Expert: James Yee - 7/3/2009

Question
Hi James, I have been reading the answers you have provided to everyone about cigars and humidors and I have a question of my own.  I bought a nice 75-100ct humidor with the western analogue hygrometer built into the front of the cabinet.  I have tried to calibrate it a few times with the salt test but I'm not sure if it worked properly because I found mold on 1 or 2 cigars a few days ago.  I check the humidity every day and it has never gone above 75% that I have noticed.  
I went to a reputable cigar shop today and explained my situation and the owner gave me a new western analogue hygrometer, which is identical to the one I already have.  Except for one minor difference.  My original has a rubber band around it which seems to be acting as an o ring to keep a tight seal in the external hole.  The band is definitely blocking most if not, all the holes on the hygrometer.  I am at a loss as to what to do.  Do I take the rubber band off and expose the holes allowing a loose fit?  Or do I keep the clear rubber band on the hygrometer.
I have thought about buying a digital,  but how do you know the humidity is correct if you can't see it while it;s inside the humidor?

Answer
Hi Raymond,

The first thing you should do is salt-test and calibrate your new hygrometer to make sure that it's accurate.  After it's been calibrated, let your new hygrometer sit inside your humidor for 12 hours. (Leave your original hygrometer installed in the front of your humidor.)  After 12 hours, check the humidity reading on both hygrometers.  If the new hygrometer's humidity reading matches your original hygrometer's reading, your original hygrometer is accurate and functioning properly.  If the humidity readings do not match, the original hygrometer is definitely defective and will require either a simple calibration or replacement.

The rubber band around your original hygrometer does indeed act like an o-ring gasket and provides a more secure fit for your hygrometer.  Removing this rubber band may cause the hygrometer to not fit properly in the facade of your humidor and this can result in a humidity leak.  Try installing your hygrometer without the rubber band.  If the hygrometer appears to have a snug fit in your humidor, you may not need to use the rubber band.  If the hygrometer fit is too loose, you will need to keep this rubber gasket or use something similar.  If the original hygrometer is not functioning properly because of this rubber band, remove the rubber band and replace it with a narrower o-ring that will not completely cover the openings on the hygrometer.  (O-rings can be bought at most hardware stores.)  A narrower o-ring should still allow your hygrometer to remain snug in your humidor but also not compromise your humidor's performance.

You should also consider upgrading to a digital hygrometer as they are more accurate and require little or no calibration at all.  It's also perfectly fine to leave a hygrometer inside your humidor but if you prefer to know the humidity level without opening your humidor, there are various wired and wireless digital hygrometers available for sale at most cigar stores.  (You can also buy them at electronic gadget stores such as The Source/Radio Shack.)  These units basically have a remote sensor that you would leave inside your humidor and a desktop display that will display the humidity/temperature levels inside the humidor.  There are both wireless and wired units (wired models have a tethered remote that fits in your humidor and usually a wire that connects it to a desktop monitor.  The sensor wire is usually a very thin ribbon cable so it does not affect the opening and closing of your humidor lid.)

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

Regards,
James