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A moisture meter can assist a homeowner in determining whether wood is dry enough to be painted or stained. Over time, components of those fixtures and their plumbing may start to fail. All of these issues are a recipe for slow leaks, which, gone unnoticed, cause moisture damage throughout the rest of a home. Many homeowner think of attics as almost a separate entity from the rest of a building.
And, we continued to check this model’s accuracy with its built-in calibration gauge. Instead, opt for a moisture meter with an easy-to-read, backlit digital display that shows the information you need. Users should be able to navigate easily between the menus on the device and switch between functions quickly. Pinless moisture meters are much easier to use than pin moisture meters, but the trade-off is in pinpoint accuracy. Complicated moisture meters take much longer to read than those with a more straightforward design and can lead to inaccurate and inconsistent readings that could result in undetected moisture damage. If you’re searching for the best moisture meter for drywall, or brick, or even concrete that won’t cause damage, look no further than both a pinless and a pin-type meter in-tandem.
Dangers of Cracks in Brick Walls
Before a home is purchased, an inspector can use a moisture meter to determine if the house has leaks. A moisture meter can be used to determine whether a material is moist enough to allow mold to grow. Mold will begin to accumulate on surfaces that contain approximately 20% moisture, although this value varies based on vapor pressure and other factors. Typically made of wood, baseboards absorb and release moisture to reach the same moisture content level as materials around it.
If excess moisture is found, the humidity of the room should also be considered. An acceptable level of indoor humidity is generally 30 to 50%, which prevents the growth of microorganisms, such as mold. Excess moisture promotes mold, mildew, fungi, bacterial growth, and possibly viruses. Contaminants can degrade the indoor air quality and cause health problems. If the air temperature inside is 70 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 40 percent, you will be quite comfortable. Generally speaking, for drywall, a safe moisture content (%MC) would be less than 1% MC.
Air Quality & Mold Testing
Even a newer model with the best features should survive having its pins pushed into a wall or being jostled in a tool box. A photo of the device as it displays its reading can be easily included in your home inspection report. Clients appreciate clear photos of the affected area with supporting photos of the meter readings as proof of your findings.
We offer moisture testing on all other types of siding, but stucco and stone siding make up the bulk of our moisture testing services. Despite having pointed metal probes protruding from the device, pin-type meters should leave nothing beyond barely noticeable marks on a wall -- when used properly. Whether you’re testing walls made of sheetrock, plaster, concrete, or even brick, the average home moisture inspection is a damage-free event. Drill two small holes, about 3/16 inch in diameter and about 1 inch apart, into the wall. Outside, drill just deep enough to pass through the siding without drilling into the exterior wall sheathing. Inside, drill through the wall, past the vapor barrier and into the insulation.
What to Consider When Buying a Moisture Meter
The device maintains its accuracy even if the batteries are low, and it will simply not function when the batteries do not hold sufficient power. The meters can use alkaline or lithium batteries; to save money, rechargeable batteries are recommended. It is also recommended by most manufacturers that the batteries be taken out of the tool when not in use to prevent corrosion of the internal metal materials.
Many sources inside the home increase the relative humidity of the home. Condensation can cause staining, deformed or decaying wood, paint damage, and powdery concrete. The owner or principal of each business in HomeAdvisor's network must pass a background check. Unfortunately, we cannot perform a background check on every employee of a business—the background checks are performed only on the owner or principal. As always, we recommend that you conduct your own research on the businesses you hire, including making inquiries directly with the businesses regarding their employee background check policies. The HomeAdvisor Community Rating is an overall rating based on verified reviews and feedback from our community of homeowners that have been connected with service professionals.
While requirements vary from state to state, having your mold mold inspected by a professional is of the utmost importance. We have been inspecting homes in Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Orange County since 1989. Meaning, we are liable for any defects missed in your home for 120 days after the inspection.
And like an attic, moisture issues stemming from a crawlspace can make their way to other parts of a home. Make the most of the right home inspection moisture meter to give them the information they need to protect themselves and their property for years to come. A dependable moisture meter may boast an accuracy within 3 percent of the reading, with some professional-grade models getting within 0.5 percent. Smaller, more precise scales provide more accurate measurement and frequently come in meters used in the flooring and fine carpentry industry to ensure optimal moisture percentage. However, most DIYers would benefit more from a broader scale range so they can use the same meter for many applications. A product’s durability is important to anyone who will be using a moisture meter regularly on job sites.
You can avoid such errors by using the same moisture meter and educating yourself on that meter’s capabilities. Before hiring a home inspector, ask if he or she will be using a moisture meter, a moisture meter with probes, or a deep wall probe to measure moisture within the home. Also ask if your inspector will measure moisture inside the wall plate – where and why. Asking these questions will tell you a lot about your home inspector, his or her level of training, and overall quality of inspections.
Measuring the electrical resistance between its probes, a pin-type meter gauges actual moisture content within a material. In other words, pin-type meters display moisture content in any material as if it were wood. Pin-type meters use electrodes to gauge actual moisture content by measuring electrical resistance between the probes when touching the surface of a material. Readings are presented as a percentage based on a scale of wood moisture equivalencies regardless of the type of material being tested.
Sometimes it’s thinking about wet basement issues, sometimes it’s leaky windows, sometimes it’s water intrusion at the siding. Moisture-damaged drywall will feel soft and spongy, while wood-sheathed walls may feel slightly solid even with a moisture problem. A butter knife, screwdriver or similar tool scraped across the surface or poked into it slightly will often reveal damaged wood.
Excess moisture can cause deterioration as the freeze-and-thaw cycle occurs. Search for signs of mold and mildew, especially in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and utility rooms. Mold and mildew appear as brown, orange, green, black or white discolorations.
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