- Founded in 2005
- Family-Owned & Local
- Honest & Transparent
- Mount Gilead, NC
- Heating & Cooling Specialists
- Residential & Commercial
If your house feels sticky even with the AC running, the problem isn't the temperature. It's the moisture. Long, humid Piedmont summers push our outdoor air well past comfortable, and a system that only chases the thermostat number leaves all that dampness behind.
You feel it everywhere. Clammy air at 72 degrees. A musty smell when you walk in the door. Windows that sweat and floors that feel damp near Lake Tillery. Left alone, that moisture grows mold, warps wood, and runs your equipment harder than it should.
EM Contractors fixes it. We're a family-owned HVAC company right here in Mount Gilead, and we've fought Carolina humidity for decades. We find where the moisture is coming from, then we control it the honest way — proper dehumidification and a system sized to actually pull water out of your air.
Common Problems We See
- Air feels sticky and clammy even when the thermostat reads a comfortable 72
- Musty or moldy smell when you walk in, especially in summer
- Windows fogging or sweating on the inside
- Mold or mildew showing up on walls, ceilings, vents, or in closets
- AC runs constantly but the house never feels dry or cool enough
- Damp, heavy air in the basement or crawl space
- Wood floors, doors, or trim swelling and sticking
- Allergy and asthma symptoms that get worse indoors during humid months
How EM Contractors Helps
First, we find the real source. Sometimes the air conditioner is oversized — it cools the air so fast it shuts off before it ever wrings out the moisture. Sometimes it's leaky ductwork pulling damp crawl-space air into the system, or a clogged condensate drain backing water up. We check all of it before we recommend a thing.
Then we fix the right problem. For most Mount Gilead homes, that means a whole-home dehumidifier wired into your existing system so it dries every room, not just one. If your AC is mismatched to your home, we'll tell you straight and right-size the replacement so it runs longer, gentler cycles that actually pull humidity out. We seal leaky ducts and clear condensate lines so moisture stops sneaking back in. The goal is simple: indoor humidity around 45 to 50 percent, air that feels cool and dry, and a fair price for honest work.
Why Choose EM Contractors LLC
We're not a call center or a franchise passing through. EM Contractors is a family-owned company run by the Mabe family right here at 580 Valley View Church Rd in Mount Gilead, and we've been controlling Montgomery County humidity since 2005. We know how hard this Piedmont moisture is on a home and on your equipment, from the historic houses downtown to the lake homes out near Tillery. When you call, you talk to a real local technician who tells you the truth, recommends only what you need, and charges a fair price.
Our Humidity Control Process
- 1
Listen and inspect
We start by hearing where the dampness is worst, then walk the home, ductwork, and crawl space to measure the actual humidity and find the moisture source.
- 2
Diagnose the real cause
Oversized AC, leaky ducts, a blocked drain, or just no dehumidification — we pinpoint it instead of guessing, and explain what we found in plain language.
- 3
Give you honest options
We lay out what will actually fix the problem and what it costs, with no pressure and no upsell. You decide what makes sense for your home and budget.
- 4
Install and seal
We install the whole-home dehumidifier, seal duct leaks, and clear condensate lines so moisture is removed and kept out for good.
- 5
Test and confirm
We measure indoor humidity again, confirm it's holding around 45 to 50 percent, and leave the work area clean before we go.
Local Tips for Humidity Control
Honest, practical advice from the EM Contractors crew — the same things we'd tell a neighbor.
Watch your hygrometer, not just the thermostat
Pick up a cheap hygrometer at the hardware store and set it in your main living area. If it reads above 55 percent through a Piedmont summer, your air is too damp no matter what the thermostat says. Aim to hold 45 to 50 percent.
Run the fan on AUTO, not ON
Leaving the blower set to ON keeps the fan running after the AC cycles off, and that re-evaporates the water sitting on the coil right back into your house. Switch the thermostat fan to AUTO so the moisture actually drains away outside.
Keep the condensate drain clear
A clogged condensate line backs water up and dumps humidity right back into the house, and our long humid summers grow algae in that line fast. Pour a cup of distilled vinegar down the drain access a few times each cooling season to keep it flowing.
More Indoor Air Quality Services
What Customers Say About Our Humidity Control Service
Real, verified reviews from the Mount Gilead neighbors we've helped.
“I have known the Mabe family for 65 years. Father Roger and son Eric have for 30 years provided to me excellent A/C installation and service. EM Contractors are knowledgeable, prompt and courteous. I highly recommend the company.”
“EM Contractors quickly responded to our call for help. Quickly diagnosed the problem, and expertly installed a new Heil Performance Gas Furnace/Heat Pump combination packaged unit. We are grateful for his work.”
“Excellent HVAC company. When I call he is very prompt, professional, and knowledgeable then goes right to work. I would highly recommend Eric Mabe to anyone. Thanks for coming out today.”
Indoor Air Quality Tips From Our Blog
Humidity Control Questions, Answered
Usually the air conditioner is oversized for the home. It cools the air so quickly that it shuts off before it can pull moisture out, leaving the house cool but clammy. Leaky ducts pulling in damp crawl-space air and a clogged condensate drain can do it too. We check all three and fix the real cause.
A portable unit only dries the room it sits in, and you have to empty it constantly. For Mount Gilead's long humid summers, a whole-home dehumidifier wired into your HVAC system dries every room automatically and drains itself. For most homes here, it's the honest fix that actually solves the problem.
Around 45 to 50 percent is the sweet spot. Above that and the air feels sticky and mold can grow. Much below and it gets uncomfortably dry. We set up your system to hold that range and confirm it before we leave.
Yes. Excess moisture grows mold and mildew, warps wood floors and doors, peels paint, and makes allergies and asthma worse. It also forces your AC to run harder, which shortens its life. Controlling humidity protects both your house and your equipment.
Often, yes. Dry air feels cooler, so you can set the thermostat a degree or two higher and still feel comfortable. A system that isn't fighting excess moisture also runs more efficiently. We'll give you an honest estimate of what to expect for your home.
We do. Damp crawl spaces and homes out near Lake Tillery deal with extra moisture, and we're used to it. We inspect the crawl space, seal ductwork, and size dehumidification for your specific situation.
It depends on what's actually causing the dampness. Adding a whole-home dehumidifier to a system that's otherwise healthy costs less than a job that also needs duct sealing or a right-sized AC replacement. The size of your home, how your existing equipment is set up, and whether we're tying into ductwork or a crawl space all factor in. We come out, find the real cause, and give you an honest, written price before any work starts. No guessing on the invoice.
We size the unit to your home, install it and wire it into your existing HVAC system so it dries every room, set a target around 45 to 50 percent, and route the drain so it empties itself. We also seal duct leaks and clear the condensate line while we're in there, since those let moisture sneak back in. Before we leave, we measure the indoor humidity again and confirm it's holding where it should.
Most whole-home dehumidifier installs are a one-day job. If we're also sealing ductwork or replacing a mismatched AC, it can run a little longer, and we'll tell you that up front. You'll usually feel the difference within a day or two as the system pulls the standing moisture out of the air, the furnishings, and the wood. We can often get out same-day or next-day when our schedule allows.
Ready for Humidity Control? Talk to a Local HVAC Contractor
Call EM Contractors LLC for honest humidity control in Mount Gilead, NC and the surrounding communities.