the way the beads work is that they hold the water and either puts humidity into the air or take it out. they find the happy medium and keep it at the 65 or 70% humidity level. if there is no humidity in the air they will not work as well as if the beads are saturated in water they will not work. hence why have a hygrometer is still important. the level you get is mostly prefrence. some say cigars smoke better at 65 than 70.

anyone correct me if i'm wrong