Which reading usually means no moisture. I know it gives a scale but sometimes I’ll get a low reading even if I no for sure there no moisture and I’m just testing it
Angela, depending on where you are located, you will most likely find some level of a moisture measurement from your tester. Depending on the material, you need to have a chart for what is acceptable levels in various materials.
Be careful about saying “no moisture”. Think about relative moisture readings, not absolute readings. Look for a difference between your suspect area and surrounding areas of the same material. This is particularly important with cheaper moisture meters (that looks a lot like a General Tools one I had) which are marginally precise at best.
So if an area of drywall below a poorly flashed window reads 25, and the drywall a foot or two to the sides of the window reads 5, the window is likely leaking.
Taking one single reading in one spot is pretty much useless, you need that control measurement to go with it. If you aren’t already, think about upgrading to a higher end moisture meter. They can be worth their weight in gold and help keep you out of trouble. A $400 moisture meter is a much better investment than just about any other inspection toy, I mean tool
Thanks, does anyone have a good moisture meter they recommend?
Here’s mine
I use the same one as Marc.Great meter.
I used the predecessor to that one for years and loved it. You can’t go wrong.
Angela, depending on what you are checking almost any wood framed house and many of its components will have some level of moisture show on a moisture meter. I have 4 moisture meters ranging from a simple $40 meter up to a $1,500 one and you see this with all of them. DON’T use words like NO MOISTURE.
Think in terms of ACCEPTABLE or ELEVATED for the material you’re checking