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Mold trying to fester in the nooks and crannies of your residence is bad enough when you’re home and can take steps to prevent it. But what if you’re headed off on vacation and your home is located in a warm, humid state where mold is a chronic problem? Should you leave the air conditioning on while you’re away to try to contain the issue? Your homeowners’ insurance may not cover mold remediation if you don’t take action to mitigate its growth.
Key Takeaways
- A humidity level of 70% or more will trigger mold growth.
- If you live in Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, or a handful of other states, you’re at particularly high risk for having mold grow in your home if you leave the air conditioner off for days.
- You may want to leave the AC at the same temperature you usually set it at if you’re going away for a few days.
- Consider setting the temperature in the 85-degree range if you’ll be gone longer.
- High humidity and the AC being turned off while you’re vacationing might be considered a neglectful act on your part and invalidate an insurance claim.
Why Mold Is a Problem
Yes, it’s offensive and it smells, but mold carries more serious implications than that. It can cause health issues in some people, allergies being the most common among them. Children can fare the worst.
Mold thrives in dampness and moisture. It lurks in almost every home to some extent, but usually not to the point where it becomes painfully noticeable. A humidity level of 70% or more will almost certainly trigger its growth. Its spores will mingle with the air in your home, prompting that aroma and allergy issues, and the spores can even affect your furniture and electronics.
You can take steps to mitigate it if the situation isn’t severe. Soap, water, disinfectant, and a scrub brush can go a long way. Use a dehumidifier to pull some of that moisture out of the air. Peter Piotrowski, chief claims officer at Hippo Insurance in St. Petersburg, Florida, suggested using technology to monitor risks.
“Consider smart home devices that track humidity, temperature, and leaks to alert you of potential mold risks early,” he said.
Important
The remediation process can abolish severe mold, but it can be costly if your insurance doesn’t cover it. Remediation averaged more than $2,300, or up to $25 per square foot of treated area as of June 2025. By comparison, average monthly electricity costs in southern states averaged from $168 to $175 for July and August, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. This means leaving the air conditioning on, even during the hot summer months, is far less expensive than the cost of a mold disaster.
States With the Highest Risk
Some states are more notorious for mold damage than others based on their climates. Mold removal company FDP Mold Remediation collected data from the 48 contiguous states and ranked them from the most to least moldy based on factors such as average temperature, rainfall, and humidity. The age of homes was also considered because older homes don’t generally enjoy the benefits of energy-efficient construction and central air conditioning.
The nine states that ranked highest on its mold index are all in the Southeast, with the top five in order being:
- Florida
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Alabama
- Tennessee
The eight states that ranked the lowest all are in the West or Southwest, led by the following five states, in order:
- Nevada
- Wyoming
- Colorado
- Arizona
- New Mexico
How to Handle Mold When You’re Away on Vacation
Progressive Casualty Insurance recommends preventive steps even if you’re not leaving for vacation. For example, mold thrives in wet conditions, so be diligent about drying out damp-prone areas of your home.
While on vacation, leaving your air conditioning on can help mitigate damage. If you’re only going to be gone for a matter of days, you may want to leave the AC at the same temperature you usually maintain it at. If you’ll be gone longer, consider setting the temperature in the 85-degree range. It will kick on periodically and keep air flowing, just not as often.
Does Insurance Cover Mold Damage?
Let’s look at a worst-case scenario. You opt for turning the AC off entirely and take off for a week or so. If you then come home to a moldy nightmare, your homeowners’ insurance likely won’t help because most policies cover only mold resulting from “sudden and accidental” damage, according to the Texas Department of Insurance.
“Mold remediation is generally included as part of the recovery efforts of a covered peril,” Piotrowski said. “If a pipe suddenly and unexpectedly bursts while you were out of town and mold appears as a result, mold treatment would likely be covered as part of the efforts to repair the damage caused by the burst pipe.”
High humidity and the AC being turned off while you’re vacationing wouldn’t pass this test, and it might even be considered a neglectful act on your part, invalidating a claim.
“Mold coverage under homeowners’ insurance is highly limited,” said Anthony M. Lopez, CEO of Your Insurance Attorney. “If the mold stems from long-term moisture, humidity, or deferred maintenance, it’s usually excluded.”
How to File a Claim for Mold Damage
Assuming your mold event qualifies, your next challenge becomes filing an insurance claim. First, take photos or make a video of the damage as soon as you come home and discover it.
“Notify your insurer in writing and request a certified copy of your policy,” Lopez said. “Ask whether mold is covered under your base policy or if you have a mold endorsement. It’s critical to get clarity on your policy’s limits and exclusions.
“If the adjuster downplays or denies the mold, you may want to bring in a licensed public adjuster or an attorney who handles property insurance claims. Mold damage is one of the most contested areas in homeowners’ insurance.”
The Bottom Line
Nothing can kill the memory of a long-awaited vacation quite like coming home to a water and mold disaster in your home. You could be looking at months of resulting nightmares just because you turned off your AC to save a few utility dollars.
You might want to consider a halfway measure, particularly if you don’t have central AC but rely on window units to cool you down and dry out your home’s air. Ask a trusted friend or family member to visit your place once or twice a day while you’re away to turn those units on. In the end, it will be a whole lot less expensive than paying for uninsured mold damage.
