Humidifiers

Introduction

Typically, passive humidifiers consist of a plastic or metal case, containing a green, florist oasis, foam element. A grill, grate or cutout in the front of the case allows the humidity to escape.

Humidifiers of this type are often referred to as "Credo's" after the French company, Credo™, a well known manufacturer and considered by many to produce the best example of this type of humidifier. (Although, you can buy branded Credo™ humidifiers, they are more expensive than the unbranded items produced cheaply in the Far East, which are regularly supplied as standard equipment with many new humidors.)

More recently, other products have been marketed for use as cigar humidification devices. The best, (in our opinion), are using acrylic polymer crystals instead of a sponge or oasis foam element. This type of humidifier is marketed under several names. "Cigar Keeper" is well known in the USA. We have also tested models from Passatore™ and Adorini™, which we have found to be satisfactory. (It is also possible to purchase the crystals and convert an oasis foam type humidifier to use them, assuming the humidifier casing can be opened without damaging it. More on this later.)

Acrylic Polymer Crystals

Acrylic polymer crystals have the ability to absorb a huge quantity, (approx. 400 times), of water relative to their weight, acting like a sponge to draw the water in and releasing it slowly over a period of time to regulate the humidity within a container or humidor.

The use of acrylic polymer crystals has many benefits:

• Self-regulation and adjustment, keeping humidity at a constant level (70-72%), using only distilled water. (Unlike oasis or sponge based humidifiers which require an agent - propylene glycol - to regulate humidity.)
• Less frequent monitoring, maintenance and re-filling compared to humidifiers with a sponge or oasis element.
• Faster regulation, quickly offsetting changes in humidity when compared to a sponge or oasis humidifier. eg. when the cabinet door or humidor lid is opened.
• Less likely to suffer from bacterial contamination.

Choosing and Using

Choose a suitable humidifier for the size of your humidor, or perhaps use several smaller ones. eg. one per shelf in a cabinet.

Oasis foam humidifiers require an initial charge with a humidifier solution which can be bought already prepared or made by mixing equal parts of distilled water and propylene glycol (PG). The PG acts as a regulator, releasing moisture when the ambient humidity falls below 70% and absorbing it back when the humidity climbs above 70%. After a period of time, depending on the size of the humidor, the humidifier will have released all of the available water it held and will need to be refilled. It will still contain PG so should be refilled with distilled water only. (The PG evaporates at a much lower rate than water.) If the humidifier element is saturated with PG it will have very little capacity left for distilled water, but can always be rinsed to get rid of excess ammounts.

In any case, we recommend that once a year the oasis element should be thoroughly rinsed with distilled water, left to dry, before being recharged again with a 50/50 mix of distilled water and propylene glyycol.

Acryl Polymer humidifiers should only ever be filled and re-filled with distilled water.

If you have any questions, please contact us. We are always happy to be of assistance.