The coolers are getting pretty damn hot this time of year...

[slevy007]

Hey guys,

I guess I have waited a little while on this, hoping that the problem would go away... I keep my cooler-dors in the basement and they still get near ~78-80 degrees. What can I do to get them cooler? I remember something about using a Peltier/thermoelectric approach to cooling... has anyone done this? Success? How dod I go about doing this?
I wish I had room to keep it in the rooms with A/C.. but I can't.

Thanks in advance!

Steve

 

[CigarBarr]

I got the same problem, only this year I have 20 more boxes of cigars to worry about. Im considering a window unit for the room with the coolers.
Sorry I can't offer any advice.

 

[Ginseng]

Steve,

It's a total kludge but this might actually work. Start making ice in your freezer. Once you've got a pile together, start throwing it in ziplocs in a large pan or aluminum cafeteria tray right on top of your cooler. When it has melted and gotten to near room temperature, then switch our for more new ice.

Most decent coolers have an insulated lid and so if you just chill the shell of the cooler, it will help to keep temperature down. If the lid is insulated, the temperature gradient may be small enough so that you do not get condensation on the inside of the lid. It would be a good idea to check regularly.

Sorry I don't have a more elegant solution for you, but low tech might be your first shot.

Wilkey

Oh,

Alternatively, get those sealed cooler gel packs from Walmart. They are dirt cheap and you can jave a bunch chilling. Simply lay them on top of the lid over a towel or something to soak up the drips.

 

[Dice]

I have mine in the coolest room in the house, but with the heatwave we're having,even that's not good enough. So I keep the AC turned on in that room. The temp in the cooler has been a steady 66 degrees and the RH at 67%

 

[Mr Peat]

One trick that is used in homebrewing may work for this. When needed to keep the beer cool, you take a wet towel or something to wrap around it. Put part of it in a pan of water for example and turn a fan towards it. I dont know how it will work on a cooler, but its something to look at as an option.

 

[CoventryCat86]

Geez, I wish I had an idea for you but I do what you do, I keep the coolerdors in my besement where it never gets over 70. I run a DEhumidifier to keep the whole room at 65% RH so the whole room (26 x 30) is like a big walk in humi. :laugh: Needless to say, I never have to add water to my beads for most of the year.

I leave cigars laying around on the table, the bar, etc.

 

[BlindedByScience]

I'm in the same boat but we have an interior closet, on ground level, that stays very cool. If it's 100 outside (rare around here) it's maybe 80 inside and maybe 75 or lower in that closet. Nice thing about the PacNW is that it almost always cools off at night to the high 50's / low 60's

I've thought about what to do if we were to get an extended heat spell. I think the sealed gel ice packs would work well but I'd still wrap a towel around them to collect any condensation.

I have a far more permanant solution in mind. February next year, the issue gets solved for good.

Good Luck - B.B.S.

 

[AVB]

As long as the temp is not a constent 80+ 24/7 I don't think you have to worry too much. Regularly check for bugs if it stays hot for a few days in a row but don't get overly concerned about the temp. How do you think cigars were kept in the 40's, 50's and 60's before central air ???

 

[Shooter]

I saw a small window unit at wallly world the other day for around 100 bucks. Might be something to look into. It stays 57 year round in my basement. Too chilly for smokes, but great for wine. Good luck to ya.

 

[BlindedByScience]

....It stays 57 year round in my basement. Too chilly for smokes, but great for wine....

Actually, I've been told otherwise. I was told as long at the humidity is kept under control, this is a perfectly acceptable storage temperature. How the temperature affects the aging process is another discussion....

Regards - B.B.S.

 

[Shooter]

....It stays 57 year round in my basement. Too chilly for smokes, but great for wine....

Actually, I've been told otherwise. I was told as long at the humidity is kept under control, this is a perfectly acceptable storage temperature. How the temperature affects the aging process is another discussion....

Regards - B.B.S.

Hmm.. I did not know that. I was under the impression the warmer the better, up to 70 degrees...??????????

 

[bfreebern]

I've had to my mine to a bedroom right next to the AC vent. Keeps them around 70 during the summer.

 

[geldor1]

Been pretty warm here lately.

I have 2 of the blue freezer packs. 1 for each the cooler and fridgedor.

Freeze them at night and place them in the 'dors during the day. Dropped the temp down from 79-80 to 69-70.

Wrap them in a towel to absorb any moisture.

 

[atuck]

Been pretty warm here lately.

I have 2 of the blue freezer packs. 1 for each the cooler and fridgedor.

Freeze them at night and place them in the 'dors during the day. Dropped the temp down from 79-80 to 69-70.

Wrap them in a towel to absorb any moisture.

That's what I would do.

 

[Mrepp]

damn am I the only one with central air? Wilkey's idea will probably work. One thing to note though, you’ll be effectively cooling these down and anytime that’s done the shell of the cooler being the object that’s cooling might accumulate moisture. I wouldn’t be surprised if you had to take a towel and wipe the inside dry every once in awhile. There are cheap thermo electric cooling units but again there not elegant so again they can cause moisture accumulation inside the cooler. Perhaps if one got a Tupperware bin that the cooler fit inside of, cut a hole in it and place the thermo electric cooling unit in the side and sealed it, placed the thermostat sensor inside the Tupperware and ran a dehumidifier in there basement it would keep the cooler nice and cool in the summer and warmer in the winter. Just pure speculation from me though.

 

[vortex]

Divide the cost of the A\C unit by the number of your cigars. If it's less than $0.25 per cigar buy the window unit.

 

[bfreebern]

I put a damp towel over my coolers and it dropped the temp about 6 degrees.

 

[AVB]

Rather simplistic as you'll need to figure in the cost of energy for the 6 or so months you'll be running the unit.

Divide the cost of the A\C unit by the number of your cigars. If it's less than $0.25 per cigar buy the window unit.

 

[Baron Porthos]

When I sit outside for a long time I sometimes put a frozen waterbottle bottom with about a half cup of distilled water in with my cigars and wrap paper towel around the outside to absorb moisture.

Baron