Expert: James Yee - 4/7/2010

Question
AalSir,
I bought a humidor from a friend that I got at a great price. Seems to have a great seal as well.  It holds approximately 150 cigars.  I started off by wiping the inside down with distilled water once a day for 4 days, then left it closed for nearly a month only because it took longer than expected to purchase my cigars online.  Anyway, about 2 days before my package arrived, I went out and purchased a Xikar 100 ct clear humidifier puck, filled it with distilled water and also wiped the inside of the lid down with the distilled water.  Before I put the cigars in, the digital hygrometer was reading 61% with 78 deg F. I placed approx. 20 cigars in and the hygrometer is reading on average of 58%-63% humidity with an average temp reading anywhere from 75-82 degrees.  I also have the small circular floral foam humidifier in as well.  What can I do to bring my humidity up and my temp down and not have to babysit it.  Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated!

V/R,

Ray

Answer
Hi Ray,

The first thing you should do is salt test your hygrometer for accuracy.  Sometimes a hygrometer may lose its accuracy over time and display an incorrect humidity level so it's important that you test and calibrate the hygrometer once a year and whenever you purchase a new unit.

To salt test your hygrometer, take a teaspoon of regular salt and pour it into a very small dish or cup.  Add a tiny bit distilled water to the salt and mix it up until the mixture has a "crumbly" texture.  Place this dish in either a Tupperware container or Ziploc bag.  Next, add the hygrometer to the bag/container and seal it.  (If you are using a Tupperware container, just cover the lid.  You don't need to seal it airtight.)  Do not let the hygrometer touch the salt mixture as this can damage it.  Let your hygrometer sit inside this container for 6-8 hours.  After 6 hours, the humidity level should read 75%.  If the humidity is not 75%, note the difference and calibrate the hygrometer so that it reads 75%.  Your hygrometer is now accurate.

If your hygrometer is already accurate, then check your humidification devices.  If the humidifiers have lost a lot of moisture or feels dry.  Refill them with distilled water and take another reading after 48-72 hours.  If the humidity level continues to be low even with fully charged humidifiers and your hygrometer is not faulty, then your humidor will need to be reseasoned.  There are "seasoning bricks" that you can purchase at most cigar stores and this will season your humidor with minimal supervision and maintenance.  Simply leave the seasoning brick in your humidor and your humidor will be seasoned.

If the humidor continues to have low humidity even though the hygrometer is accurate, your humidification devices are fully charged and your humidor has been seasoned, your humidor probably has a defect that is allowing humidity to escape.  Check the humidor lid and corner joints for any gaps or cracks in the seam.

The internal temperature of your humidor is also too high so try moving your humidor to a cooler room.  The temperature of your humidor should not exceed 74 degrees Fahrenheit.  At 75 degrees Fahrenheit, tobacco beetle eggs potentially hidden inside your cigars begin to incubate and hatch.

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

Regards,
James