Expert: James Yee - 7/30/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello James,
I have read most of your responses regarding maintaining 70/70 temperature/humidity. I have a 25-30 count humidor, I have seasoned it as per all your instructions and initially it seemed to work fine. however in this summer season the temp in the humidor varies between 71(night) to 83 (day). I have moved all my cigars to a humi-pouch. The problem is the temperature at home during day time is around 75-80 and there is no other place where cooler than that. I tried to season my humidor twice but situation remains same. Seems i can store the cigars in it only during winters! Another suggestions other than expensive cooling systems? Thanks in advance!

ANSWER: Hi Jack,

Try to store your humidor in your basement or wine cellar as these places are usually much cooler than the rest of your home.  If this is not possible, use a digital thermometer and try to find the coolest room in your home.  (Even a 1 or 2 degree drop in temperature in your home will help.)  Be sure to also keep your humidor in a centered location in your home and away from the house's perimeter walls as the center of your home is generally cooler.  Your humidor should also be kept away from the windows and natural sunlight as sunlight will heat up your humidor.  Be sure to also keep your humidor away from desktop lighting (particularly incandescent and halogen lighting) as well as major appliances that emit heat (TV, computer, etc.) as the heat they generate will also affect your humidor.

The first floor of a home (and basement) are usually much cooler than the rest of the house so try keeping your humidor there.  Closets can also be very cool in temperature so if you live in a home that does not have a basement, try keeping your humidor in a dark closet.

If the temperature continues to be high, you may want to use an air-conditioner or room fan to cool your humidor down.  In the summer, homes can trap a lot of heat from the sun and feel like an oven so if you don't use air-conditioning at home, be sure to open your home's windows and this will vent the heat and allow your home to be cooler.

If you continue to have high temperature, your last resort is to invest in either a thermo-electric humidor or wine-fridge to store your cigars.  Both will cost about $200-$300 and allow you to digitally control the temperature level.

Hopes this answers your question.  If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Could you recommend any thermo-electric humidor that i can looking to? I was checking online and found them they were mostly for large humidors. I would really prefer a smaller one (at least for now). Online i saw this one - Vinotemp Thermoelectric Humidor.
In these type of humidors do we will have to add the humidification devices separately or would it be included in them?
Thanks in advance!
Jack.

ANSWER: Hi Jack,

The Vinotemp Thermo-Electric desktop humidor is the one I recommend.  It's a 100-count humidor and to my knowledge, the smallest Thermo-Electric humidor commercially available.  I believe this humidor does not include a humidification device (it may include a basic unit) but you can easily add an electronic humidification device (such as a Cigar Oasis unit) for about $100.  As an alternative, you can still use the inexpensive, aquafoam-based humidification devices that are commonly used in most humidors.  One of these units can cost anywhere between $5-$20; depending on the size.

Hopes this helps.  As always, if you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi James,
Thanks for the humidor adivce. About my cigars - during the night time the humidor is able to reach the optimum 70/70 but during the day time like i said last time the temperature varies from 75-80. So on the whole the cigars are going through this cycle of high and low temperatures. How adversely would this affect the cigars? I have some decent ones like Gran Habano, Don Tomas, Rocky Patel, CAO, H.Upmann.
Thanks in Advance.
Jack.

Answer
Hi Jack,

Prolonged exposure to temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit will incubate any tobacco beetle eggs hidden in your cigars.  These eggs are embedded inside the cigar (not all cigars will have them) and when they hatch, the beetles will chew their way to the surface of the cigars and permanently ruin them.  Once tobacco beetles chew through a cigar, it's best to disgard the cigar as the large holes left by the beetles will cause irregular burn and draw problems plus the beetles also leave behind a fine brown powder which is a combination of chewed up tobacco and their fecal matter.  It is impossible to fully purge this powder from a damaged cigar.  If you smoke a beetle-damaged cigar, this fine powder will be a respiratory irritant and can make you extremely sick.

For cigars that do not have tobacco beetle eggs, a constant fluctuation in temperature everyday will affect your humidity performance and may cause you to recharge your humidification device more frequently (the humidity will also be inconsistent now).  Because of this, your cigars are now affected by the periods of high temperature and low humidity and this can lead to dry and brittle cigars.

Hopes this answers your question.

Regards,
James