Expert: James Yee - 10/4/2008

Question
I have an Elie Bleu humidor. I brought it from Canada to Israel after it had not been used for a long time. I calibrated the non-digital hygrometer and used a towel to wipe down the inside and left it for a day. My problem is my Relative humidity is going to extraordinary levels. It lingers at 90%!!! Although I realize the air here in the middle east is much more humid, my apartment is generally cool. Ill open it and itll drop to 65 or 70. I keep the sponges wet. I cant think of anything else. Im waiting for my Montecristos, Romeo +juliets, Opus X, and my davidoffs to start molding.... help

Answer
Hi Yehuda,

The first thing you must do is make sure that your hygrometer is 100% accurate.  Re-check your hygrometer's accuracy using a salt test or upgrade to a digital hygrometer as they are extremely accurate and do not require calibration.  

If your hygrometer is accurate and properly calibrated, what you should do next is add a 50/50 mixture of Propylene Glycol and distilled water to your humidification device.  Propylene Glycol will automatically level your humidity at 70%.  You only need to add one dose of this 50/50 mixture and afterwards, simply add distilled water to your humidification device when needed.  After adding this 50/50 mixture, it may take 1 week (on average) for the humidity to stabilize so please be patient.  Normally, a 50/50 mixture is enough to create 70% humidity but if the humidity is still too high, fine-tune the mixture by adding a few more drops of Propylene Glycol to the humidification device.  If the humidity is too low, add more distilled water to dilute the Propylene Glycol.

Propylene Glycol is available for sale at most cigar stores, tobacconists, drug stores/pharmacies, chemist supply stores and the Internet.

If however, the 50/50 mixture doesn't lower your humidor's humidity at all, you may need to stop using your humidification device altogether.  In many parts of the world where the natural environment is very humid, humidification devices are not required for humidors.  I'm not familiar with the natural humidity levels in the Middle East but in many parts of Asia for example, (ie: China and Hong Kong), humidification devices are usually not required because the air is already humid enough for cigars.  

Hope this helps.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James