Any ideas on what I might be doing wrong?

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by Diths0er

Yup, I'm ordering a digital hygrometer this weekend. Right now though, I'm using multiple analogs in the same humidor for accuracy, and they all tell me my 500 count humidor (stacked to the gills) ranges between 65-70, but is usually right at 67. They certainly smoke much better a few ticks below 70, but in our house, I have to keep dry silica gel in the humidor at all times to keep the humidity below 75-80! And that's all year 'round. Just opening it causes a three to five RH spike (sometimes more) that takes around twelve hours to normalize. The Rocky Vintage that I'm enjoying right now though just doesn't have that same 'wow' factor as the earlier ones that I smoked when the box was only a few weeks off of the truck. It seems to be burning alright, though.

Multiple hygrometers are irrelevant unless they are calibrated. Even analog hygrometers can be calibrated, they have been used for nearly 100 years without issue. Digitals available can me more accurate, but also only if calibrated regularly. 3-5% is not a spike and is nothing to worry about. 10-20% is a spike.

70% Rh indoors seems exceedingly high even if you are running a humidifier connected to your central heating/air. If you are only using silica gel I suspect your Rh is actually much lower than you are measuring. Invest $20 in a 1-2oz tube of HeartfeltIndustries beads, most here like 65%.

Originally Posted by bobarian

Multiple hygrometers are irrelevant unless they are calibrated. Even analog hygrometers can be calibrated, they have been used for nearly 100 years without issue. Digitals available can me more accurate, but also only if calibrated regularly. 3-5% is not a spike and is nothing to worry about. 10-20% is a spike.

70% Rh indoors seems exceedingly high even if you are running a humidifier connected to your central heating/air. If you are only using silica gel I suspect your Rh is actually much lower than you are measuring. Invest $20 in a 1-2oz tube of HeartfeltIndustries beads, most here like 65%.

Shoot, I'm using salt-calibrated analogs on every level, and without the silica, I can't get the RH below 75 in the winter, and in the summer, I remember it was at 80 at one point before I started using the silica. Our house is a simple farm house constructed 125+ years ago at the base of two small hills, where the water level is quite high. We've had mold problems in the past, and the (unfinished) basement is always musty. Before I started using straight silica, my sticks would always tunnel like crazy and have to constantly be re-lit, not to mention taste really acrid. I've noticed a TREMENDOUS improvement both in burn and flavour with the silica in place, and I still occasionally pull a stick that acts like it's a bit too moist, but I'm still getting an average RH of 67. I thought that maybe my silica, which is un-moistened, 100% silica from kitty litter was absorbing the natural tobacco oils, since it quickly turns a brownish color in the humidor, but others have said on this site that is normal and nothing to be concerned about.

[kaisersozei]

Originally Posted by Diths0er

Shoot, I'm using salt-calibrated analogs on every level, and without the silica, I can't get the RH below 75 in the winter, and in the summer, I remember it was at 80 at one point before I started using the silica. Our house is a simple farm house constructed 125+ years ago at the base of two small hills, where the water level is quite high.

I don't have anything to add that hasn't already been recommended, I'm just marveling over 75% RH in the winter--I struggle to maintain 20% around here. I think the only time I could get 75% in the winter was when I lived in New Orleans!

[weak_link]

Originally Posted by bobarian

Multiple hygrometers are irrelevant unless they are calibrated. Even analog hygrometers can be calibrated, they have been used for nearly 100 years without issue. Digitals available can me more accurate, but also only if calibrated regularly. 3-5% is not a spike and is nothing to worry about. 10-20% is a spike.

70% Rh indoors seems exceedingly high even if you are running a humidifier connected to your central heating/air. If you are only using silica gel I suspect your Rh is actually much lower than you are measuring. Invest $20 in a 1-2oz tube of HeartfeltIndustries beads, most here like 65%.

Everything this guy said, he knows stuff.

Originally Posted by weak_link

Everything this guy said, he knows stuff.