Why Won't My Coolidor Hold Humidity?

[macster]

I recently set up a 120 qt. Igloo coolidor. Inside I have a 25 ct humi (full), a 50 ct. (full) and a 100 ct. (half full). All humis were seasoned with distilled water and wet sponges place inside for 48 hours. I have 1 lb. (dispersed in 4 seperate pantyhose bags) and a 2 oz. tube of Heartfelt 65% beads and 2 Oust fans. I use a Hygroset Adjustable Hygro which I have calibrated with both the salt test and with the One-Step Humidipak. I've placed weather stripping around the closure margins of the cooler to improve the seal.

Since our house temp here runs around 76*F during the summer months I have been putting 2 re-freezable approx. 10 X 10" ice packs which I replace daily. I place them in a freezer bag and wrap them in a dry hand towel. This keeps my cooler temps between 65-70*F.

My humidity levels in the cooler are running between 52-56%. I've also noted that my beads are turning white after 3-4 days and need to be re-sprayed with distilled water. Should they need to be re-wetted that quick?

I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem? Perhaps the dry hand towels around the ice packs are absorbing the humidity?

Any help or guidance is very much appreciated. Thanks!

[Snake Hips]

The only thing I can think of is that yes, the humidity is being absorbed by the towels wrapped around the ice packs - the water in the air goes right to the cold objects. I'd say take out the ice packs and recharge your beads and see what happens. At the least this will eliminate a possible suspect, and at best solve your problem.

Hope that helps

[illinoishoosier]

Does it have a drain plug? If it does, you could be losing some humidity out the plug.

I also have a 120qt igloo, but have no problems keeping humi around 65-68 with 2lbs of beads and an oust fan.

[ucubed]

well you shouldn't worry TOO much about temperature...I live in florida and I have it also around 76-78...then again I froze all my cigars....what I found is that the towel number will absorb some moisture...but also the cold air will dry it out...there was another thread that worked...but I forget where

[bobarian]

I agree that the ice packs would seem to be the problem. But the more important thing is the humidity inside your boxes or humidors. While the inside of your humidors may have been seasoned to an acceptable rh, It will take a long time for the outside or bottom to do the same. I suspect your humidors are also absorbing some moisture. Put a hygro inside your boxes and check the rh of your cigars.

[ChasDen]

Plus every time you open it every day to change the ice packs you are letting all the moisture out or dry air in. Don't fret the temperature so much. Worry about the RH more. I have a vino, a 50 count and a 300 count. I smoke mostly out of the 300 count and try to keep things stocked up in it for daily smoking so I don't have to keep opening the vino all the time. The temp in the 300 count is running right around 75-76 and everything is A OK and smokes just fine

Chas

[ChokeOnSmoke]

I have the same cooler (without the weather stripping) and less beads than you (3/4 lb.) and I recharge mine maybe every 3 - 4 weeks.

[BillyCigars]

While certainly not necessary, this is the reason why I've lined my Igloos with spanish cedar. The RH holds steady and recovers much more quickly when the lid is opened. Plus it smells nice!

[WarMace]

I would suggest getting some unfinished cedar boxes from your local B&M. I'm betting the exteriors of your humis are all finished with some nice polyurethane. This seals the outside wood and doesn't allow it to help regulate the moisture. You need some naked cedar in there to get more responsive humidity control.

Are you having any problems maintaining humidity inside your humis?

[macster]

Originally Posted by WarMace

I would suggest getting some unfinished cedar boxes from your local B&M. I'm betting the exteriors of your humis are all finished with some nice polyurethane. This seals the outside wood and doesn't allow it to help regulate the moisture. You need some naked cedar in there to get more responsive humidity control.

Are you having any problems maintaining humidity inside your humis?

You and BillyCigars make an interesting point. All 3 of my humis' exteriors ARE polyurethane coated on their exteriors. I must say I have wondered, besides the beads, there is nothing in the cooler to really hold the humidity!

Last night I put one of the 4 oz. sacks of beads in each of the 100 ct and 50 ct. humis and the 2 oz. tube in the 20 ct. I placed my hygro in each humi for the duration of about 5 hours each. The humidity levels were a bit high since I just re-charged the beads and probably soaked them down a bit too much, but they all ranged between 70 - 74%. So the humis themselves seem to be holding the humidity fine.

I do have 3 unfinished 20 ct. cigars boxes lying around. I think I'll wipe them down with distilled water and place them in the cooler or perhaps take them apart and just use the slats of wood dispersed throughout.

Thanks to all for the feedback and help.

[ronhoffman2]

Originally Posted by macster

I recently set up a 120 qt. Igloo coolidor. Inside I have a 25 ct humi (full), a 50 ct. (full) and a 100 ct. (half full). All humis were seasoned with distilled water and wet sponges place inside for 48 hours. I have 1 lb. (dispersed in 4 seperate pantyhose bags) and a 2 oz. tube of Heartfelt 65% beads and 2 Oust fans. I use a Hygroset Adjustable Hygro which I have calibrated with both the salt test and with the One-Step Humidipak. I've placed weather stripping around the closure margins of the cooler to improve the seal.

Since our house temp here runs around 76*F during the summer months I have been putting 2 re-freezable approx. 10 X 10" ice packs which I replace daily. I place them in a freezer bag and wrap them in a dry hand towel. This keeps my cooler temps between 65-70*F.

My humidity levels in the cooler are running between 52-56%. I've also noted that my beads are turning white after 3-4 days and need to be re-sprayed with distilled water. Should they need to be re-wetted that quick?

I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem? Perhaps the dry hand towels around the ice packs are absorbing the humidity?

Any help or guidance is very much appreciated. Thanks!

Are your humis that are inside the cooler open or closed? if they are closed, the humidity has no where to go, nothing to absorb it. If you leave them open, i think you would notice your rh holding steady in the cooler. or line it with cedar like someone else suggested. i had trouble getting my rh up in my cooler until i actually added cigars and now it's dead on and steady.

[floydp]

I would suggest taking the humidors out and just put your cigars in the empty boxes you have laying around. If its no higher than 76 degrees get rid of the ice packs and I think it will settle down just fine. Been using that system along with the beads in Igloo coolers for several years without any problems what so ever.

[SeanGAR]

What Frank said. Always listen to a floyd fan ... thats what I say.

Dry towels are hygroscopic (cellulose mainly) and are likely sucking the moisture out of your system. You either need to humidify them and keep them neutral in your system or delete the cooling you are using altogether, which is also what I think you should do.

Nothing is going to blow at 76F. If you are concerned, freezing the cigars might be prudent.

[macster]

Some good advice and recommendations so far. Thanks.

I had seen pics posted here and other cigar web sites of coolidors and vinotemps with closed humidors in them, but there were also always cigar boxes, open plastic storage bags, cedar trays and loose cello'ed cigars in there also which would explain why they humidity was remaining steady.

I have been "usually" doing the 24/48/24 fridge/freezer/fridge routine with all incoming. If I'm going to be storing my stogies at my room temp of 76-77*F through half the year I suppose I need to make sure I do that routine religiously with all incoming cigars. That high of a temp just makes me a bit nervous from what I've read so far of beetle infestations.

Also, I hate to already retire my 3 humis. I just recently bought them! However, with the slippery slope we're all on I guess that's a common occurence with our constant need for larger storage space. I'm new to this all and I've already amassed a collection of approx. 100 cigars and have another 47 coming in this Fri.!!

I better get freezin' and smokin'!

Thanks all!!

[ronhoffman2]

for 15 years of cigar smoking, i have never frozen any of my cigars *knocks on wood*. But if it works for you, i guess there's no need to change anything.