Learning how to adjust the humidity of your cigar humidor important in order to maintain the proper humidity level ranging from 62 to 74% humidity. Ideally, you would be able to maintain 70% humidity but this percentage is very hard for many humidor owners to maintain.
I’ll walk you through the process of adjusting the humidity level and share some tips and tricks on how you can keep the humidity level consistent in order to preserve your cigars.
Humidity Control
While learning how to precisely control the humidity levels in your humidor may not seem important, if you’ve spent top dollar investing in several premium cigars, you’ll need to learn how to care for them correctly in order to prevent mold growth or the tobacco from drying out. If you don’t have a humidor to store your cigars in, you’re essentially flushing money down the toilet. Read on to learn how to ensure your humidor is at the perfect humidity level and what you can do to adjust it if the humidity level is too high or too low.
What is the Perfect Humidity?
Some cigar enthusiasts will argue that the humidity level should be maintained as low as sixty-two percent, while others claim that seventy-two to seventy-four percent is perfect. This can vary based on the type of humidor you have, how many cigars you’re storing, and even the type of cigars.
Maintaining your humidor’s humidity level at the maximum temperature of 74 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity 62 to 74% is ideal. If you’re not sure how to maintain the temperature I recommend buying a digital thermometer and hygrometer in order to control the temperature and the humidity level inside the humidor. Models such as though Mantello 25-50 Cigar Desktop Humidor comes with all the bells and whistles you could want that will help you control and maintain the proper humidity level inside. But even the best cigar humidors can struggle from time to time with maintaining humidity levels.
Cigars should be stored in an environment that’s similar to that in which tobacco is grown. The humidor is the perfect solution. These special boxes are designed to keep your cigars at the perfect temperature and humidity level. However, they must come equipped with a device otherwise it’s just a basic wooden box.
However, even if you know how to store cigars properly problems can arise. There are many different factors that can come into play that can affect the humidity in a humidor such as the level of humidity inside your home.
To learn more about humidors and how they work, stop by and read my article on how to make your own humidor. This will give you an in-depth look at how these storage devices work, how you can make your own custom model and other great tips regarding cigar storage.
How to Increase Humidity
Learning how to troubleshoot if you run into any humidity issues with your new or older humidor is important. If you’ve noticed a change in the flavor of your cigar or how easy or difficult it is to light it, then you’ll need to get down to business correcting the humidity level in order to preserve the life of your cigars. Cigars can dry out alarmingly fast, so it’s important that you resolve this issue immediately.
Should the humidity level in your humidor start to drop it can cause the tobacco to dry out and can leave your cigars tasting flavorless. The following techniques can help to slowly bring up the humidity level in the humidor.
You’ll want to start off by wetting a paper towel using distilled water. Next, thoroughly wipe the inside of the humidifier just like you did when you first brought it home. With a new humidor, the humidity regulator can take a while to reach the ideal humidity level. By wiping down the inside of the humidor it can help it to reach the ideal humidity level faster.
Make sure you shut the door to the humidor securely every time you open it. In most cases, the doors are slightly resistant to closing so you’ll need to apply more pressure to hear it click shut. Even if the door is only open a fraction of an inch, it can allow a lot of air in and out.
Make sure you stay on top of refreshing the humidity regulator every two weeks especially during the first couple of weeks after you purchase a new model. The regulator should be filled with starter fluid when you first start using a humidor. The regulator should be refreshed with distilled water twice a month after the first 30 days.
Refresh the regulator using humidor fluid, also referred to as starter fluid every fourth time you refill it. Aside from the starter fluid, you’ll need to add more distilled water in order to maintain the effectiveness of the regulator and humidity level.
How to Lower Humidity Levels
Mold growth can be an ongoing problem if you’re overdoing it in terms of humidity. When the humidity level in the humidor is too high cigars can be difficult to light and stay lit. Additionally, it can make drawing on a cigar almost impossible. Because of this, it’s very important that you regulate the humidity in the humidor carefully and adjust it if necessary to preserve your cigars.
To decrease the humidity level inside the humidor leave the door open for a few hours. Doing so will allow a high percentage of the moisture to escape which will instantly lower the humidity level. Open the door and place it in direct sunlight in order to speed up the process.
You can also try removing some of the water from the humidor or you may even be refilling it too often. Just like refilling the humidor will maintain the humidity level, removing some of the water can lower it. As a last resort, you can also purchase some humidor beads which are designed to regulate certain levels of humidity. These beads should be soaked in distilled water with any excess water removed. They can be stored right inside the humidor and will absorb or release moisturize needed to control the humidity.
What Can Have an Impact on Humidity Levels?
Many things in the home can have an impact on the humidity level in the humidor such as leaving a window open, leaving the humidor in direct sunlight, having the heater on, or the AC. All of these factors can have a major impact and instantly change the humidity level inside the home for a short period of time, which can make it easier or even harder to maintain the perfect level of humidity inside the humidor. Additionally, there are other factors including exposure to direct sunlight or poor air circulation, both of which can have an impact on the humidity levels as well. Avoid placing the humidor near a window, heater vents, and fans. You should also pay attention to how much direct sunlight the humidor gets and move it if appropriate.
If you’re not certain that the humidor is working properly you can use a hygrometer to measure the humidity level. Fortunately many humidors come equipped was this device but if yours doesn’t you can purchase one separately and leave it inside the humidor for 3 hours and then check back to learn exactly what the humidity level is.
How to Supplement Humidity
Most models of humidifiers will come equipped with their own specific humidification device. Many of these devices are very simple and are essentially just a type of spongy material that is kept clean and wet. Top of the line models will come with a device that works efficiently when properly maintained. But if the humidity levels inside your home start to drop you’ll need to add some humidifying solution or add another device to your humidifier. This device must remain in water at all times if you are having issues combating low humidity levels.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, learning how to precisely adjust the humidor’s humidity level is crucial if you want to maintain the freshness and flavor of your cigars. In some cases, if you’ve tried many of the troubleshooting tips I’ve included here, then you may need to purchase a new model. This will be especially important if you’re storing more cigars than your humidor is able to handle.
Additionally, it’s also important to rotate the cigars around in the humidor to ensure that every cigar receives an adequate amount of humidity. By following these tips and tricks here, you now know how to adjust the humidity level of your humidor, which will work to preserve the life of your cigars for several months and beyond.