If your home feels sticky, damp, or just uncomfortable, you are not alone. Many homeowners in North Carolina deal with high indoor humidity, especially during the warmer months. Humidity can make your home feel hotter than it really is, even if your air conditioner is running. It can also lead to serious issues like mold, mildew, musty smells, and even damage to your walls, flooring, and furniture.
So what do you do if your house is too humid?
In this post, we will walk through why your home might feel too moist, how to know if it is a problem, and what steps you can take to fix it for good.
What Is Humidity and Why Does It Matter?
Humidity is the amount of moisture in the air. When there is too much of it inside your home, it can make the air feel heavy, warm, and sticky. Even worse, it can cause health problems and damage your property over time.
The ideal indoor humidity level is between 30 and 50 percent. Anything above that can lead to:
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Mold and mildew growth
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Allergies and breathing issues
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Wood rot or warping
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Damage to electronics
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Higher energy bills
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That gross, damp feeling even with the AC on
In North Carolina, outdoor humidity levels often rise during spring and summer. If your HVAC system is not keeping up, the moisture can make its way indoors.
Signs That Your Home Is Too Humid
You might already know your home feels uncomfortable, but here are some signs that your house has a real humidity problem:
1. Foggy windows: Condensation on windows and glass surfaces is a classic sign of high humidity.
2. Musty smells: Damp, earthy odors often come from mold or mildew growth in walls, carpets, or furniture.
3. Mold in corners or around vents: If you see black or green patches, especially in bathrooms, basements, or near air vents, that is a red flag.
4. Sticky air: If your home feels muggy, even when the thermostat says it is cool, your AC might not be removing enough moisture.
5. Allergy flare-ups: Dust mites, mold spores, and other allergens thrive in high humidity. If your eyes are itchy or you are sneezing more, humidity may be to blame.
6. Water stains or peeling paint: Damp walls can cause paint to bubble or peel and may leave brown or yellow water stains behind.
Common Causes of High Indoor Humidity
To fix the issue, you need to figure out what is causing it. Here are a few of the most common reasons your home might feel too humid:
Your Air Conditioner Is Not Working Properly
Air conditioners are designed to cool the air and remove moisture at the same time. But if your system is oversized, undersized, or just not working right, it might cool the air too quickly without having enough time to dehumidify it. That leaves your home cool but still damp.
Poor Ventilation
Bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms create a lot of moisture. Without good ventilation, that moisture can spread throughout the house. If your exhaust fans are weak or you don’t have them at all, you might be trapping humid air inside.
Leaky Ductwork
If your air ducts have gaps or leaks, they could be pulling in warm, humid air from your attic or crawlspace. That moist air then gets blown through your vents, raising your indoor humidity.
Crawlspace or Basement Moisture
Homes in North Carolina often have crawlspaces or unfinished basements that are naturally damp. Without proper sealing or a vapor barrier, moisture from the ground can rise into your home.
Daily Habits
Sometimes humidity problems come from things we do every day. Taking long showers, cooking without lids, drying clothes indoors, and running humidifiers can all add moisture to the air.
How to Fix High Humidity in Your Home
Now that we know what causes indoor humidity, let’s look at what you can do to fix it.
Use a Hygrometer
Before you make any changes, it helps to measure the humidity in your home. A simple digital hygrometer costs about twenty dollars and tells you the exact moisture level in each room. This can help you find problem areas and track improvements over time.
Turn on Your Exhaust Fans
Run your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans during and after cooking or showering. Let them run for at least twenty minutes to remove as much moisture as possible. Make sure these fans vent outside, not into the attic.
Improve Ventilation
Opening windows can help on dry days, but it is not always enough in humid weather. Ceiling fans, whole-house fans, and even leaving bedroom doors open can help air move freely and prevent trapped moisture.
Install a Whole-Home Dehumidifier
This is one of the best solutions for homes with ongoing humidity problems. A whole-home dehumidifier works with your HVAC system to remove moisture from the air before it gets into your living spaces. It runs more efficiently than a portable unit and does not need to be emptied manually.
At LM Wilson Heating & Air, we offer professional dehumidifier installations designed for North Carolina’s climate. We’ll size the system properly and integrate it into your existing ductwork for maximum comfort and efficiency.
Schedule HVAC Maintenance
If your air conditioner is not removing enough moisture, it might need service. Dirty coils, clogged filters, low refrigerant, or incorrect sizing can all cause problems. Our technicians can inspect your system, perform a full tune-up, and make recommendations if a repair or replacement is needed.
Seal Your Crawlspace
If your crawlspace is damp, sealing it with a vapor barrier can make a huge difference. This prevents ground moisture from rising into your home and also helps lower your utility bills by keeping your home more insulated.
Insulate Ducts and Fix Leaks
Leaky or uninsulated ducts can pull in humid air from outside or from damp spaces like attics and crawlspaces. Sealing and insulating your ducts helps your system work more efficiently and keeps moisture out.
Adjust Your Thermostat
Sometimes homeowners turn their thermostats down too low to fight the humidity, but that can backfire. Try setting your thermostat to 72–74 degrees and using the “Auto” fan setting. This lets your AC run full cycles and remove more moisture from the air.
When to Call the LM Wilson
If you have tried the steps above and your home still feels damp, it may be time to call in the experts. At LM Wilson Heating & Air at 336-663-1370, we have decades of experience solving humidity problems in North Carolina homes.
We can help you:
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Evaluate your current HVAC system
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Recommend the right dehumidifier for your home
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Seal ductwork and crawlspaces
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Improve airflow and ventilation
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Install smarter thermostats and controls
Our goal is to make your home comfortable year-round, with clean, dry air that helps you feel better and sleep easier.
