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Expert: - 11/7/2007


Question
Hi James,

I would like to know how to maintain humidity of humidor to 70% during winter months. During the summer, it was steady at 70 - 72 but now it is getting cooler in Toronto, my humidor is around the 67 - 68% range.  I keep refilling the humidifier with distilled water almost every week.

Thanks,
Fred

Answer
Hi Fred,

As the weather gets colder, the indoor temperature of your home will increase and this can greatly reduce the humidity in your humidor.  Refilling our humidification devices more frequently during the colder months is pretty common and it’s natural for you to refill your humidifier every 1-2 weeks during winter to compensate the lack of humidity in the air.  What you can do to assist the humidity is move your humidor away from major heat sources such as heating vents, space heaters, incandescent lamps, windows and radiators.  These major heat sources can deplete the humidity in your humidor more quickly; especially during winter.

As for recharging your humidification devices more frequently during winter, don’t worry, it happens to everybody.  Simply recharge your humidifiers as often as necessary.  If you’re recharging your humidification devices every week and the humidity level is still less than 67%, try adding an additional humidification unit such as a humidified gel “pillow” or humidor crystals.  If you have a room humidifier for your home, you can place it in the same room as your humidor (but not too close) and that will ease your cigars as well.

Hope this answers your question.

Regards,
James

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James Yee

Expertise

My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".

Experience

I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.

Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)


Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto

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