When I got my humidor the guy I bought it from said just to soak my humidifier with bottled water. As I search this I see to use distilled water. I have had my humidor for about 8 months. Is my sponge ruined from the bottled water? Should I get a new one? One more question: How many times should I soak my humidifier a week? Thanks
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Humidifier question
- Thread starter DMB41
- Start date
junkman_56
cigar smokin' caver
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2005
- Messages
- 2,860
Get a new sponge and only use distilled water.
Question #2: that depends on how low your humidity gets. My suggestion is to keep your humidity between 65 & 70%
Also, to the "Introduce Yourself Here" and say Hi to the group.
Oh ya, welcome to CP...
Question #2: that depends on how low your humidity gets. My suggestion is to keep your humidity between 65 & 70%
Also, to the "Introduce Yourself Here" and say Hi to the group.
Oh ya, welcome to CP...
First of all...welcome to cigar pass, fill out your profiel, and post an introduction, this great bunch of guys would like to know a little about you!
Second, you should definitly be unsig distilled water. I don't know if your sponge would be "ruined" from using bottled water, but you might want to flush it pretty well with distilled once or twice to remove any impurities. that would also likely remove any propylene Glycol(sp?) still in it, so you would need to add some of that...the lesson? throw away your sponge, and buy some beads (65%) from Viper (heartfeltindustries.com) You will not regret it.
If you are having to add water more than once a week, there is likely something wrong with your system. Was the humi seasoned properly? Are you relying on a humidity reading that is low to tell you to add water? If so, has your hygrometer been properly calibrated?
Whew! I know, a lot of questions...but there are a lot of factors and variables that go into making a new humidor work well for you.
Good luck, and I hope this helps.
Second, you should definitly be unsig distilled water. I don't know if your sponge would be "ruined" from using bottled water, but you might want to flush it pretty well with distilled once or twice to remove any impurities. that would also likely remove any propylene Glycol(sp?) still in it, so you would need to add some of that...the lesson? throw away your sponge, and buy some beads (65%) from Viper (heartfeltindustries.com) You will not regret it.
If you are having to add water more than once a week, there is likely something wrong with your system. Was the humi seasoned properly? Are you relying on a humidity reading that is low to tell you to add water? If so, has your hygrometer been properly calibrated?
Whew! I know, a lot of questions...but there are a lot of factors and variables that go into making a new humidor work well for you.
Good luck, and I hope this helps.
OUCH!!
I would slap your vendor around a couple times around furst.
Always use distilled water.
Best bet is to add a shot glass full of distilled water to your humidor. Leave it in there with your credo (sponge as you call it).
Leave the shot glass in there until you have reached 65-70RH% on your hygrometer. You should add water as needed to keep your humidor at your preferred RH% level.
I prefer to use beads. and also keep my RH between 60-65%
Cigars seem to smoke better at these humidity levels.
GET BEADS ASAP.
Lose the sponge element.
You will thank us later.
I would slap your vendor around a couple times around furst.
Always use distilled water.
Best bet is to add a shot glass full of distilled water to your humidor. Leave it in there with your credo (sponge as you call it).
Leave the shot glass in there until you have reached 65-70RH% on your hygrometer. You should add water as needed to keep your humidor at your preferred RH% level.
I prefer to use beads. and also keep my RH between 60-65%
Cigars seem to smoke better at these humidity levels.
GET BEADS ASAP.
Lose the sponge element.
You will thank us later.
ok, thanks for the input. I am new to cigars and have been searching around getting answers. I will be going with the beads because everyone seems to like them and they cause few problems and don't have to monitor it all the time. I only have a 25ct (I am new what can I say)..anyways I am looking at the Heartfelt Desktop Humidor Perforated Tube..I would think something like this is effective for more than a year?
Thanks again!
-Matt
Thanks again!
-Matt
Matt,
The tube will work great in a 25 count humi. I think the 1/4 or 1/2 ounce size would be right. (ask viper...he's very helpful).
Once the humi is seasoned, beads hold your rh rock solid (though it is harder to stay solid in a smaller humi, in general).
All you do is add a little bit of distilled water whenever it needs it, and the beads have a very long active life. I don't know if it is quite infinite, but very long....absolutely more than a year. Then again, if you're still active ehre in a year, you'll have a few pounds of beads, to keep all of your humis and coolers up and running!
The tube will work great in a 25 count humi. I think the 1/4 or 1/2 ounce size would be right. (ask viper...he's very helpful).
Once the humi is seasoned, beads hold your rh rock solid (though it is harder to stay solid in a smaller humi, in general).
All you do is add a little bit of distilled water whenever it needs it, and the beads have a very long active life. I don't know if it is quite infinite, but very long....absolutely more than a year. Then again, if you're still active ehre in a year, you'll have a few pounds of beads, to keep all of your humis and coolers up and running!
First off...welcome to CP 
I agree with all of the above posts, the vendor you went to should know better than to recommend bottled water with any type of humidofication device. Them minerals and impurities in the water will ultimately ruin any type of device.
The 1/2 ounce rube will work well in a 25 count, the 1 ounce tube will give you a little more stored moisture so it will last longer between rechargings. The beads them selves have a verrrrry long life span with good care. The frequency or recharging (adding distilled water to them) depends on the seal of the humidor and the number of times you go into it.
I agree with all of the above posts, the vendor you went to should know better than to recommend bottled water with any type of humidofication device. Them minerals and impurities in the water will ultimately ruin any type of device.
The 1/2 ounce rube will work well in a 25 count, the 1 ounce tube will give you a little more stored moisture so it will last longer between rechargings. The beads them selves have a verrrrry long life span with good care. The frequency or recharging (adding distilled water to them) depends on the seal of the humidor and the number of times you go into it.
Welcome DMB41,
I totally agree that 60-65 is the best RH. With that said I don't think I read what type of hygrometer you have. That is pretty important. I have been doing this a while and I cannot tell the RH without a hygrometer. However if any of you would like me to provr it send me some sticks and I will guess their RH. LOL
Anyway, did you salt test your hygrometer? Your hygrometer is your freind if it is not working or reading right you could be in trouble. It took me a long time when I first started to get a handel on my first humi.
Hope that helps
DarrenR
I totally agree that 60-65 is the best RH. With that said I don't think I read what type of hygrometer you have. That is pretty important. I have been doing this a while and I cannot tell the RH without a hygrometer. However if any of you would like me to provr it send me some sticks and I will guess their RH. LOL
Anyway, did you salt test your hygrometer? Your hygrometer is your freind if it is not working or reading right you could be in trouble. It took me a long time when I first started to get a handel on my first humi.
Hope that helps
DarrenR
Welcome back Darren! Long time no see.