You’re leaving for vacation. The doors are locked, the lights are off, and nobody will be home for a week or two.
So, what should you set your AC temperature to while you’re on vacation?
Don’t turn the system off completely.
In a humid climate like North Georgia, shutting off your AC while you’re away can allow indoor temperatures and humidity to rise. Over time, excessive moisture can contribute to condensation, musty odors, and conditions that support mold growth.
At MRS Restoration – The Water Damage Company, we help homeowners throughout North Georgia deal with moisture, water damage, and mold concerns, including problems that develop in vacation homes and cabins while they’re unoccupied.
One question homeowners frequently ask is:
“What AC temperature should my thermostat be set to while I’m on vacation?”
For many North Georgia homes during warm weather, a reasonable AC temperature on vacation is around 75°F to 78°F. However, your home’s humidity level is just as important as the temperature setting.
Here’s why.
Don’t Turn Your AC Completely Off
It may seem like the obvious thing to do.
Nobody is home, so why pay to cool an empty house?
The problem is that your air conditioner does more than lower the temperature. While it runs, it also removes moisture from the indoor air.
When you completely shut the system off during hot and humid weather, your home’s temperature can climb quickly.
More importantly, indoor relative humidity can increase.
That moisture can be absorbed by drywall, wood, carpeting, furniture, cabinetry, fabrics, and other materials throughout the home.
Given enough moisture and time, these conditions can contribute to microbial growth.
Saving money on cooling costs isn’t worth coming home to a musty-smelling house or discovering a moisture problem that developed while you were away.
Our Recommended Vacation AC Setting: 75°F–78°F
For many homes in North Georgia, a reasonable starting point for your AC temperature on vacation is:
Set the thermostat between approximately 75°F and 78°F while you’re away.
This allows your HVAC system to operate periodically without maintaining the same comfortable temperature you would use when you’re home.
However, there is another number you should pay close attention to.
Watch Your Humidity
Temperature doesn’t tell the whole story.
Relative humidity is one of the most important factors when you’re trying to prevent moisture-related problems.
As a practical target, indoor relative humidity should generally remain below 60%, with approximately 30%–50% being preferable when conditions and the HVAC system allow it.
For example, your thermostat could read 76°F while indoor humidity remains at 65% or 70%. In that situation, the temperature alone doesn’t tell you that moisture levels may be becoming a concern.
This is particularly important in:
- Mountain cabins
- Vacation homes
- Short-term rentals
- Homes with crawlspaces
- Basements
- Heavily wooded properties
- Homes that remain vacant for weeks
If you own a second home in North Georgia, consider installing a Wi-Fi thermostat and remote humidity sensors.
Being able to monitor both temperature and humidity from your phone can help you identify problems before they become larger issues.
Why Setting the AC Too High Can Be a Problem
Some homeowners set their thermostat to 82°F, 85°F, or even higher when they leave.
While this reduces AC runtime, it also reduces the amount of dehumidification the system provides.
During a humid North Georgia summer, that can create problems.
A closed home can remain exposed to high outdoor humidity for days or weeks. Moisture can also enter through crawlspaces, basements, air leaks, windows, doors, and other areas of the home’s envelope.
If the HVAC system doesn’t operate frequently enough to control that moisture, indoor humidity can gradually increase.
That’s why choosing the right AC temperature on vacation involves more than simply picking the highest temperature possible.
What About 80°F?
An 80°F setting isn’t automatically a problem.
Every home behaves differently.
A newer, tightly sealed home with good moisture control may maintain acceptable humidity at 80°F. Another property with a damp crawlspace, oversized HVAC system, basement moisture, or significant air leakage may experience humidity issues at a lower temperature.
That’s why we don’t recommend relying on temperature alone.
Monitor the relative humidity.
If your home maintains appropriate humidity at 78°F, that gives you more useful information than assuming one particular thermostat setting works for every property.
The Vacation Home Problem We See in North Georgia
North Georgia is home to countless cabins, second homes, and vacation rentals.
These properties have a unique challenge: problems can go unnoticed for extended periods.
Someone living in a primary residence might quickly notice that:
- The toilet keeps running.
- The AC stops cooling.
- Water appears underneath the refrigerator.
- A musty odor develops.
- A ceiling stain appears after a storm.
A vacant vacation property may experience the same problems without anyone knowing.
Imagine your HVAC system stops working shortly after you leave.
The house remains closed during several hot, humid days.
Indoor humidity rises.
Then a small roof leak occurs during a thunderstorm.
