Hygrometers and Humidifiers
Cigar Hygrometers and Cigar Humidifiers
Hygrometers are an essential part of cigar humidors. In its most basic definition, a hygrometer may be defined as a gauge that is used to measure the levels of humidity inside of cigar humidors. They come in two different styles: digital and analog. On the whole, digital hygrometers are considered to be the more accurate and reliable of the two styles. Regardless of which type of hygrometer you use inside of your cigar humidors, it is going to be important for you to know how to calibrate a hygrometer to ensure its accuracy. The following steps will teach you how to do so:
Luckily, as nature would have it, when salt and water are in a saturated solution at equilibrium, the resultant humidity is 75%. This gives a fantastic reference point to calibrate our hygrometer. There is an easy way to determine if your hygrometer is accurate. Here's the procedure you should use: you need a ziploc bag, a screw-on bottle cap (or other small container) a small amount of salt (regular table salt), and water.
1) Place the salt in the bottle cap (or other small container).
2) Dampen the salt with water. Do not put so much in that the salt gets "sloppy".
3) You want a damp pile of salt in the bottle cap.
4) Place both the hygrometer and the bottle cap full of damp salt in the ziploc bag and seal it well. (It isimportant not to let air in or out while the test is going on.) Keep it like this for over 8 hours.
After 8 hours in the damp salt environment, the actual humidity inside the bag will be 75%. Compare it to your hygrometer, your hygrometer should also read 75%. If not, you will then know exactly how far off your hygrometer is. If it's off, note the amount and direction that it actually reads, and be sure to add or subtract that amount when reading the hygrometer. If the hygrometer has a control to adjust it (either the needle or the display), you can set the hygrometer to 75% immediately after the test.
You should salt test your hygrometer every 6 months or so to be sure of the accuracy.
Humidifiers are a two-way system, meaning they emit and absorb moisture to maintain 70% relative humidity. Varying humidity levels in a humidor - too much or too little - can destroy cigars quickly, so consistency is most important in preserving and protecting your expensive cigars.
