The easiest way to deal with white balance issues - assuming you don't know for sure what the light source characteristics are like - is to shoot in RAW mode. When converting from RAW to any other format, you have the ability to play with the white balance selections just as if you were setting the white balance in the camera. The only difference is you are doing it after taking the shot, and you can make as many changes as you like to find the right combination.
I have found the AWB setting in my 20D to be totally wrong far more than I have found it to be right in choosing the white balance setting. Therefore, I will always try to figure out what the light source is like and choose the appropriate setting in the camera. Like I said above, though, if I get it wrong the first time I can fix it in the RAW conversion process very easily.