Hi Justin,
72RH for even a couple of days won't do anything to your smokes. :thumbs:
The most common variable in taking a RH reading is making sure that
your hygrometer is calibrated. Digital hygrometers are typically off
by 1% and as much as 8%, so salt testing in essential is determining
the exact RH level in your humidor and analog hygrometers should be
thrown away and replaced with a digital.
Digital hygrometers are usually more accurate and reliable than
analog. Regardless of what kind, it is important to maintain a
humidity level of 68% to 72% inside of a humidor to properly preserve
and age cigars. In order to monitor and adjust the humidity level
inside of your humidor, the reading on the hygrometer must be somewhat
accurate (plus or minus 2%).
How to Test and Calibrate a Hygrometer
1. Fill a milk bottle cap or other small container with salt, and
add a few drops of distilled water - NOT enough to dissolve the salt,
just enough to moisten it. You want the slurry to be thick and pasty.
2. Put the cap inside of an air tight zip lock or plastic container
along with your hygrometer. Then seal the bag or container
(Tupperware works well).
3. Wait 12 hours, then check the reading on your hygrometer without
opening the bag or container (or quickly open the container and check
if the container is not clear).
If the reading is 75%, then your hygrometer is accurate and no
adjustment is required.
If the reading is not precisely 75%, then adjust the hygrometer to 75%
by turning the screw or dial on the back. This must be done
immediately after removing from the bag or container, before room
conditions cause the reading to change.
If there is no screw (or dial) to recalibrate your hygrometer, then
you will just have to remember to add or subtract the difference
between the test reading and 75%, in order to determine the actual
humidity level inside of your humidor. For example, if your hygrometer
test reading was 80%, then subtract 5% from the readings you get
inside of your humidor, to determine the actual levels of humidity
(e.g. a reading of 70% inside your humidor equals an actual humidity
level of 65%).
Other common variables that can effect your RH level are:
1.) Is it a new humidor or an existing humidor? New humidors need to be seasoned properly in order to stablize the RH.
2.) Opening and closing you humidor frequently will introduce ambient
humidity (humidity level outside of your humidor) into your relative
humidity (the humidity level inside your humidor). If the ambient
humidity is higher than the relative humidity, The Puck humidification device will again be required to absorb more moisture to compensate. Also applies to drier environments, The Puck would have to release moisture to compensate for drier air introduced into the closed environment.
3.) Adding new cigars to your humidor may quickly reduce or increase the RH level as well. Dry cigars will absorb moisture and wet cigars can easily increase your RH.
In this case, simply dry the RH Beads with a hair dryer set on low.
Dry RH Beads = white
Wet = clear
You want to shoot for aboout 60% of the RH Beads clear.
I hope this helps bro and plmk if I can be of any further assistance.
~Mark
