Hey guys, I asked this in my First Humidor Setup thread but no one replied and I'm looking for some quick responses on what to do. I recently got a small wooden humidor. I seasoned it the past two days and did a salt test with my hygrometer. The salt test results were 75F and 71% humidity. I adjusted the humidity level but the temperature is high because that is the temperature of my room. I have the hygrometer in the humidor now and it is at 75F still and 68% humidity. So the humidity level is perfect but the temp is a little high. Is the temp a problem? Or can it stay at that temp as long as the humidity is fine? Also I have no cigars in my humidor yet either so once I add a bunch i'm sure the numbers will change and have to be adjusted. Any input would be great.
Hygrometer Question
- Thread starter bmd1191
- Start date
Temps above 74 can lead to cigar tobacco beetles hatching. Humidity at 68% (or less) is about where most people keep there sticks.
Any way to lower the temp? AC in a room better than others? Basement?
If not, you may want to freeze any sticks you plan on keeping in there to kill anything before it could hatch on you.
Any way to lower the temp? AC in a room better than others? Basement?
If not, you may want to freeze any sticks you plan on keeping in there to kill anything before it could hatch on you.
This.
Beetles will ruin your day. 75 seems high. Is that how hot you typically keep your house?
dscl
BoM October '14
So long story short prolonged temps over 73* can lead to Cigar Beetles. For a lot more detailed info check out one of the many articles on the subject. Here's one: http://www.stogiefresh.info/edu-humidors/articles/tobacco-beetles.html
Thanks for the info guys. I didn't even know tobacco beetles existed. I'm going to try and move the humidor to a cooler place. I also have a freezer in the basement that is super cold so i'll put whatever cigars I get in there for a day or two before I put them in the humidor. Hopefully I can solve this problem somehow. My house always is around 75 or 76 as anything lower and it is freezing. Once winter comes hopefully it will be easier.
There seems to be so many varying opinions as to what temperature is high enough to worry about. I've read testemonies from brothers who've kept their sticks at 75°, +/- a few, for prolonged periods (years) with no issues. That being said, I have plans to move to a wineador in the near future. Seems to me, that's the best way to control the variable of temperature. YMMV.
dscl
BoM October '14
A lot of the companies fumigate their tobaccos and also cold storage their cigars. So depending on who you buy from you could never have a problem if temps stay high, but one bad crop or cigar from a manufacturer who doesn't employ these practices and you could have a disaster. I think this is the primary reason around all the confusion and why some guys have no problems, but others do.
I recently graduated to a wineador for this reason, temps in the mid 70's and not wanting to be worried about beetles. I have read the temps need to be above 80 as well as 75 but never had any beetle issues being in the mid 70's for well over a year.
Things will stabilize more once you begin to fill your humidor but the ambient temperature is the ambient temperature. You can only do so much to cool an entire room. I found that my den closet was the most stable environment and was least susceptible to temperature swings. The coolest and most consistent temperature in your home will be the best spot. You want to stay away from locations that are exposed to sunlight during the day which will raise the temp. Wineadors do a great job at regulating both temperature and RH.
Things will stabilize more once you begin to fill your humidor but the ambient temperature is the ambient temperature. You can only do so much to cool an entire room. I found that my den closet was the most stable environment and was least susceptible to temperature swings. The coolest and most consistent temperature in your home will be the best spot. You want to stay away from locations that are exposed to sunlight during the day which will raise the temp. Wineadors do a great job at regulating both temperature and RH.
Be lucky you can get Temps even that low. Here in AZ I can't put my house below 76 or the AC runs constantly. In the summer it's normal for mine to read 82F and 68% humidity. I haven't had an issues and sometimes employ the freezing method to rid potential beetles.