Expert: James Yee - 1/28/2011

Question
James,

  My humidor is consistently set at about 74-76% humidity.  I try and keep it around this percentage because it seems that my cigars are too dry.  I give the "squeeze test" and though they are not about to break, they are pretty close and I just know they are dry.  I can't figure out what the problem is.  I open the humidor once every two days and keep the humidity up to that percentage (I typically do not let it go below).  The humidor is a Thompson and holds about 200...any ideas?  Thanks for your time and help.

Answer
Hi Hilton

Have you salt tested your hygrometer recently?  If not, you should salt test and calibrate it if necessary. (If you need salt test instructions, just let me know and I'll gladly repost it for you.  You can also use the search function here at allexperts.com to find salt test instructions)  With analog hygrometers, the needle can sometimes be knocked out of sync by something as simple as a slight bump or jolt to your humidor and this will cause the hygrometer to give incorrect readings.  If you are using a digital hygrometer, the battery may need replacing as a weak battery can also give incorrect readings.  

If your hygrometer is accurate, try relocating your humidor.  Humidors deplete humidity more quickly in winter (due to the dry heat in our homes) so if your house has a dry heat, relocate your humidor to a cooler and more humid room.  A humidor can also lose humidity if it is placed near electronic appliances that emit heat (such as a computer or TV) or near hot lighting sources such as natural sunlight, incandescent and halogen lighting.  Relocate your humidor so that it is not near these things.  (If your humidor is near a desk light, switch to LED or compact fluorescent lightbulbs as they operate at a much cooler temperature and won't wick away moisture from your humidor.)

If you hygometer is fine and your humidor is already placed in a cool location, try re-seasoning your humidor.  With dried out/unseasoned humidors, the interior wood will absorb all the humidity from the humidifier and even from your cigars and this will cause your cigars to feel dry. Though your hygrometer may display a high humidity level, all the humidity is going into your dry humidor interior and not your cigars.  This could explain why your cigars feel dry but the humidity level is high.

Finally, if everything appears fine with your humidor and hygrometer, try improving the humidity flow by re-arranging the cigars in your humidor or relocating the humidifier to another area inside your humidor.  Sometimes there may be an obstruction in humidity flow inside your humidor that can cause your cigars to be dry.  Check to make sure that your humidifier is not obstructed by humidor fixtures such as the tray(s), drawers or shelves or by any cigars themselves as this can localize the humidity in a certain area in your humidor and prevent it from reaching the cigars.

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

Regards,
James