What's worse high temperature or low humidity?

[Pugsley]

I just spent nearly half an hour going through my humidors, opening every box, inspecting every cigar after seeing that pic. That's the most unnerving thing I've ever seen.

[madurolover]

Originally Posted by Pugsley

I just spent nearly half an hour going through my humidors, opening every box, inspecting every cigar after seeing that pic. That's the most unnerving thing I've ever seen.

That is the main reason I even post the pic. It is not often that you hear of someone having beetle issues but if you do and are not vigilant about it then that could happen.

[bigtattoo79]

Originally Posted by madurolover

That is the main reason I even post the pic. It is not often that you hear of someone having beetle issues but if you do and are not vigilant about it then that could happen.

On a real note. I do understand the OPs concern. In LA we have very hot summers and the A/C has a hard time keeping up. We do keep the A/C set on 70 but I have to admit sometimes it gets up to 75. I dont know if the humi keeps the cool air in or not. But. I never open the humi during the hottest part of the day because I am at work. The max temp always stays no more than 73.

If I were The OP I would open it at night and let the cool air in and not open it during the hot part of the day while its hot in the office.

May or may not help. I could be way off on my thinking but just trying to help out.

Thanks Lance

[MrMusicMan1]

Heat, for sure. In northern states during the winter can be hell on cigars. Very low and very high humidity also suck but over dry is still smokable (not pleasant). Over humid is usually not smokable. Over heat and you'll have all sorts of helpers and vent holes. See above! That's about the worst I have ever seen!

[MrMusicMan1]

Originally Posted by bigtattoo79

On a real note. I do understand the OPs concern. In LA we have very hot summers and the A/C has a hard time keeping up. We do keep the A/C set on 70 but I have to admit sometimes it gets up to 75. I dont know if the humi keeps the cool air in or not. But. I never open the humi during the hottest part of the day because I am at work. The max temp always stays no more than 73.

If I were The OP I would open it at night and let the cool air in and not open it during the hot part of the day while its hot in the office.

May or may not help. I could be way off on my thinking but just trying to help out.

Thanks Lance

The air is on year round here at 75. No problems. I shoot for 65% RH, my personal preference.

[Warren]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I'm not worried about tobacco beetles. The room temperature is 68-70 for about 18 hours of the day and just spikes to the high 70s touching 80 rarely during the hottest hours in the middle of the day. So it's not as if the room is baking at 80+ constantly.

I've been opening the door for a few minutes throughout the day to let cool air in. This causes the humidity to drop since it's about 40% in my office. But once it's cool I close the door and the humidifier gets it back to 70% quickly.

I guess I'll just stick with this approach until the weather cools off in 6-8 weeks and then I should be fine. Before next summer we'll replace the AC with a larger unit.

[madurolover]

Originally Posted by Warren

Thanks for the replies guys.

I'm not worried about tobacco beetles. The room temperature is 68-70 for about 18 hours of the day and just spikes to the high 70s touching 80 rarely during the hottest hours in the middle of the day. So it's not as if the room is baking at 80+ constantly.

I've been opening the door for a few minutes throughout the day to let cool air in. This causes the humidity to drop since it's about 40% in my office. But once it's cool I close the door and the humidifier gets it back to 70% quickly.

I guess I'll just stick with this approach until the weather cools off in 6-8 weeks and then I should be fine. Before next summer we'll replace the AC with a larger unit.

Sounds like you will be fine brother.

[SmoknTaz]

Originally Posted by madurolover

What tobacco Beetle?

So not cool to scare people like that!

[nativetexan_1]

I'd call that an infestation for sure.

[Memitim]

Originally Posted by Pugsley

I just spent nearly half an hour going through my humidors, opening every box, inspecting every cigar after seeing that pic. That's the most unnerving thing I've ever seen.

LOL, same here. Even now I'm thinking about installing a camera and motion detector.

My biggest concern has been high humidity as I dread mold taking hold, but now I'm going to have to figure out a failsafe for temperature as well. Had my AC unit crap out about a month ago and spent three days basking in the Florida heat, so I sure as hell don't want that to happen now that I'm building up some stock.

[SmokeRings]

Originally Posted by Warren

Thanks for the replies guys.

I've been opening the door for a few minutes throughout the day to let cool air in. This causes the humidity to drop since it's about 40% in my office. But once it's cool I close the door and the humidifier gets it back to 70% quickly.

this happens not because your humidity is dropping like that, only because the hygrometer is most likely reading the air coming in. especially since you say it gets back to proper rh relatively quickly.
i would say what you are doing is just fine.
enjoy that walk in brother!

[orca99usa]

It is not often that you hear of someone having beetle issues but if you do and are not vigilant about it then that could happen.

I had beetles a while back and it was just a fluke that I found out. I happened to pull out an infested cigar to smoke one morning (it wasn't immediately obvious, because the damage was underneath a cedar sleeve). I cut the tip and the pre-light draw felt unusually loose, like the stick was leaking air. I slid the sleeve off and sure enough it was - from what the beetle larvae had eaten. The final toll: Five cigars lost, none of them high end (strangely, all Rocky Patel blends), and a lot of hassle cleaning the humidor and freezing everything else. It could have been far worse, and it probably would have been had I not chosen one particular Indian Tabac cigar to smoke on the way to work.

[Herf N Turf]

Something to consider... If youre cigars are staying at 70% for 18hrs a day and 50% for six, what's the big deal? What I mean is, the chances of you dropping more than a percent or two inside the actual cigar is slight. Leave the door open at night. Let well enough alone and rest easy, my brother.