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Low Humidity in Humidor. Please help!

S

stubnewb

New Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2014
Messages
1
About a month ago I received a new "travel size" humidor that holds 10-12 cigars. I started with about 5 and have purchased a few since, so I have around 12 stogies in there now.
 
The problem I am experiencing is that the humidity in the box has steadily dropped while I have had it. It started holding steady around 66% but is now hovering around 61%. I don't understand why this is happening. I have a Xikar crystal humidifier (rated for 50 cigars) filled with Xikar propylene glycol only, per the manufacturer's instructions. The humidor seems well-sealed, as indicated by the "swoosh" sound that it makes when I open and close it. The only thing I can think of is that perhaps the surrounding air is dry due to the cold and constant heating in the house, but if the humidor is well-sealed I don't see how this alone could be keeping the RH so low.
 
Can anybody here please help me understand what the issue might be, as I don't want the RH to keep dropping, eventually ruining my cigars. Any help is much appreciated!
 
(As an additional note, I did season the humidor for almost two days when I first got it.)
 
Is it a cedar humidor? Almost two days of seasoning probably isn't enough. Also, what type of hygrometer are you using to measure the RH? Analog or digital? How often do you open the humidor?
 
Rod said:
Is it a cedar humidor? Almost two days of seasoning probably isn't enough. Also, what type of hygrometer are you using to measure the RH? Analog or digital? How often do you open the humidor?
Click to expand...
 
Todd,
 
Too many questions for 1:00am, albeit 10:00pm where you are.  ???
 
stubnewb said:
About a month ago I received a new "travel size" humidor that holds 10-12 cigars. I started with about 5 and have purchased a few since, so I have around 12 stogies in there now.
 
The problem I am experiencing is that the humidity in the box has steadily dropped while I have had it. It started holding steady around 66% but is now hovering around 61%. I don't understand why this is happening. I have a Xikar crystal humidifier (rated for 50 cigars) filled with Xikar propylene glycol only, per the manufacturer's instructions. The humidor seems well-sealed, as indicated by the "swoosh" sound that it makes when I open and close it. The only thing I can think of is that perhaps the surrounding air is dry due to the cold and constant heating in the house, but if the humidor is well-sealed I don't see how this alone could be keeping the RH so low.
 
Can anybody here please help me understand what the issue might be, as I don't want the RH to keep dropping, eventually ruining my cigars. Any help is much appreciated!
 
(As an additional note, I did season the humidor for almost two days when I first got it.)
Click to expand...
 
Hey Stub,
 
First thing is first.  Make your way over to the Newbie Intro thread and throw down your introduction.  Also, as a new member, take some time to read the suggested links and information in the newbie thread area.  It will be a wealth of knowledge and keep you out of hot water.
 
Now, I'll take just a min and address your situation.  First, it's ok, no need to get worried just yet.  It's very typical to have your RH drop a few percentages when you add cigars to the mix.  The cigars absorb the RH and it takes a bit for it to climb back up.  If I know the humidor your speaking of, and I think I do, I don't think you have a seal problem.  Most of those seal very well.  Which mean your problem....if you even have one....is in the hygrometer accuracy or humidification method.  I would say it's way too early to diagnose anything just yet.  Keep it closed, or with minimal open time, and let it stabilize over the next few days.  Recheck.  If it's under 60%, then do a salt test on the hygrometer for accuracy on your readings.  If it's over 60%, I'd let it go.  I think most of us keep our humi's at 60%-65% anyway.  While you don't want constant variation and instability in your RH, having it stable at 61% or 64% or 66% is just fine.
 
There's more...but without some further info and testing on your end this is about all I can say for now.
 
In short, don't panic just yet, and make your way to the newbie thread to introduce yourself.  Welcome to CP.
 
Edited for grammar
 
stubnewb said:
About a month ago I received a new "travel size" humidor that holds 10-12 cigars. I started with about 5 and have purchased a few since, so I have around 12 stogies in there now.
 
The problem I am experiencing is that the humidity in the box has steadily dropped while I have had it. It started holding steady around 66% but is now hovering around 61%. I don't understand why this is happening. I have a Xikar crystal humidifier (rated for 50 cigars) filled with Xikar propylene glycol only, per the manufacturer's instructions. The humidor seems well-sealed, as indicated by the "swoosh" sound that it makes when I open and close it. The only thing I can think of is that perhaps the surrounding air is dry due to the cold and constant heating in the house, but if the humidor is well-sealed I don't see how this alone could be keeping the RH so low.
 
Can anybody here please help me understand what the issue might be, as I don't want the RH to keep dropping, eventually ruining my cigars. Any help is much appreciated!
 
(As an additional note, I did season the humidor for almost two days when I first got it.)
Click to expand...
 
....bingo.  What's the ambient RH in your house?  Mine's about 40% with the gas furnace on.  All humidors struggle when the ambient RH is low....give it some time, don't panic.
 
Before I got my cabinet, I ran a desktop humi that actually sealed quite well, but during the cold months, I'd have to add humidification to it to maintain 65%.  My guess is you're in the same place.
 
Good luck - B.B.S.
 
If the ambient Temp is changing, RH will change also while moisture content of the cigars is the same.
 
Said another way, if the the humidor is in a different place or the room temp has changed, the RH will change also while the amount of moisture remains constant.
 
Don't forget, in RH the Relative Humidity is relative to temp
 
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