Expert: James Yee - 1/16/2009

Question
I cannot get the temp above 50% on my box. I have those crystal gels in a jar and a humidor inside at the same time. I was wondering if the box is not sealed properly or is too old and the moisture is getting out.

Answer
Hi Alan,

There could be one or several reasons why the humidity in your humidor is too low.  First, check to make sure your hygrometer is properly calibrated and tested for accuracy.  If you have an analog hygrometer, it should be re-tested for accuracy using the salt test.  Even if your hygrometer was calibrated recently, it's still possible that your hygrometer can be out of sync now.  (A slight jolt has been known to knock analog hygrometer needles completely out of sync.)  If you have a digital hygrometer, it may need new batteries.

If your hygrometer is fine, inspect your humidor for any gaps or cracks that may cause a humidity leak.  Make sure there are no gaps or cracks in the corner joints or near the lid that would cause humidity to leak out.  If your humidor has a glass-top inlay or hygrometer fixed into the exterior facade, make sure that they are well-sealed and that humidity isn't leaking out in those places.

If your humidor appears fine, it may just need to be seasoned.  Re-season your humidor again and it should be able to absorb and regulate humidity more effectively.  (If you need step-by-step instructions on seasoning a humidor, just search my question archive here at allexperts.com or let me know and I will be happy to help.)

If the hygrometer and humidor are fine and you still have low humidity even after seasoning your humidor, you may need to add either a secondary humidification device or upgrade to a larger primary humidification device to boost the humidity in your humidor.  It's also very possible that your humidor may be defective in some way so if your humidor is still fairly new, contact the retailer or humidor manufacturer for repair/replacement options.

Hopes this helps.  If you have any more questions or need detailed seasoning instructions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.  

Regards,
James