Keeping a humidor in a wet / moist climate

[ustw51404]

The humidity in my humidor is about 76%. Most of the information about maintaining humidors are for those who live in dry climates. Taiwan is a moist climate usually temps in the summer are about 30c-35c or 86-95 F and the humidty is very high. Its like this from may to november. December - Feb its like 13c-17c (55-63F) humidity is 72%. The apartments and houses here aren't insulated very well. It's hard to find a good spot to put my humidor. My humidor is small holds 30 cigars. I seasoned it using seasoning packs. I use the heart felt humidity beads for humidification.My calibrated my hygro. So far 76% I read i should try opening the humidor and let it air out but since the humidity in the house is high the Rh goes up to 80. Then once closed goes down to 76-77. Any advice to get my humidity down

 

[DonkeyKong]

I can't imagine you having an issue considering Cuba and Miami are both quite humid.

 

[Gern Blansten]

Can we assume you have the 65% HF beads? Have you tried putting them in completely dry? Another option is to go to some form of air tight product. If you're trying to keep your stock small look at the various sizes of Tupperware. If you think your collection is going to expand, bite the bullet and go get a cooler.

 

[Tall Paul]

Vinotemp is the way to go in you climate area it will cool and slightly dehumidify to bring your cigar climate down to a more ideal level.

 

[BlindedByScience]

There are also dessicators you can buy that should work well if the ambient RH is lots higher than the desired storage RH. I'd look into something like tupperware or a pelican case for storage if you were to go that route. Something like one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Scienceware-420460000-Desi-Can-Reusable-Desiccant/dp/B002VBW9WS

http://www.amazon.com/Dry-Packs-Gram-Silica-Gel-Desiccant/dp/B006L882NM

 

[tomthirtysix]

Until I hear otherwise from someone on this board, no one here has had any success with Heartfelt beads absorbing excess humidity.

Can we assume you have the 65% HF beads? Have you tried putting them in completely dry?

Won't make a difference. The beads won't absorb excess humidity.

 

[Smokin'Sims]

I keep mine in a Tupperware with Heartfelt beads in Florida, I'm about 90 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic depending on the direction you go. I know the humidity in general is fairly high, but I do not have exact numbers as I don't have a spare hygrometer in the house for that measurement. I would keep them in the vinotemp, but for some reason it stays at about 50F since I moved from Mississippi.

Regarding Tom's question, I was had the understanding that the beads absorbed excess humidity or released what was needed to regulate. I could be mistaken. I know I don't add water for a year and it is fairly constant 70%.

ETA: While Taiwan is hot and humid, so is Southeast Texas, Florida and much of the Gulf Coast. Someone should have a solution for you. Ask ChiefMD how he keeps his, He lives about 10-20 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and it is always humid there.

 

[Gern Blansten]

Until I hear otherwise from someone on this board, no one here has had any success with Heartfelt beads absorbing excess humidity.

Can we assume you have the 65% HF beads? Have you tried putting them in completely dry?

Won't make a difference. The beads won't absorb excess humidity.

Just sent David at Heartfelt an email asking if the beads are "2 way." Knowing how awesome his service is, I'm sure I'll hear back soon. Not trying to stir the pot, just super curious what he says.

 

[souldog]

Until I hear otherwise from someone on this board, no one here has had any success with Heartfelt beads absorbing excess humidity.

Can we assume you have the 65% HF beads? Have you tried putting them in completely dry?

Won't make a difference. The beads won't absorb excess humidity.

Just sent David at Heartfelt an email asking if the beads are "2 way." Knowing how awesome his service is, I'm sure I'll hear back soon. Not trying to stir the pot, just super curious what he says.

:O POT STIRRER!!!!!

Glad you said something and asked Gern, I was always under the impression that the Heartfelts absorb the excess humidity to assist in regulating the RH. Don't mind Tom, you're not stirring the pot, you're just looking for answers.

 

[broblues]

The last time I was on their website, I read that they recommended dry beads to bring down humidity......Interesting. I have 3 tubes of dry beads in a wine-a-dor. I really haven't had any problems, but I will have to admit, I also am using Boveda packs for humidification.

 

[souldog]

The last time I was on their website, I read that they recommended dry beads to bring down humidity......Interesting. I have 3 tubes of dry beads in a wine-a-dor. I really haven't had any problems, but I will have to admit, I also am using Boveda packs for humidification.

Thx broblues, that's exactly what I was thinking of when I read this. That's the quote I was looking for. When I got Heartfelt I was under the impression that they help maintain the humidity, including the dry beads.

 

[tomthirtysix]

I brought this up in another thread recently, and those who replied to my particular post all had the same experiences I had.

I don't want to derail this thread, so I'm going to start a new one and we'll discuss.

ETA: Here's the new thread regarding the beads: http://www.cigarpass.com/forumsipb/topic/73538-do-beads-really-absorb-excess-moisture/

 

[ustw51404]

I know its not the humidor I took the digital hygro out for a while and now its the rh level in the house is about 70%rh. Then i put it back in the humidor and rh went back up. When I shut the lid it closes slowly and a little tight when i try to open it. So opened the humidor for a while. I tried the 70% beads maybe that's why my humidity is high. I think Tom is right about them they might not absorb anything. I'm going to try taking the beads out and not using a humidification device, Maybe I don't need to use any humidification since I live in such a humid place. Right now its 66 Rh outside and and about 72 Rh inside my apartment. Taiwan sells a lot of different kinds of passive dehumidifiers. I'm going to try to see if this works. Tupperware is an option too. I think a wine cooler would be the last resort. I think my options are 1. Air out the humidor, and close it a while to see if humidity goes up. 2. Buy 65% beads 3. Don't use any humidification and try dehumidifier 4. Try Tupperware. Thanks for your suggestions it really helped me a lot.

 

[ustw51404]

I used a dehumidifier in my humidor it worked too well dropped to 63 % in 20 min. Took a little of these beads and put them in a small container and so far its at 71% I also bought a Tupperware container about the same size as my 30 count humidor. Its air tight and I put my hygrometer inside. Its now reading 70/71 without using any kind of humidification. I'll keep an eye on it and see what happens.

 

[ustw51404]

My humidor is now reading 70 % humidity. i used the humidity beads and just a few dehumdifying beads. for a few days now the humidity level has stayed at 70% The tupperware container is reading 68% with the humiditybeads for humidifcation. Do you guys think about this?

 

[souldog]

My humidor is now reading 70 % humidity. i used the humidity beads and just a few dehumdifying beads. for a few days now the humidity level has stayed at 70% The tupperware container is reading 68% with the humiditybeads for humidifcation. Do you guys think about this?

Sounds good to me!

 

[Smokin'Sims]

Those numbers look good and should keep your stock well.