What Is A Moisture Meter?

9/2/2020 (Permalink)

Above is a moisture meter reading 100%MC in a ceiling that was affected by a toilet overflow from above. Mold has begun to grow as well!

When your home or business suffers from flooding or water leaks, you're likely to call a water damage restoration company to come out and inspect the affected areas and repair them as needed. But, how do they find all the moisture to ensure that none is left behind - especially when it looks like nothing is there? The key is in the use of a moisture meter.

What Is a Moisture Meter?

A moisture meter measures the moisture content of various materials. This will show the moisture level in a given material. This is one of the essential tools of the water restoration industry, as it acts as a roadmap for restoring your home or business.

How Do They Work?

Moisture meters come in two different types: pin type meters and pinless meters.

A pin moisture meter measures by inserting the pins into the wood or material being tested. These function by measuring the electrical resistance against the moisture content in the material. When the material is wet, electricity flows more easily between the two pins, compared to when it is dry. This is how the meter gives it's reading. After taking this measurement, it's presented as %MC (percent moisture content) (Delmhorst).

Pinless moisture meters instead use a sensor pad which is placed flat against the surface being measured. The sensor send electromagnetic waves in to the material the sensor is placed against, and then works similarly to pin meters without inserting anything into the material or walls.

Using a digital meter will make reading the %MC as easy as possible.

How Are They Used?

A moisture meter is used to determine if a material is too wet or has a high level of moisture. Many materials, such as wood, paper, and drywall are sensitive to high moisture levels and may begin to structurally deteriorate and produce mold growth when moisture is left unaddressed.

These tools are used constantly in the water damage restoration industry. When it comes to water damage, you want to be sure that all moisture is dried out from any affected materials - but there needs to be a way of measuring that!

Here at SERVPRO of Branford/Shoreline, we use moisture meters during every water damage inspection. The moisture tester provides an accurate moisture reading that helps the Project Manager to identify wet materials, areas in need of demolition or drying, and allows them to monitor the drying process.

Water Damage? Call SERVPRO For A Free Inspection - 800-734-3213

SERVPRO of Branford/Shoreline is a 24/7 emergency damage restoration company specializing in fire, water, mold and COVID-19 services. Help is only a phone call away - We're always Here to Help.