low humidity

[Schecter30]

I seasoned my 40ct desktop humi when I got it and my digital hygrometer is calibrated. I'm using the puck-50 70% beads but the humidity only stays around 60-63% tops. Is there a leak? Do I need more beads? Should I season it again?

 

[basso4735]

How long did you season it for and how?

Try putting a flashlight in the humi in a dark room and look for any light coming out of the seal. If there is, you have a leak.

 

[icehog3]

In the winter the beads often need to be recharged more often, are they white or clear right now?

 

[Schecter30]

How long did you season it for and how?

Try putting a flashlight in the humi in a dark room and look for any light coming out of the seal. If there is, you have a leak.

OKay, Would I have to season it again after taking all the cigars out and doing this?

 

[Schecter30]

In the winter the beads often need to be recharged more often, are they white or clear right now?

They are clear because I just recharged them (still just reads 60)....the thing is they get white after like a week and a half. Is this two quick or normal? Do you think it would help if I threw a water pillow or two in there....I have some laying around.

 

[Twill413]

They are clear because I just recharged them (still just reads 60)....the thing is they get white after like a week and a half. Is this two quick or normal? Do you think it would help if I threw a water pillow or two in there....I have some laying around.

Throwing in a water pillow couldn't hurt. Depending on humidity during the season and overall condition of the cigars coupled with humidor seal quality, charging that often isn't too abnormal. I don't personally see anything wrong with 60-63, but how are the cigars smoking is really the major concern. I shoot for anywhere between 60-70. The vino is at 68, and the desktop is at 63.

 

[Scimmia]

It could be any of the things that you mentioned. You don't need to re-season after doing the flashlight test, the point of seasoning is to get water into the wood, so that it isn't soaking up more moisture from your cigars. Once you have it seasoned, you shouldn't have to do it again unless you leave it totally dry for a while (like weeks). If your humi is well seasoned and you don't have any correctable leaks, adding a water pillow or getting more beads isn't a bad idea. You will always lose some moisture through small leaks and even through the wood itself. If the amount of beads you have isn't able to release enough moisture quickly enough, you need to find another way to provide moisture.

I've actually started recharging my beads using a water pillow. When my humidity starts to drop, I just soak a pillow with distilled water and toss it in the humi.

 

[Dgar]

Add a few water pillows, if the RH comes up and stays steady you'll know the humidors seal is okay, at that point you might want to add more beads.

You might re-check your hyro, you mentioned it was calibrated but it might not hurt to check it again.

Even at 60-63RH your cigars wil be okay, I like to keep mine a little higher, but you should be fine.

 

[fizguy]

Another comment: if you check the humidity too often you end up letting a lot of dry air into the humi. It's the "watched pot never boils" syndrome. Like others have said, toss a water pillow in, or get a bead tube in addition to the puck, then relax and don't check the humidity every hour.

I only know this from experience, btw! :tu

 

[ChokeOnSmoke]

Where you live (and what season it is) is critical to how often you recharge your beads. I live in Wisconsin and it is dryer that the Sahara Desert in the winter. I recharge my beads every week easily (probably could do it every 5 days). In the humid Midwest summers, not nearly as often. This is consistent between both my humidors so I'm confident it's not a leak or improper seasoning issue.

 

[n2advnture]

I seasoned my 40ct desktop humi when I got it and my digital hygrometer is calibrated. I'm using the puck-50 70% beads but the humidity only stays around 60-63% tops. Is there a leak? Do I need more beads? Should I season it again?

How long did you season the new humidor?

What are the dimensions? (The Puck-50 will regulate up to 405 cubic inches)

They are clear because I just recharged them (still just reads 60)....the thing is they get white after like a week and a half. Is this two quick or normal?

This is a bit quick. I suspect that either the humidor did season entirely or that the dimensions are larger than what the Puck-50 will regulate up to. (The Puck-100 will regulate up to 1050 cubic inches).

FYI - You can't over humidify with the RH Beads (the Puck-ifier using RH Beads inside). Having more than needed will increase the duration between needing to rehydrate the RH Beads.

Also, adding new cigars can also lower your RH level as dry cigars can/do absorb RH.

I hope this helps and thanks again for the support, I greatly appreciate

~Mark

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[ekash73]

Try putting your humidor in a cooler. My buddy's desktop was reading 52% with 2 tubes of beads and he tried this trick. It is now a solid 65%.(which is what his beads are)

 

[RonC]

I agree with adding some Water Pillows for supplemental humidification. I had some samples that were sitting around since the summer. I have a cheap desktop that was struggling once winter hit. I added 2 Pillows, and the humidity went right up. The bovedas that I am using prevented the humidity from creeping too high. Turned out that the Bovedas and Water Pillows were a good combo. It worked so good that I decided to sell the Pillows.