Condensation in thermometer face

Ozzie_Isaac

Both my eggs have condensation inside the face of the thermometer.  Is this to be expected?

Carolina Q

My original non Tel-Tru did that. Normal. I replaced them with TTs and they have not. The one on my mini never will because I dropped it and broke the glass. Works fine and guaranteed no condensation. So far the one on my large is fine. Some folks have drilled a tiny hole in the back to let moisture escape.

theyolksonyou

My large has it. 

RRP

Jamie,
its unusual for it to happen to a TT but it still can. I have had 4 of them for 10 years and only one has had that issue. It seems to go away after a while and actually that makes some sense. I mean there was a leak somewhere to let moisture in so why can't it also escape?! I have read where some people speed that along by placing the unit in the oven for a while. For me it isn't a bother as I know it will go away eventually. OTOH can you actually see water in there or is it just a foggy glass? 

pgprescott

Mine too. Doesn't seem to make any difference. I think the egg thermos are TT?

SGH

Ozzie_Isaac said:

 Is this to be expected?

It is usually a sign that there is no longer a air tight seal between the face and the body.  The thermometer will still work perfectly fine. However if you want to remove the condensation, you can simply throw the thermometer in your oven or indirect in your egg at 200 degrees if it has a plexiglass face or higher if it has a tempered glass face. However I find that 200 works just fine on either kind. 

RRP

pgprescott said:

Mine too. Doesn't seem to make any difference. I think the egg thermos are TT?

Yes they now are TT, but that's only been for the last few years. They used to have real crappy ones with soft plastic lens. This is the truth. One of mine had the usual water in it and I was doing a high temp cook. I guess the water turned to steam and suddenly I heard a POP as that lens shot 10 feet!

SGH

Usually about a hour will do it at 200 degrees^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

NPHuskerFL

SGH said:

Ozzie_Isaac said:

 Is this to be expected?

It is usually a sign that there is no longer a air tight seal between the face and the body.  The thermometer will still work perfectly fine. However if you want to remove the condensation, you can simply throw the thermometer in your oven or indirect in your egg at 200 degrees if it has a plexiglass face or higher if it has a tempered glass face. However I find that 200 works just fine on either kind. 

Or place in a sealed container of rice.
FWIW the condensation that was in mine is now it's gone and hasn't come back and I did nothing. High summer humidity here too. 

SGH

@NPHuskerFL - I have never tried the rice trick. But I will now. Thanks for sharing brother Husker. 

Jeremiah

One of mine is the same way. It's been getting better as it hasn't rained in like four years here now. 

jtcBoynton

My new large format BGE TT ended up with condensation the first time I used it.  It got caught in a heavy FL afternoon rain storm.  Couple of weeks in a bag with white rice cleared it right up.

Lit

Just drill a small hole in it on the side.

PlanoPokes79

What Lit said. Drill a hole in all of mine. Never had a problem since.

NPHuskerFL

@SGH Just like with a cell phone the rice draws out the moisture.

RRP

RRP said:

Jamie,
its unusual for it to happen to a TT but it still can. I have had 4 of them for 10 years and only one has had that issue. It seems to go away after a while and actually that makes some sense. I mean there was a leak somewhere to let moisture in so why can't it also escape?! I have read where some people speed that along by placing the unit in the oven for a while. For me it isn't a bother as I know it will go away eventually. OTOH can you actually see water in there or is it just a foggy glass? 

Here are 3 of the older styles that I mentioned: The worst were from right to left. Even in an ambient temperature do you notice the different readings? Even after calibrating them? LOL?

DoubleEgger

NPHuskerFL said:

@SGH Just like with a cell phone the rice draws out the moisture.

If you use rice, the instant kind works better. Cat litter or oatmeal works better than any rice though. 

nolaegghead

Put in a vacuum dessicator and pump down to 1 KPa.  

THEBuckeye

Agree. Rice in baggie. Thermometer in baggie. Wait for a day or so, 

Worked for my Macbook Air too when the mutt knocked over ice water with his tail all over the keyboard.

johnkitchens

Both of mine have it, but not all the time. 

Ozzie_Isaac

Thanks guys.  I will not worry about it.  Maybe 200 in my oven for a  it like @SGH said , maybe drill a hole like @Lit and @Carolina Q howed, or rice like @NPHuskerFL said.  Or move somewhere drier like @Jeremiah did.  Or I'll just get a bunch more eggs like @RRP .

I would really like a new smokeware one, but not sure when they will be released.

Lit

If you are gonna replace it get the new 3" thermometer for the XL 

NPHuskerFL

Lit said:

If you are gonna replace it get the new 3" thermometer for the XL 

Love that thing!  Want one for both of mine. Total badass Tel-Tru. 

JonWesson

bump

saluki2007

paqman

😳