Test a Hygrometer

If you're a cigar aficionado, you need a hygrometer to make sure you're storing your wares at the correct humidity. A hygrometer is an instrument that is used to measure humidity in cigar humidors as well as greenhouses, incubators, museums, and more. To ensure that your hygrometer is functioning properly, it is best to test it prior to use, then calibrate it if necessary. The salt method is a tried and true way of testing a hygrometer for accuracy. Here's how to do it.

Steps

  1. Gather supplies. To test your hygrometer using salt, you just need a few household supplies:
    • A small food storage bag that zips
    • A tiny cup or bottle cap from a 20-ounce soda
    • Some table salt
    • Water
  2. Fill the cap with salt and add enough water to make a thick slurry. Don't add so much water that the salt dissolves; you just want it to be wet. If you add too much, use paper towels to mop up the excess.[1]
  3. Put the cap and the hygrometer inside the baggie. Zip it up and place it somewhere out of the way, so it won't be disturbed during the test.
  4. Wait 6 hours. During this time the hygrometer will measure the humidity inside the bag.
  5. Read the hygrometer. If it's accurate, it should show a humidity of exactly 75 percent.
  6. Adjust the hygrometer if necessary. If your hygrometer shows a humidity lower or higher than 75 percent, you'll need to calibrate it so that it's accurate when you use it to check the humidity of your humidor.[2]
    • If you have an analog hygrometer, turn the knob to adjust it to 75 percent.
    • If you have a digital hygrometer, use the buttons to adjust it to 75 percent.
    • If you can't adjust your hygrometer, take note of how many percentage points higher or lower than 75 percent it is. Next time you use your hygrometer, add or subtract a few percentage points for an accurate reading.[1]

Tips

  • Some hygrometers are known to have fluctuations in accuracy over time. It is best to test a hygrometer every 6 months to maintain accurate readings.
  • Use the same Salt Test method using any of the following: Lithium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Potassium Carbonate, Potassium Sulfate. The readings for these should be 11%; 33%; 43%; and 97% respectively.
  • The humidity in your humidor should be kept between 68 and 72 percent to keep your cigars fresh.

Things You'll Need

  • Hygrometer
  • Screw-on bottle cap
  • Salt
  • Water
  • Sealable plastic bag

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.cigarpass.com/calibrating-your-cigar-hygrometer/
  2. ↑ http://www.neptunecigar.com/co/faq-how_to_calibrate_your_hygrometer.aspx
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