Cooling my Cabinet Humidor

[uncelnino]

I am trying to come up with a reasonable way to cool my two cabinet humidors. They are placed at the only location in my house that there is room and is not in direct sunlight. Unfortunately the temp is sometimes up above 75, 76 degrees and I would obviously prefer to keep it much cooler. The humidity is great and stays at a steady 65 - 67 %. Does anyone know of a product that i can purchase and install to cool these things. I don't want to spend a fortune if I can avoid it. Any ideas/recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Here is a pic of the type of humidors they are:

 

[Cyrann]

I would think the best would be Habitat Monitor:

http://www.habitatmonitor.com/

I believe they have thermo-electric units which minimize condensation, but I don't think they are reasonably priced... so as for a cost effective solution I'm not sure.

 

[Moro]

I agree on the Habitat Monitor. That or cool the entire room.

Now, if ye want a CHEAP solution, maybe a bucket of ice with salt?

 

[uncelnino]

I agree on the Habitat Monitor. That or cool the entire room.

Now, if ye want a CHEAP solution, maybe a bucket of ice with salt?

I have tried to keep the room as cool as is reasonable but my house is very open and keeping one room cooler than the others is impossible. Even with the AC set down at 68 degrees the inside temp of the humis can be above 75.

 

[Moro]

Are they within the sun's reach? Could be that.

 

[uncelnino]

Nah, they are out of the sun and the shades in the room are kept closed as well, it is just a naturally warm room for some reason, that's why i need to get this cooling unit. Good thought though. Thanks Alfonso.

 

[Tegu]

Cooling a humidor that size with no insulation built in is going to take a significant amount of thermoelectric cooling, although if it is only a few degrees it is probably doable. Humidors built for thermoelectric cooling are made with insulation, in a humi like that the coolers would be on all the time.

I have said this before and some people disagree with me, but cooling is overrated, IMHO. Tobacco beetles can live above 65 degrees anyway, if you are worried about them, freeze your smokes, that is what large companies do. If your humi is at 75 or 76, don't worry about it, big temperature swings can be a problem, and I would not store my smokes above 80, but if they are under 80 I would not worry about it.

 

[uncelnino]

Cooling a humidor that size with no insulation built in is going to take a significant amount of thermoelectric cooling, although if it is only a few degrees it is probably doable. Humidors built for thermoelectric cooling are made with insulation, in a humi like that the coolers would be on all the time.

I have said this before and some people disagree with me, but cooling is overrated, IMHO. Tobacco beetles can live above 65 degrees anyway, if you are worried about them, freeze your smokes, that is what large companies do. If your humi is at 75 or 76, don't worry about it, big temperature swings can be a problem, and I would not store my smokes above 80, but if they are under 80 I would not worry about it.

I definitely feel what you are saying and have considered all of that myself, however, with the amount of money invested to fill both of those up I would feel better leaving nothing to chance. I have no problem if the thing runs all the time as long as it can cool me to 65 or so. I live in NC so this is even more of a problem in the summer. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Soundwave13]

I don't know the layout, but I would think that a door or two to help keep the room cool by AC is probably the most practical & inexpensive route.

If that is not feasible, than consider investing in a cooled unit or two that will hold your collection. The cost can then be offset by selling your current units.

If you really want to get creative, then talk to a refridgerant specialist about attaching some tubing to the back of the cabinets to circulate cooled water.

 

[Tegu]

I definitely feel what you are saying and have considered all of that myself, however, with the amount of money invested to fill both of those up I would feel better leaving nothing to chance. I have no problem if the thing runs all the time as long as it can cool me to 65 or so. I live in NC so this is even more of a problem in the summer. Thanks for the advice.

Believe it or not the cheapest way I have found to get thermoelectric units is to wait for Target to have a sale on wine coolers, buy them and take the cooling units out. I would guess that even if you got the coolers out of 2 28 bottle wine coolers they would still run constantly especially if you tried to pull the temp down 10 degrees, and you would probably have a humidity isuue. I would get a window unit, well I wouldn't worry about it :santa2:

 

[jwintosh]

i mounted an air conditioner! turn it on when i need to! funny thing is it's the only room in the house that is a/c'd!!

 

[AZsteelman]

i mounted an air conditioner! turn it on when i need to! funny thing is it's the only room in the house that is a/c'd!!

life is all about priorities!

 

[Moro]

Nah, they are out of the sun and the shades in the room are kept closed as well, it is just a naturally warm room for some reason, that's why i need to get this cooling unit. Good thought though. Thanks Alfonso.

Move it to the bedroom :thumbsup: Could it be the room has too many walls within daylight for too long? Like a room of 2 outside walls facing east+north/north+west.