Anyone ever used a moisture meter? We talk a lot about checking for water damage. How about something like this? Amazon.com: General Tools MMD7NP Moisture Meter, Pinless, Digital LCD with... (https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=General+Tools+MMD7NP+Moisture+Meter%2C+Pinless%2C+Digital+LCD+with+Tricolor+Bar+Graph)
Chris
Chris,
I have used this type of device on houses checking drywall and wood and I was not impressed.
At the time I was in a high humidity state and was checking a known soaked area of wall & ceiling (bad subcontractor blunder). I realized I had to measure a known good area (that didn't get soaked) and then the soaked area to tell the difference (see if it had dried out to the moisture level the non soaked area).
After many uses over weeks I decided this device didn't really give accurate information. In areas with no moisture damage I got readings if 10-30% moisture inconsistently ( eg 2' away from each other) with nothing influencing it - no pipes electricity Hvac etc around the locations.
We ended up opening the walls & ceiling and still the readings didn't seem real accurate (again big variations when the wood felt the same even after weeks of dehumidifiers running so it should have been back to "normal").
The ones with pins didn't seem much better.
I like gadgets and it was disappointing this one didn't seem to be accurate. I would not rip up a wall (house or RV) based just on the readings of this kind of meter.
Just my experience, Jane
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I have the kind WITH pins and have used it to measure moisture places like crawlspaces and attics and in firewood.
The reading does change as the moisture level changes. I thought it worked well enough for a $20 device.
The pins will leave indentions in whatever you're measuring.
I've never used the pinless variety.
If looking for an actual leak (vs moisture absorbed from general humidity), I'd prefer a FLIR camera.
Rich
'03 MB in NC