How often do you refill your humidifier?

[navzor]

Hi all

I have just returned from 5 weeks offshore as I tend to every 10 weeks to find my humidors at a terrifying low 52%.

I've had problems with the humidors since I got them. They're pretty big (30x30x40cm) and don't seem to hold the humidity very well at all. In each I have a Xikar crystal and paradigm humidifier and the Cuban humidor also has a full 8oz of 70% RH beads. Neither humidor as ever even achieved 70% and I use digital humidity monitors, so I presume they are accurate.

I am interested to know how often you all fill up your humidifiers. If it's every 5 weeks or more, I would definitely like to know what humidifiers you use and how much water / humidifier solution you use.

Is there a good way of improving the sealing of a humidor? I thought about using copydex or some kind of rubber glue around the door to seal it better, but that might affect the flavour. I definitely do not want glue flavoured stogies!

I'm looking to keep them at about 65% for longer term ageing, but the RH beads are not even doing the job! The key thing I am looking for is stability of the the humidity in there. Dropping so low and then coming back up again to 62-65% can't be doing the sticks a lot of good!

Any advice would be wonderful, I am at a loss on how to sort it out

[monkey66]

Ok, a couple of things.

Calibrate your humidity monitors. Your presumption is wrong and they can be way out. Do a search for 'salt test' on the forum and all will become clear, lots of information so I am not going to repeat. However even if their base-line reading is out the swing will almost certainly be accurate so you still have a problem.

There is a maximum any humi will work in the sweet spot. Too much humidification and things will get wet, too little and they will dry out too quickly.

I am going to assume seasoning is not an issue if there have been long periods of humidification.

You are right to say the fluctuation is not a good thing.

5-10 weeks is a long time for an average desktop humi to keep humidity in a modern house. Your enemy is temp fluctuation and the seal on the humi. If the seal is better you run the risk of mould. If you can try moving the humi's to somewhere cool (cellar etc) as this will reduce the speed that they dry out.

Otherwise you may need to consider upgrading to an automatic, electronically controlled humidity device. This tends to be the best solution for maintaining humidity when there is long periods away.

Multiple desktops can be hard work. Perhaps you may want to consider one big tupper-dor for the bulk of your sticks (easier to maintain) and one desktop for you 'ready to smoke' sticks. This is what I do.

NB - my Dunhill desktop (in my lounge) needs tending every 2 weeks or so. I am pretty sure if I went away for 5 weeks it would be very low.

[Tash]

I am agree, it depends, 2-3 times a week, again you should work it out with your humidor, how many cigars does it take and what kind of humidification system is in it, and need always check your hygrometer or calibrate your humi monitors as you said. I usually check with my cigars, if they are soft and looking not too much humidified then I am doing right thing.

[Stevieboy]

Because you're away so long a Cigar Oasis or the like might be better suited for you....?!?!

[TJCoro]

'Tis the Season!

Because you're away so long a Cigar Oasis or the like might be better suited for you....?!?!

Hey! Senior daddy warbucks (aka stevietheboy)...we all ain't made of money, like you lad.

Now, contray to other so-called posts here, I bet your problem is an unseasoned box. What did you do to prepare your units before you put 'em into use?


Names Perro, el Perro, and this is a common problem among knewbees...especially in the dry, winter months.

Hey, el Perro! What makes you think the lad is a knewbee?

(Ahem) Just a hunch, junior blu-balls...just a hunch.

[Stevieboy]

Don't give any of that jive-talk TJ....I've seen the size if your humi so I know you bring home some SERIOUS bacon.....

Hey! Senior daddy warbucks (aka stevietheboy)...we all ain't made of money, like you lad.

Now, contray to other so-called posts here, I bet your problem is an unseasoned box. What did you do to prepare your units before you put 'em into use?


Names Perro, el Perro, and this is a common problem among knewbees...especially in the dry, winter months.

Hey, el Perro! What makes you think the lad is a knewbee?

(Ahem) Just a hunch, junior blu-balls...just a hunch.

[TJCoro]

Talkin' about my unit!

Don't give any of that jive-talk TJ....I've seen the size if your humi so I know you bring home some SERIOUS bacon.....

Hee-Hee...my humidor ain't too small, either! :emoticon-cartoon-013.gif


Names Perro, el Perro



Hey el Perro, the lad ain't talkin' about your johnson!!!

[Styler]

I'm surprised to hear about your problems with RH beads, I have 8oz split between my desktop humi and a large tupperware container for box storage and I've been amazed at how well they work. For the desktop humi I opened up the humidifier, removed the sponge and replaced it with a bag of beads made from a (new) pair of tights. I had wild fluctuations beforehand and now the RH is rock solid. Are your beads just in the supplied bag? How much water are you spraying onto them? What is the heating set to do in the room your humis are in while you are away?

If your humidors are new or you have never been able to get them to hold RH then is could well be a seasoning issue as TJ says.