Humidity Wont Hit 65%

[trojanmike]

Picked up the Holts 100ct. Savoy humidor a few weeks ago. Put a bowl of distilled water in the bottom and seasoned the humidor for one week. My humidor required 1.8oz of beads, but I have a one 1oz tube and one 2oz tube (3oz total) of hearfelt 65% beads in the humidor. I have the 1oz tube on the top tray and the 2oz tube on the bottom. Figured the extra beads wouldn't hurt and would only increase the time between recharging the beads.

I used the Boveda calibration bags along with the adjustable hydrometer from Heartfelt. Have calibrated it twice since i've had the problem, so i'm almost positive the hydrometer isn't the problem. Humidor has been sitting at 63% constantly. Added 20 cigars in the other day and it shot down to 59%. Has been about a week now and the hydrometer is still sitting at 63%.

About 60% of the beads are charged with distilled water and I usually leave the humidor shut for days at a time (not going in every day.)

Should I be concerned about this or is 63% normal and not something to be worried about?

Thanks!

[BigGreg]

Try leaving a shotglass of distilled water in the humidor along with the beads, should give a little extra humidity. 63% is fine for me its all about personal preference and at what % you feel your cigars smoke best.

[floydpink]

Weird, I am having the same problem with the free humi that came with the $15 CI deal with the cigar sampler and was wondering if I didn't season it properly or it was leaking. Mine is holding at 63 on my digital hygro I look forward to the replies on this one.

I have also been keeping the cheap foam humidifier that came with the humis in my two desktops with the 65 beads and am wondering if this is bad.

Is the shotglass ok WITH the smokes in the humi??

Sorry if I hijacked your thread, but it seems like a similar problem.

[The Bruce]

Originally Posted by trojanmike

Should I be concerned about this or is 63% normal and not something to be worried about?

Thanks!

That is up to you if you like cigars at that RH.


I had the same trouble, so has my bother. Since you live in souther California you may have the same problems we have here in Tucson. It's just too dry. Are your beads wet enought? You may want to consider a Cigar Oasis, it solved my problem.

--
Erik

[trojanmike]

Thanks for the responses. Beads are at least 60% charged as per the instructions on Heartfelt's site. I also have that extra 1.2oz of beads in the humidor which would make up for any lack of moisture. It has been dry lately so i'm hoping that once it gets cooler my problems will be solved.

[The Bruce]

Originally Posted by trojanmike

It has been dry lately so i'm hoping that once it gets cooler my problems will be solved.

When it gets cooler it's harder for the air to hold moisture. So it might not help any. If you have a glass to humidor try sealing the boundary between the glass and the wood.

[RonC]

during the dry winter months, try supplementing the beads with a humidification device that will put out a little more humidity. 1 of my
Humidity tubes is the same size as the Heartfelt tube, but will hold a lot more water. Another option is just a florist foam humidifier. Dont get rid of your beads, just help them during the dry, winter months.

[discdog]

Your're fine. If your house RH is low, which if you're like most of us it is, you will just need to add DW a little more often. Your house is thirsty, and it will take humidity from any place it can. Set a glass of water on a counter somewhere in the room where you keep the humi and watch what happens. Try the same thing this summer when the humidity levels rise and you'll see the difference.

I didn't see what the RH your beads were, but if they are 70 or less, you should be fine. Spring is just around the corner and then you'll be glad you have the beads.

[JohnnyFlake]

Originally Posted by trojanmike

Picked up the Holts 100ct. Savoy humidor a few weeks ago. Put a bowl of distilled water in the bottom and seasoned the humidor for one week. My humidor required 1.8oz of beads, but I have a one 1oz tube and one 2oz tube (3oz total) of hearfelt 65% beads in the humidor. I have the 1oz tube on the top tray and the 2oz tube on the bottom. Figured the extra beads wouldn't hurt and would only increase the time between recharging the beads.

I used the Boveda calibration bags along with the adjustable hydrometer from Heartfelt. Have calibrated it twice since i've had the problem, so i'm almost positive the hydrometer isn't the problem. Humidor has been sitting at 63% constantly. Added 20 cigars in the other day and it shot down to 59%. Has been about a week now and the hydrometer is still sitting at 63%.

About 60% of the beads are charged with distilled water and I usually leave the humidor shut for days at a time (not going in every day.)

Should I be concerned about this or is 63% normal and not something to be worried about?

Thanks!

Two things that work for me, just my

First, I don't follow their suggestion of only charging 60% of the beads. To be honest, I cannot figure the logic of that suggestion! When you think about it, it really makes no sense. I charge all the beads. I add water until they are all crystal clear. Since I've been doing that, my Igloodors and Humidors have all been very stable.

Second, Do not follow their recommendations on how many ounces of beads to use. Their recommendations are too low. For a 100 CT Humidor, I strongly suggest you use at least 4 oz of beads, even 6oz will not hurt. You can never have too many beads, never! However, you sure as hell can have too few beads, and most people do!

Anyway, that steady 63% is not a problem IMHO. That's a great RH for storing cigars, especially in a smaller humidor from which you'll be smoking from.

Johnny

[Fumioso]

As the temps rise this spring and summer you will see the RH in your humi rise as well. I'm not sure if this is a desert issue, but in the summer I can't get to 65% without following JohnnyFlake's directions... But as the temps rise you will no longer have this problem. Instead, you will have another problem: heat.

63% works just fine for me, btw. Don't worry about it.

[trojanmike]

Sounds great! Thanks for all of the recommendations!

[wharfrathoss]

i'm running the exact same setup (same humi, same % beads, accuset adjustable digi hygro) & i don't have a problem maintaining 65%-i have around 2oz. of beads in tubes in the bottom of humi, hygro on tray-bottom's about 80% full, top is full
couple things come to mind-your humi may still be in process of stabilizing, mine was seasoned & sitting w/gars 3 wks b4 i put beads in-also might be glass top slow leak-you don't mention how many gars & how long they've had to stabilize, this can also effect things-bottom line, 63% is nothing to be worried about, unless you prefer the way they burn/taste at 65% (i couldn't tell a difference personally)-enjoy the setup, it's been serving me well
btw, i go w/1oz beads per 50ct-seems to work good in both my desktops & cooler-hope this helps

[madurolover]

63% is a great # IMO.
As long as they stay around there I would not worry.

[ca21455]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlake

First, I don't follow their suggestion of only charging 60% of the beads. To be honest, I cannot figure the logic of that suggestion! When you think about it, it really makes no sense. I charge all the beads. I add water until they are all crystal clear. Since I've been doing that, my Igloodors and Humidors have all been very stable.

The reason you do not want to charge all of your beads is to leave some capacity to reduce humidity when necessary. If you live in an area where the humidity never gets above 45% then having all the beads charged may be OK. In MO during the winter with the heat running, I keep most of the beads charged. In the summer, the humidity in the house can go all over the place depending on if the AC is running or the windows are open. During this time it is good to have 40% of the beads dry to ensure the humidity does not go above the desired level.

[trojanmike]

Hydrometer hit 65% last night and was the same when I checked it this morning. Came home tonight and now it's 67% lol