Propylene Glycol In Humidor Solution

Maintaining the environment within your humidor will require the use of several cigar accessories. You obviously need a thermometer and a hygrometer. You also need an electronic humidifier for larger humidors. However, the solution used in your humidifier is just as important as having the electronic device in the first place. If you only use distilled water, then you are not going to be able to maintain the humidity levels properly, and your cigars will suffer for it. Instead, you should use both distilled water and propylene glycol.

Why should you use a propylene glycol solution rather than just pure distilled water? While you can use plain distilled water, there are some advantages to using a solution of propylene glycol for instance, this type of solution works in two different ways.

When your humidor becomes too dry, propylene glycol will release absorbed moisture into the area. However, when there is too much humidity, PG actually absorbs the excess, keeping the environment stable. Another benefit is that PG will inhibit the growth of mold, which can be a significant problem in humidors that are not properly maintained.

Propylene glycol offers some other significant benefits, other than just maintaining your humidity level. It can actually inhibit mold from growing in your humidifier and starting in your humidor. Mold is not a good thing for fine cigars and will make them unusable. Once mold has a foothold in your humidor, it can also be very hard to get rid of, so protecting against it from the outset is important. Using a 50/50 mixture of distilled water and propylene glycol every so often will keep it from getting a foothold in your humidor.

However, using propylene glycol as a humidification solution does not mean that you get out of doing other things. For instance, you still need to make sure that you have a good hygrometer in your humidor. If you want the most precise readings, then you should choose a digital hygrometer, but an analog hygrometer will also work, though your readings will be less precise. You also need to make sure that you check the humidity levels in your humidor every two weeks or so. Checking on a more frequent basis should be done in very dry areas, or if you suspect your humidor’s seal is not working properly.