Quick answer

To set up the Little Joe Deluxe Electric Humidifier, place it in your humidor, fill the internal reservoir with distilled water, and run it continuously for 24–48 hours while monitoring humidity. Seasoning an electric cigar humidifier means letting it stabilize before adding cigars, which typically takes a few days.

Why seasoning matters for electric humidifiers

Seasoning prepares the humidor's interior to hold moisture and gives the electric humidifier time to reach a stable output. Skipping this step can cause humidity swings that stress cigars. Unlike passive humidification, electric units actively circulate air, so the seasoning period also helps you confirm the fan and reservoir are working correctly.

The Little Joe Deluxe is designed for smaller desktop humidors, so its compact size means it can respond quickly to humidity changes. That responsiveness is helpful, but it also means you should avoid overfilling the reservoir or opening the humidor frequently during the first few days.

Electric vs passive humidification: what to expect

Electric humidifiers like the Little Joe Deluxe use a fan to distribute moisture, which can reduce stratification in a small humidor. Passive systems rely on passive evaporation and may need more frequent monitoring. The trade-off is that electric units require power and periodic reservoir refills, but they offer more consistent humidity control once dialed in.

If you are upgrading from a passive system, expect the electric unit to maintain humidity more evenly, but also plan to check water levels more often during initial setup.

Step-by-step setup and seasoning

  1. Unpack and inspect: Remove the Little Joe Deluxe from its packaging and check for any visible damage. Place it on a stable surface near your humidor. Do not plug it in until you have confirmed the reservoir and fan are intact.
  2. Fill the reservoir with distilled water: Open the reservoir and fill it with distilled water only. Avoid tap water to prevent mineral buildup. Do not overfill; leave space for the water to expand.
  3. Position the unit inside the humidor: Place the humidifier in the humidor according to the manufacturer's instructions, ensuring the fan vents are not blocked. Keep it away from cigars to avoid direct moisture contact.
  4. Power on and set initial humidity: Plug in the unit and set the target humidity to your desired level (typically 65–70% for most cigars). Let it run continuously. Do not open the humidor frequently during the first 24 hours.
  5. Monitor and adjust during seasoning: Check the humidity reading daily. It may take 24–48 hours for the humidor to stabilize. Adjust the setpoint only if humidity remains far from target after two days. Avoid adding cigars until humidity has been stable for at least 24 hours.
  6. Perform regular maintenance: Refill the reservoir with distilled water when low, and clean the unit periodically to prevent mineral buildup. Follow the manufacturer's cleaning schedule. Never let the reservoir run completely dry while the unit is powered on.

Product facts

  • Little Joe Deluxe Electric Humidifier: Internal reservoir and fan system provide active moisture delivery and air circulation. This means the unit distributes humidity more evenly than passive systems, but you must keep the reservoir filled and the fan unobstructed.

    Little Joe Deluxe Electric Humidifier

    Little Joe Deluxe Electric Humidifier

  • Little Joe Deluxe Electric Humidifier: Compact electronic design intended for smaller desktop cigar humidors. It fits easily in limited space, but it may not be powerful enough for large cabinets or walk-in humidors.