Seasonal Climate Planner
When should you winterize? What should the thermostat and humidistat hold while the home sits empty? Pick a city — the answer depends entirely on the climate.
Naples, FL
Winterizing
Hard freezes are rare here — traditional winterizing is optional. The seasonal risk runs the other way: humidity and storm season.
Thermostat while away
Cooling ON, set 77–80°F, fan on AUTO (not ON — a running fan re-evaporates moisture off the coil).
Humidity
The critical setting: keep relative humidity below 60%. Use the A/C's humidistat at ~58–62% RH or a standalone dehumidifier set to 55–58%. Mold takes hold in weeks above 65%.
Visit frequency
Weekly to bi-weekly year-round; after every power outage, confirm the A/C actually restarted.
Local note: The premium home watch market — owners expect documented humidity readings, not vibes.
Freeze windows are approximate medians from public climate normals — actual first freezes vary year to year, so treat the dates as planning buffers and watch the local forecast. Settings are general guidance, not a substitute for your HVAC pro's or insurer's instructions.
Whatever the climate, the playbook is the same
Set the home up for its climate, then make sure someone is verifying the settings held — thermostats fail, power blips, and a humidistat reading is only reassuring if somebody documents it. That's the core of professional home watch.
- Homeowners: work through the departure checklist, take the empty-home insurance quiz, and find a documented-visit professional on HomeWatcherList.com.
- Home watch pros: these settings belong in your onboarding packet, and every visit should record the thermostat and humidity reading — the Home Watcher app puts them in the client's report automatically.