfort, we can install a dedicated dehumidifier that works with your AC to keep moisture levels perfect, regardless of the temperature.
Don’t settle for “cold and sticky.” Get the crisp, dry air you deserve.
Contact Fast Air Conditioning Repair today to schedule a system performance check. Let’s dry out your home and improve your indoor air quality instantly.