Ergh, damn winter

[Seanohue]

Whenever I have to turn the heat on in the house, the humidity of the house drops. My humi, for some reason, also loses humidity. If the heat is off, it's completely stable at 65% but when the heat goes on, it drops down to 60%. Will a larger quantity of beads help to sustain the RH? Currently I use a 2 oz tube and I have about a 1/2lb of beads in reserve, if that will help. I don't even do that 70% thing, I'd say 90% of the beads are clear in there and it still isnt enough to keep the humidity up.

[larryinlc]

I don't know what type of humidor you have, but it sounds to me like you may have a less than tight seal. The humidity shouldn't drop as the heat runs. More humidification shoudn't be necessary. If your humi is a of the tabletop varity, try putting it in an airtight large plastic tub to see if this solves the problem. Another barrier to outside ambient air fluctuations never hurts.

Larry

[Seanohue]

It has glass panes on it. I think I will take those out and apply some silicon between the panels and the wood to make it weather tight.

[Linder]

That's a great idea.

Let us know how it goes!

[Seanohue]

Originally Posted by Linder

That's a great idea.

Let us know how it goes!

Dont worry, I'll take the stogies out Silicon stinks when first applied but once it dries its odorless.

[Viper139]

Originally Posted by Seanohue

It has glass panes on it. I think I will take those out and apply some silicon between the panels and the wood to make it weather tight.

That will make a great difference. It does not take much to let the humidity out.

[RGD]

Suggestion: Run by Home Depot and pick up a tube of PolySeamSeal - it does come in clear so check the label. I will go on white - but will turn clear. As it's a latex base it won't be as obnoxious as using silicon. In addition to it being a caulk - it's also an adhesive that is rated for moisture contact. It will be perfect for what you need - and no long term out-gassing like the silicone will.


Ron

[Seanohue]

Originally Posted by RGD

Suggestion: Run by Home Depot and pick up a tube of PolySeamSeal - it does come in clear so check the label. I will go on white - but will turn clear. As it's a latex base it won't be as obnoxious as using silicon. In addition to it being a caulk - it's also an adhesive that is rated for moisture contact. It will be perfect for what you need - and no long term out-gassing like the silicone will.


Ron

Nice suggestion, I will pick some of that up.

[bhudson57]

Is it when the heat comes on or when the temps get cooler? I find that my humidity drops a little when the temps go down. Probably because it's harder for the water to evaporate from the beads or other source.

Bill

[Seanohue]

Originally Posted by bhudson57

Is it when the heat comes on or when the temps get cooler? I find that my humidity drops a little when the temps go down. Probably because it's harder for the water to evaporate from the beads or other source.

Bill

No, it drops when the heat comes on. Temperature changes can't actually be the cause of this; it gets up to about 74 in the house in the summer and it stays at 65%. I guess my furnace just sucks the moisture out of the air (the ambient humidity in the summer is 55%, now its 48%).

[bhudson57]

Well, if the temperatures are the same and you notice this when the heat comes on, I agree that it is a sealing problem. Certainly more beads won't hurt. But as far as sealing the one you have, I have no clue. Sorry I can't be much more of a help.

Bill

[Seanohue]

Well, here is how its going so far. I picked up some polyseamseal from home depot (unfortunately, they did not have clear so now I have white stuff all over the windows (and I do mean the polyseamseal )) I let it air out for 24 hrs and closed it up about 30 mins ago. I put some 65% beads in there and a hygro so I'll check later tonight to see if the humidity is 65%. Then I gotta do a thorough smell check. And the funniest part is I bought a 45 qt tupperdor to house my stash in temporarily, and that thing is rock solid at 65%. Might just stick with that thing

[Reptilicus]

Do any of you think that cooler winter temps may cause enough wood contraction in a humidor to affect the seal? Or could it just be due to far less RH in the air because of winter. I noticed the same issues with my desktop unit.

[Seanohue]

Originally Posted by Reptilicus

Do any of you think that cooler winter temps may cause enough wood contraction in a humidor to affect the seal? Or could it just be due to far less RH in the air because of winter. I noticed the same issues with my desktop unit.

Hmmm interesting idea. I think that it's because of the lower ambient RH because the humidor was a cheapo anyway and the glass panels arent even set into the wood, they're just kind of held in by 4 little plates and screws. I don't know enough about expansion to justify a statement about it though.