Until recently I had my Dors under control simply using distilled water. Now I just can't seem to even get close to a reasonable humidity. If I start using PG now, do I have to use it all the time?

Charge your humidifiers with a 50/50 mixture of PG and distilled water. Then replentish on a regular basis (as needed) with distilled water. Recharge with the PG mixture about once a year. Works for me.

Barry

Thanks Barry. I really don't know what happened to these dors. They were great for several months then just went nuts after a friend who was babysitting them overcharged the humidification. It's gotten really tedious trying to get them under control, and I'm desperate. I'm going the PG route and see what happens.

Are you saying the humidor is over 70 or under??

Cully, it's over. Actually, in four humidors. I had someone house sitting and they added water every day to the humidifiers. The gars got so saturated you could almost ring them out. Rick suggested I leave the dors open for an hour or so a day, and rotate the cigars, which I am still doing. I guess the air in the house is not dry enough since the humidity is bleeding off, but every so slowly. I am working on this for almost three weeks now and the humidity is still well into the 80s.

I would take out all the gars, baggie em then let the humidor sit open for a number of days (depending on where you are in the country... the humidity level of your area... dry area, only a one or two days, more humid, maybe even a week). Close the lid of the humidor, let sit for an hour then get a reading (i hope you have a digital hygrometer... if not, get one). Keep a close eye on it... Get a reading every day.

If both the wood (humidor) and the gars are too moist, it will take too long to get back to 70 just by leaving in the humidor and you risk ruining all the cigars to mold/rot. On the other hand, don't get your humidor tooooo dry or the sudden change in relative humidity will crack the wrappers.

hope this helps. Oh, one last thought, have you seen those crystal sticks that absorb moisture. I have never personally tried one, but maybe you could use one of those. Again, the change in humidity can't be too dramatic too soon, or you will burst/crack the wrappers (yes, unfortunately i speak from experience!)
GOOD LUCK,
Jeff

Jeff, I am trying everything, so thanks for the advise. I do have digital hygrometers, and I'm trying to do this slowly so that there is no sudden change. I can't believe the box and gars absorbed so much moisture so fast. The damage was done in about a week, and I've already been trying to fix it for over three. It's hard being patient for so long. I want to smoke the darn things without having to wear a scuba tank.