Switched to Heartfelt beads, can't get humidity above 40%. Please help

[.jacob]

Hi,

I switched to HF 65% beads a week ago and since then I haven't been able to get my humidity about 40%. I read the instructions by Viper about getting the beads started and I gave them a healthy spraying resulting in 80% turning clear.

I've been using the humi for ~2yrs and have not had a problem maintaining 60-70% humidity. The box is 14" x 9" x 6.5". I bought the large round cigar humidifier (clear plastic disc).

Please help guys. My babies are drying out and I'm not pleased.

Jacob

 

[Mitch]

Start by going back to your old method of humidification that was working and put your beads in a large ziplock with a hygrometer to see what happens. This will get your cigars pointed in the right direction and figure out if the beads are the problem or something else. Beads are usualy very reliable.

 

[ezrider]

Good advice from Mitch................:smile:

 

[sportsmedjosh]

Where are you from Jacob? I know recently I've been having problems with my beads as well, but I think it's a result of central air. I've since took our my beads and been using solution for the time being. If you have a cooler location try moving it.

 

[.jacob]

I'm just outside of Boston. My box is placed on a book shelf not in the direct flow of any hot or cold air.

Mitch, thanks for the advice. I gave the humidifier a few sprays and placed it in a ziploc with the hygrometer. It's been creeping up steadily for the past few minutes. At 56% now.

 

[RonC]

here is the process that i would go through if it was me.

put your cigars in a tupperware container along the the Heartfelt beads and your hygrometer. if the humidity climbs up to the 65% mark, you can concentrate on your humidor. maybe it needs to be reseasoned, maybe it needs a little bit of supplemental humidification.

next step is to calibrate your hygrometer using a Boveda and an airtight kitchen canister.

once you are 100% positive n the accuracy of your hygro, then you can start finding out what is wrong.

BTW, Heartfelt beads are the original and best beads out there. I would never buy from another company, to0 many knockoffs and wannabes.

 

[.jacob]

Wow, what a great community! My second post and in not even 5 minutes I received a lot of helpful suggestions. Thanks everyone.

I moved as many cigars as I could fit in some tupperware with the beads and hygrometer. I'll see how it levels out in a few days.

For now I think it's a good time to re-season the humidor. I'll leave a few shot glasses of distilled water in the humidor while the cigars recharge.

 

[RonC]

seasoning. get a new non scented kitchen sponge. soak it in distilled water. shake it out a bit so its still pretty wet but not dripping water. get a plastic baggie or small plate and put it in the bottom of your humi. put the sponge on the baggie or plate. you do not want the wet sponge to come in direct contact with the bottom of your humi. close it up, and do not open for a week. after 1 week, open it up. if the sponge is till damp, your humidor should be seasoned. if the sponge is dry, it means the humi has sucked up all the water, and needs more. or your humidor leaks. if the sponge is dry, repeat the process.

 

[cf2112]

When I season a humidor I place a shot glass (or two) of water with the beads in until the humidity climbs to 80% then let it stay in the 75-80% range for a couple days. Take out the shot glass(es) let the humidty settle for a couple days, if it stays in the desired range (mine is 65-68%) I put in cigars. If it drops below that I put the shot glass back in and start the process again. It can take a couple weeks but once seasoned it will stay constant with little maintance.

PS I have remote hydro's which limit the opening of the humidor.

 

[RonC]

When I season a humidor I place a shot glass (or two) of water with the beads in until the humidity climbs to 80% then let it stay in the 75-80% range for a couple days. Take out the shot glass(es) let the humidty settle for a couple days, if it stays in the desired range (mine is 65-68%) I put in cigars. If it drops below that I put the shot glass back in and start the process again. It can take a couple weeks but once seasoned it will stay constant with little maintance.

PS I have remote hydro's which limit the opening of the humidor.

yours is the best way, but i had to give the simple newbie version

 

[smokemifugotem]

I had the same issue...my beads did not take for about a week...then rock solid 70! I thought that it was my wine cooler...but it finally took!

 

[.jacob]

PS I have remote hydro's which limit the opening of the humidor.

What is a good and inexpensive remote hydro and where can it be purchased?

I wish there was a Bluetooth option where it'd shoot the readings to my computer. That'd be slick!

 

[sportsmedjosh]

What is a good and inexpensive remote hydro and where can it be purchased?

I wish there was a Bluetooth option where it'd shoot the readings to my computer. That'd be slick!

:agreeclen see Ron!

 

[RonC]

:agreeclen see Ron!

we dont have one yet.
its been a thought, but it is overkill

 

[Lorax429]

I use to use just the beads and had similar issues in the winter when my central heat started running. Dried out the whole house really and the humidor was effected too. Now I use the beads in combination with an Oasis Plus and it has been pretty much maintenance free even in winter. The Oasis kicks out moisture when it is needed. If it starts to creep too high the beads pull it out. At least that is what I assume is happening. However it works, it's working...

 

[.jacob]

24 hour update:

Cigars have been sitting as pictured for 24 hours now. Humidity began at 40% and crept up to a peak of 51%. The temperature has been a solid 69-70* F. For the bast 12 hours it's been fluctuating between 47 and 51% spending most of it's time at 48%. The Tupperdor is totally full.

Before going in the Tupperdor I recharged the beads. Given how dry these sticks were before going in the Tupperdor, when you do you guys expect I'll have to recharge the beads, if at all, during the next week while my humidor is re-seasoned? I haven't opened and I don't want to open the Tupperdor to check on the beads. I'm a bit surprised that the humidity hasn't gone up faster.


(Ignore the carnage on the Cohiba, :dunno: )

 

[sportsmedjosh]

Poor Cohiba, I would suggest picking up a couple of boveda packs for the time being until you can get your humidor back in line. No reason to put those cigars though trauma.

 

[.jacob]

The top Tupperdor is full of cigars and a large Heartfelt bead humidifier. Why would I require boveda packs as well?

 

[RonC]

jacob, it really starts with making sure that your hygrometer is accurate. because it is a digital doesnt mean it is accurate. you need to get yourself a Boveda or calibration kit asap. once we know if your hygro is accurate, we can easily fix your problem

 

[RonC]

The top Tupperdor is full of cigars and a large Heartfelt bead humidifier. Why would I require boveda packs as well?

here is why. with the bovedas, they come premixed at the factory. that leaves out all user error. while beads do work awesome, there are times when people screw them up. too much water, too little water, not enough surface area of the beads exposed so they work too slowly.

if you had a boveda, within 48 hours we would know if your hygro was accurate. the boveda in the tupperware would bring your cigars back up too the proper humidity level with no work on your part. a Boveda is the most mistake proof way to humidify your cigars and calibrate a hygro.

and there are plenty of people out there who will use Bovedas along with beads, crystal gel, or even electronic humidifiers. its like a safey valve in case something else doesnt work as expected.