How to calibrate your hygrometer

You are buying a hygrometer and you want it to serve its role as a "humidity indicator." Be careful, this hygrometer must first be "calibrated" (or "standardized").

Check that your hygrometer is calibrated

Since not all hygrometers are "calibratable," first check if yours is!

• If it is a dial hygrometer, a small adjustment screw should be visible on the back (sometimes, you have to remove the velcro stuck on it to access it).
• If it is a digital hygrometer, check that it indeed has the "calibrate" button.

Methods to calibrate your hygrometer

The fastest method (but the least accurate) is to place your hygrometer in a damp cloth or towel for at least half an hour. Then, set the needle to 96%.

Warning: This method cannot be used to calibrate digital hygrometers.
The most effective method is the so-called 'salt method' (even though using table salt also works).

Simply place your hygrometer in an airtight plastic box (or a closed plastic bag) for 3 to 6 hours along with a quantity of damp salt (amount varies depending on the size of your calibration box).

Once the waiting time has elapsed, simply press the "calibrate" button, which will calibrate (as its name indicates) your hygrometer to 75% humidity. For hygrometers with needle, you will then need to turn the screw located on the back to reach 75%.

Now that your hygrometer(s) is/are calibrated, you can place them in your cigar humidors.

Rehumidifying your hygrometer

The hygrometer will then indicate when it is necessary to re-humidify your humidifier(s) in order to maintain the desired humidity for your cigars.

So, at what humidity should cigars be kept?

It all depends on each person.

Personally, I maintain different humidity levels in my different humidors. I keep my Cuban and Dominican cigars at a humidity level close to 72%, while my Nicaraguan cigar humidor shows a humidity of 78%. I prefer to smoke my cigars from this region "more humid." But again, these are personal tastes...

Thierry