[Annie66]

Originally Posted by Jimmay

The temperature is not the important issue it’s the humidity. Have your HVAC guy install a humidistat. It turns the air on based upon humidity not temperature

Now this is the correct answer. Not terribly expensive, but more effective than controlling mold by temperature.

[retiredguy123]

In my opinion, if you set the temperature at 80 degrees, your house will be fine. There is no need to do anything else. Very few people have a humidistat, snowbird or not.

[Craig Vernon]

Originally Posted by Juliev263

Please help me understand maximum temperature that makes sense to leave a patio villa at in the summer months while we are away. Any negative experiences you have had setting it at a certain temperature would be helpful too. I couldn't find any existing posts with this information.

Your AC is nothing more than a large dehumidifier so it will keep mold from forming as long as it is working on a regular basis. The idea of dehumidifiers is a great back up if AC fails. New remotely operated thermostats would be a must if you are not going to present in the home to monitor humidity and AC operation. Great discussion from others here who obviously have knowledge based on experience.

[justjim]

It has been my experience that thermostats can be off a couple of degrees. Anyway, we set ours at 78 degrees. I would rather it be a little cooler than warmer. The difference in energy cost is minimum.

[Goalieman9]

I leave ours at 81 and once a week drop it down to 74 for a few hours. I have a WIFI thermostat so I can control it from anywhere. I also put a few tablespoons of vegetable oil in the garbage disposal, turn water off, hot water heater off.

[GaryKoca]

SunKool guy said leave it at 80.

[rz5drf]

82 is perfect.

[leej63]

Best solution is to have a Humidistat installed. It maintains your humidity and not the temperature. We’ve had one for 7 years and it works great(55%)

[Villagesgal]

Lived here for 19 years, set the thermostat at 83 when I leave for the summers, never had a problem. No ceiling fans left on either. Works fine for me.

[FredJacobs]

I added a humidistat to my thermostat - about $25 at Home Depot or have your AC company install it. I set the thermostat to 80-85 and the humidistat to 60. The air conditioner will not turn on until the humidity reached 60%.

[daca55]

Originally Posted by Jimmay

The temperature is not the important issue it’s the humidity. Have your HVAC guy install a humidistat. It turns the air on based upon humidity not temperature

The humidistat is the right answer. I have one and When I leave I set it at 55% humidity. User the thermostat at 82. Been doing that for last 8 years and have never had a problem.

[TNLAKEPANDA]

The most important thing is humility not temperature. 80 to 85 should keep the humidity below 60%. I recommend you get a WI-FI thermostat installed. It will allow you to check the humidity and change the temperature setting.

[davem4616]

Sounds like you're a northerner...hopefully you have an Air Conditioning company that periodically service your unit (just like you most likely have a heating company service your unit up north)....give them a call, they'll give you the right information and be able to tell you if you need additional monitoring equipment. Remember, the builder didn't equip these homes specifically for 'snowbirds'.

Or, instead of posting the question in this forum and having to wait for it to appear, you could stand at the corner of any street corner at any of the town squares and ask any number of people passing bye this question....just don't let them get within six feet of you and you should be fine.

[renpan]

80-81

[asiebel]

When we were snowbirds we had a humidistat installed and that took care of everything. Another tip, after you clean your bathroon toliets, before you put the lids down, cover them with seran wrap. Then put lids down. Should keep you from returning to moldy toliets.