It has been a real bad couple of days

[funkejj]

I got back from vacation over the weekend and walked into my humidor to replace the left over and newly acquired cigars I got while in Mexico to find that approx 80ish sticks not in celo were covered in mold. I promptly looked at the hygrometer to find that the humidity was 80%. Looked at the humidifier to find it was raised. So here came the first episode of me freaking out.

I called my friends that house sat for me and asked them if they turned up the humidity control and he stated well I went to get a cigar and it felt dry so I turned it up thinking that the humidity was low. So after telling him what the outcome was he felt real bad. I cleaned all of the sticks. I had to pitch 15 or so with 2 of them padrons serie 1926 which is the second time I freaked out. So I learned two very valuable lessons this week. First don't pull the celo. And second is that when someone watches the humidor while you are gone put tape over the controls so they can not ruin your collection. God both my wife and I are still sick over this.


Jason

 

[Panicbound]

That sux!!! I hope they are not your friends any longer!!!!

 

[blooz4u]

Ugh... That's terrible man.

Note to self: Lock up the humi while on vacation!

 

[funkejj]

I told him oh have a cigar. And if the water gets low then fill it up. This is the first time in the year and a half we have had the walk in in the house that I went thru 2 gallons of water in a week and found it really strange. We are still friends but he feels horrible. He went and called my wife and asked what all had to be thrown away so he could replace it and she said don't worry about it (they don't have much money in this economy). I have learned many things from this. Like no one enters with out me there to make sure they don't change something. My only one real question is the cigars that are salvageable are real wet should I dry box them for a day or two before reintroducing them to the humidor? All cleaned up well and only threw away the ones with mold in the foot. I just don't know. I want to cry over this.

Jason

 

[Mitch]

That sucks.

 

[Electric Sheep]

The cigars are probably just fine. Hell, I've seen them wet like that in the walk-in humidors in several shops, even with mold.

Cleaning is probably just fine.

 

[tedski]

Seems strange that mold would grow that fast, especially this time of year when temps are cooler. How long were you gone? Is your walk-in heated?

Assuming you have digital hygrometers, why was your friend thinking that the humidity was low? And if he's such an expert that he can assess proper humidity from feeling one cigar, why would he fiddle with your humidifier settings and then not recheck a day or two later?

Lots of things just seem odd here ...

 

[cashedash]

Seems strange that mold would grow that fast, especially this time of year when temps are cooler. How long were you gone? Is your walk-in heated?

Assuming you have digital hygrometers, why was your friend thinking that the humidity was low? And if he's such an expert that he can assess proper humidity from feeling one cigar, why would he fiddle with your humidifier settings and then not recheck a day or two later?

Lots of things just seem odd here ...

I agree. I just could not emagine suck a horrid experience. uhg:bigeyes:

 

[funkejj]

Seems strange that mold would grow that fast, especially this time of year when temps are cooler. How long were you gone? Is your walk-in heated?

Assuming you have digital hygrometers, why was your friend thinking that the humidity was low? And if he's such an expert that he can assess proper humidity from feeling one cigar, why would he fiddle with your humidifier settings and then not recheck a day or two later?

Lots of things just seem odd here ...

The walk in in is the basement. The summer time it stay around 70ish give or take a degree. In the winter we just keep a light on to keep it above 60 degrees. I do not know what the thermostat was set while we were gone. My humidifier was on 80 and the light was on when we got home. There is one hygrometer in there and it sits on the top shelf which is typically 5% dryer than the lower shelf's. He stated he picked out a cigar and it felt hard and dry so he turned up the humidity to 80 and forgot to turn it back down this was 2 days in to our trip. The cigars that were affected were on the bottom two shelf's of the humidor. I assure you that there was no mold before leaving as I snagged several cigars for my trip the day we left and came home to mold on the unwrapped cigars. I do not know what happened as I was gone. But I assure you it will NEVER happen again. This just blows. Again my friend is a idiot and thinks because he has a desktop at home and he has been smoking for a couple of months he is a expert. I still ask stupid questions and I have been smoking for several years.


Jason

 

[cashedash]

Yea I would not even think of messing with someones RH. No way son.

 

[jwintosh]

total bummer....

 

[GoingPostal]

That sucks but at least he is appologetic. I would never adjust someones humidity level. heck for all he knew maybe you liked a drier smoke. Well i'm sure he feels bad but now you know to leave specific instructions when you go away.

 

[funkejj]

I have learned to keep things locked and set things to be dryer to prevent this when we go on vacation. I have the humidor back in a homeostasis now after 3 days. And tedski I did some research after reading your reply and being that the state I live in is routinely over 90% humidity and the conditions that I came back to in my humidor it is possible that the mold started and grew to as much as there was in 72 hours or less. So I am sure the light was left on and the heat in the house was on. Humidity in the humidor was 81% when I got home so it was wet so this was prime breading ground. I just find my self fortunate that most of the cigars that had to be parted with were cheaper cigars like RJY's I bought my first year smoking before I realized I didn't care for them. All and all the only loss I care about is 4 sticks but it could have been tons worse. I am not looking for pity just had a bad day and wished to share it and a reminder to people to watch out when they leave humidors for long periods of time


Jason

 

[tedski]

Yes, the high humidity + heat from the light bulb would definitely make a friendly environment for mold. Since you have a walk-in at home, you must have a significant investment in cigars. You might consider having a more automated humidification system. Also, replace the incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent.

And let a non-smoking friend house-sit on your next vacation ... :grin:

 

[Andytex]

That sucks. I can't imagine messing with another mans levels, thats like touching his wife.

 

[Jfire]

I have learned to keep things locked and set things to be dryer to prevent this when we go on vacation. I have the humidor back in a homeostasis now after 3 days. And tedski I did some research after reading your reply and being that the state I live in is routinely over 90% humidity and the conditions that I came back to in my humidor it is possible that the mold started and grew to as much as there was in 72 hours or less. So I am sure the light was left on and the heat in the house was on. Humidity in the humidor was 81% when I got home so it was wet so this was prime breading ground. I just find my self fortunate that most of the cigars that had to be parted with were cheaper cigars like RJY's I bought my first year smoking before I realized I didn't care for them. All and all the only loss I care about is 4 sticks but it could have been tons worse. I am not looking for pity just had a bad day and wished to share it and a reminder to people to watch out when they leave humidors for long periods of time
Jason

And what sticks would that be my good friend?
:innocent:

 

[funkejj]

2 Padrons and 2 Fuente's no big can always be replaced. Lyndsay just says I told you that you should have locked it before we left. Oh well I went out tonight and bought some more sticks online to make me feel a bit better.

Jason

 

[jmimac351]

Jason, I am getting ready to convert a walk-in closet to a humidor. Which humidifier do you have and are you pleased with it otherwise?

Thanks.

 

[Treinenwj]

Sorry to hear about that man! I hope your vacation was good otherwise.

 

[strife]

That sucks. I can't imagine messing with another mans levels, thats like touching his wife.

You obviously haven't met my wife.