Calibrating Your Hygrometer

The hygrometer in your humidor is an essential piece of equipment in keeping your cigars well maintained.  Whether it be digital or analog making sure they’re giving you an accurate reading an adjusting them is a fairly simple process.  Like seasoning your humidor there are two simple ways to make sure your hygrometer is giving you an accurate reading: the salt test or the towel test.

Towel Test

Items

• a small towel

Ensure the towel is dry and dampen it.  You don’t want it soaking wet but fairly damp.  Wrap it around your hygrometer and let it set for 45 minutes.  After the 45 minutes unwrap it and check the reading, it should read 100%.  If its reading shows anything less or more than that, you will have to manually correct your hygrometer.

Salt Test

Items

• zip lock bag

• bottle cap

• table salt

Pour the salt into the bottle cap almost to the top. Add almost a tablespoon of water to the cap to dampen it ensuring that its only damp. The water shouldn’t cover the cover the salt. Next place the cap inside the zip lock bag, add the hygrometer and seal it.  This should create a humidity level of 75% inside the bag.  Let it sit for 24 hours then check the reading. If it reads 75% then it’s reading accurately. Adjust it as needed if it’s reading more or less than that.

Adjusting the hygrometer

Analog

If it’s analog it will have a notch in the back that can be turned using a small flathead screw driver or similar item. Turn it to 100% then rerun the towel test to ensure that it is correct.

Digital

If the hygrometer is digital adjusting it will be even easier.  Press and hold the C/F button for 3 seconds to access the calibration mode. Then use the plus or minus buttons to adjust as needed and as mentioned above you can redo the towel test to make sure its reading correctly.