Measuring excess moisture - how to DIY
In my last newsletter, I gave you some tips on dehumidifiers and how to make sure they’re doing their job.
But if you’ve done everything you can and you’re still battling excess moisture in your home, you may need to take the next step: measuring moisture levels in your walls and floors.
(👉 Want the full guide to moisture meters and how to measure moisture levels at home? Check out this homeowner guide I put together for you last week.)
Moisture that lurks in your walls, floors, and throughout the home can create serious problems over time.
Finding and assessing moisture can be a bit of an investigation, and high-quality tools can be expensive and impractical for homeowners seeking DIY solutions.
But if DIY is where you prefer to start before reaching out to a professional, there are some specifics to watch out for - especially when it comes to using and reading moisture meters.
So here are 3 things I’d suggest if you’re going the DIY route:
✅ Choose the moisture meter that makes the most sense for the material you’re testing.
Some moisture meters use radio waves to estimate moisture content to a certain depth, while others measure moisture via two small prongs that can be pushed into penetrable materials. The latter may be great for drywall, but not so great for brick.
✅ Know that different materials have different thresholds for acceptable moisture levels.
Be aware of the material you’re testing and understand your moisture meter settings to get a more accurate reading. Some moisture meters need to be configured depending on the type of material you’re testing - like sheetrock, brick, concrete, etc.
❌ Don’t rely on one data point alone.
Don’t rely on only your moisture meter (or on just one reading) to tell you what you need to know; also think about what you see and smell. Ask: where would water or moisture be most likely to collect in a specific room?
Remember - not all home moisture meters are created equally. They can be helpful tools to help you investigate potential moisture in your home, but they don’t always tell the full story.
If you want the full guide to using moisture meters and assessing excess moisture in your home, check out this guide I wrote for you last week.
Or, if you’re ready to call a professional, I’d love to come out and help. Call me anytime at (703) 665-1129.
Take care,
Stephen
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Stephen Simmons
Owner | Umpire Mitigation
Call or text us 24/7 at 703-665-1129