Keeping your cigars at the correct temperature becomes particularly important during the warmer months. While much of the focus surrounding cigar storage is placed on humidity, cigar humidor temperature is equally important.
Hot weather can cause temperatures inside a humidor to rise, potentially affecting the condition of your cigars and increasing the risk of tobacco beetles becoming active. Fortunately, there are several simple steps you can take to keep your humidor cool and maintain a stable environment throughout the summer.
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What Is the Ideal Temperature for a Cigar Humidor?
The commonly recommended ideal cigar storage temperature is around 18-21°C (65-70°F), with relative humidity generally maintained around 65-70%.
There isn't one universally perfect setting for every cigar smoker, and individual preferences can vary. However, avoiding excessive heat and, importantly, avoiding large temperature fluctuations should be a priority.
When temperatures rise significantly above the recommended range, cigars can be exposed to conditions that aren't ideal for long-term storage.
Why Is Heat Bad for Cigars?
High temperatures can affect both the cigars themselves and the environment inside your humidor.
Warm conditions can accelerate the ageing process and make it more difficult to maintain consistent humidity. Perhaps the biggest concern during prolonged periods of high temperatures is the potential for cigar beetles.
Tobacco beetle eggs can be present in tobacco and remain dormant until conditions become suitable for them to hatch. Excessive warmth can encourage this process, and an infestation can result in small holes appearing in your cigars.
This is why keeping your cigar collection at a sensible and stable temperature is particularly important during the summer.
Keep Your Humidor Away From Direct Sunlight
One of the simplest ways to keep a humidor cool is to choose its location carefully.
Direct sunlight can cause the exterior of a humidor to become surprisingly hot, even when the surrounding room feels comfortable. Avoid placing your humidor on a windowsill, beside a sunny window or anywhere that receives strong afternoon sunlight.
Instead, choose a cool, shaded location away from sources of heat.
Good locations can include:
- A shaded shelf
- An interior cupboard
- A cool room with stable temperatures
- An area away from windows and radiators
Avoid conservatories, garages, sheds and other areas that can become extremely hot during the summer.
Keep Your Humidor Away From Heat Sources
When considering how to store cigars in summer, remember that the location of your humidor can make a significant difference.
Keep it away from:
- Radiators
- Ovens and cookers
- Boilers
- Heating appliances
- Electronic equipment that produces significant heat
- Exterior walls exposed to strong sunlight
A stable room temperature is much easier to manage than a humidor positioned next to a heat source.
Use a Digital Hygrometer and Thermometer
A good-quality digital hygrometer is essential for monitoring cigar humidor humidity, but during hot weather you should also pay close attention to temperature.
Ideally, use a device that measures both temperature and relative humidity. Some digital hygrometers can also record maximum and minimum readings, allowing you to see how much conditions have changed while you were away.
Monitoring both measurements gives you a much clearer picture of the environment in which your cigars are being stored.
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Don't Keep Opening the Humidor
It can be tempting to check your cigars frequently during a heatwave, but repeatedly opening the humidor allows the air inside to exchange with the warmer air outside.
An occasional opening isn't something to worry about, but try to avoid leaving the lid open unnecessarily or repeatedly rearranging your cigars.
A closed humidor is much better at maintaining a stable internal environment.
Can Air Conditioning Help Keep a Humidor Cool?
Yes. Air conditioning can be an effective way of maintaining a suitable room temperature during particularly hot weather.
If you have air conditioning, keeping the room where your humidor is stored at a comfortable and stable temperature can help protect your cigars.
However, avoid placing the humidor directly in the path of strong cold airflow. The objective is to maintain a stable room temperature rather than expose the humidor to sudden changes in temperature.
What About a Temperature-Controlled Humidor?
For cigar enthusiasts with larger or more valuable collections, a temperature-controlled humidor or cigar cabinet can be a worthwhile investment.
These systems are designed to provide greater control over temperature and humidity than a traditional wooden humidor. They can be particularly useful for people living in areas where summer temperatures regularly become too high for conventional storage.
For smaller collections, however, simply choosing a suitable location and monitoring conditions carefully may be sufficient.
Don't Forget About Humidity
Temperature and humidity are closely related, so it's important to monitor both.
As temperature changes, the relative humidity reading inside your humidor can also change. This means that a reading that looks unusual doesn't necessarily mean that you should immediately add or remove humidification.
Before making significant adjustments, allow conditions to stabilise and check that your hygrometer is accurate.
Making large changes based on a single reading can sometimes create more problems than it solves.
How to Protect Cigars During a Heatwave
If particularly hot weather is forecast, there are several simple steps you can take to protect your collection.
- Move Your Humidor to a Cool Location
- Monitor Temperature and Humidity
- Keep the Humidor Closed
- Avoid Improvised Cooling
- Check Your Equipment
- Consider Temperature-Controlled Storage
Can Cigars Be Stored in a Hot Room?
Ideally, cigars shouldn't be stored in a room that regularly becomes excessively hot.
A brief increase in temperature is less concerning than prolonged exposure to high temperatures, but consistently hot conditions can make it difficult to maintain the stable environment cigars need.
If one room in your home becomes significantly warmer than another during summer, consider relocating your humidor to the cooler area.
The Importance of Stable Cigar Storage
When it comes to cigar storage, consistency is often more important than constantly chasing a particular number.
Rather than making frequent adjustments to temperature and humidity, aim to create a stable cigar storage environment. Avoid sudden changes, monitor conditions with reliable equipment and give your humidor time to settle after any changes.
This approach is particularly useful during periods of extreme weather.
Final Thoughts: Keeping Your Humidor Cool in Summer
Knowing how to keep a cigar humidor cool can help protect your cigar collection throughout the warmer months.
The key is to keep your humidor away from direct sunlight and heat sources, maintain a stable room temperature, monitor both temperature and humidity, and avoid sudden changes to the storage environment.
For most cigar enthusiasts, a cool, shaded location and reliable monitoring equipment will go a long way towards maintaining good storage conditions. If temperatures regularly become excessive, investing in temperature-controlled cigar storage may provide additional protection.
With a little preparation, you can enjoy your cigars throughout the summer without allowing hot weather to compromise your collection.
Click here to view our range of Cigar HumidorsFrequently Asked Questions
- How do you Keep your Humidor Cool in Hot Weather?
- You need to keep your humidor away from sunlight or any other form of heat.
- What is the Ideal Temperature for a Cigar Humidor?
- The commonly recommended ideal cigar storage temperature is around 18-21°C (65-70°F), with relative humidity generally maintained around 65-70%.
- Where should I keep my Cigar Humidor?
- A shaded shelf, An interior cupboard, A cool room with stable temperatures, An area away from windows and radiators
