Humidity Control Question

[Tidefan73]

Ok, so I have an Aristocrat with the Set-it-and-Forget-It system and I LOVE it, but I've been having issues keeping the humidity down. Let me explain...

Humidor is in my bar, in the basement. During the winter, rock solid at 65%. During the summer, it gets up to 70-72%, which I don't want. Temp down in the basement stays around 74* or so but I don't know what to do to keep the humidity in the humidor down.

Would getting enough Heartfelt beads for the size of the humidor and putting them in dry help keep the excess humidity at bay?

Granted, the smokes getting to 70% isn't the end of the world, but I want them at 65%...to me, they're better that way.

Any suggestions?
T-

[Chainsaw13]

Have you looked at the HCM beads? Those might work better for your needs, and are easy to reset the humidity set point.

Cheaper solution might be just some dessicant packs, like used in gun cabinets/safes.

[yourchoice]

Beads might work, but I'd suggest getting a dehumidifier set up in your finished basement if you haven't already. That high of humidity could be troublesome from an indoor air quality standpoint and could allow the growth of mold/mildew, etc. in your home. Does your basement smell musty at all?

I aim for 60% RH or lower in my finished basement. I set up a dehumidifier with a hose running into my sump pump so I don't have to empty the reservoir every other day. I would pull the hygrometer out of the humidor for a night and see how high the RH is in the room.

And, FWIW, my end table humidor is also in my basement. I have very little trouble maintaining 65%, only needing to address my humidification system (partial active (Oasis) and beads (HCM)) monthly, at most. During the winter I add DW approximately every two weeks.

Good luck!

[Tidefan73]

Originally Posted by yourchoice

Beads might work, but I'd suggest getting a dehumidifier set up in your finished basement if you haven't already. That high of humidity could be troublesome from an indoor air quality standpoint and could allow the growth of mold/mildew, etc. in your home. Does your basement smell musty at all?

Nope, not musty at all. I've thought about a dehumidifier, but my basement is, um, pretty big. Might need more than one. I'll look into it.

[Tidefan73]

Any one have recommendations on dehumidifiers for basements?

[yourchoice]

Originally Posted by Tidefan73

Any one have recommendations on dehumidifiers for basements?

I'd have to look at which exact model I have, but I'm pretty sure mine is a GE.

As for more than one, there is some validity to that. I should probably add a second one myself. My brother (whose basement is generally more damp than mine) has three in his basement.

[bobarian]

Check the RH in a few random boxes. The actual RH of your cigars may be lower than 70%.

[Wharf Rat]

The thing to keep in mind is that beads can remove some moisture from your 'dor, but they can't do it continuously. They will eventually saturate. You need the air around the 'dor to have a lower RH than you desire inside it. Then, you can add some moisture to the beads as needed.

[Tidefan73]

Originally Posted by Wharf Rat

The thing to keep in mind is that beads can remove some moisture from your 'dor, but they can't do it continuously. They will eventually saturate. You need the air around the 'dor to have a lower RH than you desire inside it. Then, you can add some moisture to the beads as needed.

Figured beads wasn't going to be the answer, just a thought. Dehumidifier for the basement, or 4 will be.

[Tidefan73]

Update...

Ordered a dehumidifier, been running for a week set at 40% in the maintenance room next to my bar, humidity in the humidor 65%!!! WOOT!!

Thanks for the suggestion Joel!!

[yourchoice]

Originally Posted by Tidefan73

Update...

Ordered a dehumidifier, been running for a week set at 40% in the maintenance room next to my bar, humidity in the humidor 65%!!! WOOT!!

Thanks for the suggestion Joel!!

Glad it seems to be helping out! 40% is lower than I have mine set. If I set mine at 40, I don't think it would shut off until Thanksgiving!

I've kept my cigars in my basement and in my study and in my bedroom and the one thing that works in every location is ---wait for it--kitty litter. It works and w/o going into the debate of this over any other media it's cheaper by far than anything on the market but some would rather pay a ton of money to arrive at the same destination and that's everybodys prerogative. I've done many types of humidor and the one constant of this method is it's a set it and forget it media. JMHO