How to Calibrate a Hygrometer

Digital  or Analog  hygrometers are used to measure humidity levels inside of humidors. Digital hygrometers are usually more accurate and reliable than analog. Regardless of what kind, it is important to maintain a humidity level of 68% to 72% inside of a humidor to properly preserve and age cigars. In order to monitor and adjust the humidity level inside of your humidor, the reading on the hygrometer must be somewhat accurate (plus or minus 2%).

How to Test and Calibrate a Hygrometer

Fill a milk bottle cap or other small container with salt, and add a few drops of water (not enough to dissolve the salt).

Put the cap inside of a baggie or plastic container along with your hygrometer, and seal the bag.

Wait 6 hours, then check the reading on your hygrometer without opening the bag (or immediately after removing). If the reading is 75%, then your hygrometer is accurate and no adjustment is required.

If the reading is not precisely 75%, then adjust the hygrometer to 75% by turning the screw or dial on the back. This must be done immediately after removing from the bag or container, before room conditions cause the reading to change.

If there is no screw (or dial) to recalibrate your hygrometer, then you will just have to remember to add or subtract the difference between the test reading and 75%, in order to determine the actual humidity level inside of your humidor. For example, if your hygrometer test reading was 80%, then subtract 5% from the readings you get inside of your humidor, to determine the actual levels of humidity (e.g. a reading of 70% inside your humidor equals an actual humidity level of 65%).

Hygrometers should be tested at least once a year, and recalibrated if necessary. When I tested two of my analog hygrometers at the same time (see photo), the cheap plastic one measured 12% under while the better chrome model measured 2% over. Although I recalibrated both models, I plan to replace the cheap one with a new digital hygrometer. If you invested in a good humidor, do not risk storing and aging your cigars improperly by relying on a cheap or faulty hygrometer.<

Cigar Bloom and Cigar Mold

This post deals with Cigar Bloom and Cigar Mold. 

Bloom refers to the slow rising of "essential oils" to the surface of a cigar. It first shows up as tiny (almost microscopic) crystals on the surface, and can eventually make a cigar look slightly "dusty" with a whitish finish on the surface. It's harmless; in fact, some prefer to see a little bloom as an indication of strong taste. (Partagas anyone?)

Mold, however, is a fungus, growing on overly humidified cigars. You will recognize it as white, gray, or blue-green "fuzzy patches," with a definite dimension to them. Mold spreads by spores, so it's important to get rid of any moldy cigars immediately, before they contaminate your other cigars or the mold gets into the wood of your humidor. Mold appears when the humidity passes 85 percent. Hence the importance of keeping your cigars at the correct humidity. Something our own Awesome Humidor Solution does very well!

Saving the moldy cigars is going to be tough. Wipe off the contaminated cigars (contaminated ones only! Don't spread the mold!) with a clean paper towel, slightly moistened with distilled water. Separate the contaminated cigars from the others. 

Make some kind of temporary humidor for those contaminated ones (Tupperware works well), and put it in the refrigerator. Refrigeration will dry them out without a source of humidity. After some time (depends on the effected cigar and amount of mold) the mold should be gone. Re-humidify them as you would new cigars (ie for about a week - month). Make sure you do this in a separate container. If using the same Tupperware container make sure you give it a very good wash first.

I haven't had any moldy cigars, however have opened some cigars to see them with the white and fluffy patches. The first time you may freak out a bit, however this is perfectly normal (the freaking out that is) as the fluff seems to be an unnatural addition to a nice cigar.