Aristocrat Maintenance Day

[duglynukem]

I've had this humidor for 6+ years. I hate to admit it but it took me three years to remember to do maintenance the first time. Fortunately there was nothing abnormal. So now I try to be more regular and follow Bobs advice.

Had a free day today, so I performed my annual maintenance. Sounds simple until you pull all those cigars and boxes out and then try to fit them all back in again. Amazing how many sticks I find that I thought were all gone.

Bob recommends:

The only maintenance required is to occasionally change wicks in the humidifier if they develop mold. I would suggest you vacuum out the rear cooling unit fins once a year to clear the dust bunnies out of the fins & fan. A can of compressed air for computers is helpful also in this task. The inside fins usually remain clean.

For the case, an occasional wax or polish & thats it.

So I changed the wick and cleaned the rear cooling unit fins.

Additionally, I disinfect the reservoir. I use a half tsp of bleach in about a quart of water, then thoroughly rinse with distiller water.

 

[Capt J]

Do you have a picture posted anywhere of your humidor? I did maintenance on mine about two weeks ago.

 

[Pugman1943]

About freakng time to get rid od dust bunnies, have or make room for reindeer bunnies . Tis the season brother!

 

[Tall Paul]

Very cool thanks for the run down I will have to do this with my humi.

 

[duglynukem]

Do you have a picture posted anywhere of your humidor? I did maintenance on mine about two weeks ago.

 

Yup. In the gallery/ Humidors

Very cool thanks for the run down I will have to do this with my humi.

You're welcome. It's a good indoor project when it's crappy out.

 

[BlindedByScience]

I'll tell you one other thing I highly recommend.  If your cabinet is like mine, there are terminal strips on the back of the cabinet where the power supply / solid state relays / fans / pelt coolers / etc. all terminate.  You would do well to get a small screwdriver on every terminal screw and make sure they are snug.  I had a pelt fan go out, did the swap myself, found things could use a little tightening.  I've started doing this every couple of years.

Additionally, I disinfect the reservoir. I use a half tsp of bleach in about a quart of water, then thoroughly rinse with distiller water.

 
Call me overly cautious, but I don't like using chlorine for this task.  Yes, I get it that water is routinely chlorinated, but laundry bleach has lots of other stuff in it...read the label.  What I've done in the past was to get a bottle of Everclear (190 proof) and use that to disinfect the humidifier.  But, honestly, short of one time where I had some bogus distilled water and both wicks grew blue hair, it's been pretty clean in there.  Haven't even replaced the wicks in a couple years...and yes, I've taken them out and looked at them.

 

[duglynukem]

I'll tell you one other thing I highly recommend.  If your cabinet is like mine, there are terminal strips on the back of the cabinet where the power supply / solid state relays / fans / pelt coolers / etc. all terminate.  You would do well to get a small screwdriver on every terminal screw and make sure they are snug.  I had a pelt fan go out, did the swap myself, found things could use a little tightening.  I've started doing this every couple of years.

Great tip! Just don't over tighten.

 

[Kid Montana]

I did this same maintenance middle of last month as well.  Took all the reservoirs out, washed and scrubbed with dish soap, rinsed, re-filled with distilled water.  Changed the wicks to new ones.  The only concern I have with using compressed air is many have bitterants to prevent abuse, and thats NOT something you want floating around in your humidor.

 

[BlindedByScience]

I bought a small air compressor from Harbor Freight Tools for about $50.00 on sale.  Yes, its a cheapie, but I can use it to air the tires in the car and blow stuff out.  It's also small enough that it's relatively easy to pack around to where I want to use it.
 
Here it is, on sale.  If that's all I ever do with it, it'll pay for itself in the savings of buying cans of air pretty quickly.  FWIW....

 

[broblues]

Every household needs a compressor................good purchase Brother.

 

[PTownshend]

Hey Blinded,
I've had my Aristocrat since 2006 and I need to clean and tighten and air blow/compressor.  Thanks for this great post. 
 
Dust bunnies might have a few litters by now!!!