Nobody discovers the problem for two weeks.
A situation that might have been handled quickly can turn into a much larger water damage or mold restoration project.
Should You Use a Dehumidifier While You’re Away?
In some homes, a dedicated dehumidifier may provide additional moisture control.
Basements, crawlspaces, and properties with recurring humidity problems can sometimes benefit from dedicated dehumidification.
A whole-home dehumidifier can also help manage moisture independently of how often your air conditioner needs to run.
However, don’t simply place a portable dehumidifier somewhere and leave it unattended indefinitely without considering drainage and maintenance.
If the collection bucket fills, the unit will stop operating.
If you use continuous drainage, make sure the drain system is installed correctly and functioning properly.
What Should You Set Your AC to During a Two-Week Vacation?
The length of your trip doesn’t necessarily change the basic approach.
Whether you’re leaving for three days or three weeks, you still want to maintain a controlled indoor environment.
A reasonable starting point for your AC temperature on vacation is:
Thermostat: approximately 75°F–78°F
Indoor relative humidity: preferably around 30%–50% and generally below 60%
The humidity reading can provide valuable information about what’s happening inside the home.
If humidity continues climbing even though the AC is operating, another moisture source may need to be investigated.
Don’t Forget Your Crawlspace
Your thermostat can show a normal temperature while an entirely different environment exists underneath your home.
Crawlspaces can be significant sources of moisture.
Ground moisture, drainage problems, plumbing leaks, HVAC condensation, inadequate vapor barriers, and humid outdoor air can all contribute to elevated crawlspace humidity.
That moisture can affect:
- Floor joists
- Subflooring
- Insulation
- HVAC ducts
- Wood framing
- Other structural materials
If you own a vacation property with a crawlspace, consider installing a remote humidity sensor underneath the home as well.
You may find that your living space maintains 50% relative humidity while the crawlspace has considerably higher moisture levels.
Before Leaving for Vacation: A Simple Home Checklist
Before leaving your North Georgia home or cabin unattended, MRS Restoration recommends taking a few minutes to prepare the property.
- Set your AC around 75°F–78°F.
- Verify that indoor humidity is under control.
- Check underneath sinks for leaks.
- Inspect toilets and water supply lines.
- Check the water heater for signs of leakage.
- Make sure the HVAC condensate drain is working properly.
- Inspect your basement and crawlspace for moisture.
- Clean gutters and make sure downspouts direct water away from the home.
- Use remote temperature and humidity sensors when possible.
- Have someone periodically check the property during longer absences.
For second homes and vacation cabins, remote water-leak sensors can provide another layer of protection.
Consider placing them near water heaters, washing machines, refrigerators, toilets, mechanical rooms, and other areas where leaks could occur.
Some smart water-monitoring systems can even shut off the home’s main water supply when they detect unusual water usage.
What If You Return Home and Smell Something Musty?
Don’t simply lower the thermostat and assume the odor will disappear.
A persistent musty smell can indicate an underlying moisture problem.
Check areas such as:
- Closets
- Bathrooms
- Basement
- Crawlspace
- Around windows
- Exterior walls
- Under sinks
- Around HVAC equipment
- Behind furniture
- Areas near plumbing fixtures
If the odor remains or you discover visible growth, water staining, elevated humidity, or wet building materials, the source should be investigated.
Mold is usually the symptom. Moisture is the underlying problem.
Finding and correcting the moisture source is critical to preventing the problem from returning.
For homeowners preparing a property for an extended absence, choosing an appropriate AC temperature on vacation is one part of protecting the home. Maintaining humidity control, checking for leaks, and monitoring the property can also help reduce the risk of returning to an unexpected water or moisture problem.
Protecting Your North Georgia Home While You’re Away
The goal isn’t to keep an empty house at 68°F all summer.
It’s to maintain an indoor environment that doesn’t allow excessive moisture to accumulate.
For many North Georgia properties, 75°F–78°F is a reasonable vacation setting, but don’t rely exclusively on the temperature displayed on your thermostat.
Monitor your humidity.
If possible, use smart sensors that allow you to remotely monitor temperature, humidity, water leaks, and HVAC operation.
This is especially valuable for cabins and vacation homes that may remain vacant for extended periods.
A $30 humidity or water sensor can potentially alert you to a problem before it becomes thousands of dollars in damage.
MRS Restoration – The Water Damage Company
If you return to your home or vacation cabin and discover elevated humidity, water damage, musty odors, or suspected mold growth, M