How to Use a Moisture Meter | Ask This Old House

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In this video, moisture meters can detect wet, damp surfaces and help homeowners avoid expensive damage. Host Kevin O’Connor learns how to use one from home technology expert Ross Trethewey.
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Ross Trethewey shares how moisture meters can detect unseen water damage and why that knowledge is extremely valuable.
Where to find it?
Ross first discusses infrared meters which measure temperature [homedepot.sjv.io/LXWvGL]. A wall should have a consistent temperature, if it doesn’t, it may lack insulation or have water damage.
For smaller leaks, Ross recommends a pinned or pinless meter. Pinned meters [homedepot.sjv.io/y2BD3v] tend to be more accurate, however they do cause damage because it requires puncturing the material. They’re also more difficult to use with harder materials like concrete. While the pinless meter [homedepot.sjv.io/xkRx3d] is not as accurate, it can be used across a variety of materials and will not cause damage.
Combo meters [homedepot.sjv.io/g14zKO] are also available and include a pin and pinless fuction. Large areas of drywall and wood can be scanned for moisture with the pinless pad sensor. Once detected, the cap can be flipped to expose the pin sensors for more exact moisture readings.
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How to Use a Moisture Meter | Ask This Old House
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Пікірлер: 44

  • @benjaminkoval3807
    @benjaminkoval38078 ай бұрын

    Saw that last week before the show watched other utube vides went and got the klein and the pin one and the klein helped find the problem with the smell at work on the wall, they come in handy.

  • @robertbamford8266
    @robertbamford82668 ай бұрын

    Had a section of damaged flooring replaced. Replacement waited until the moisture content of the exposed subfloor matched the moisture content of several samples of the undamaged floor. It happened to be 11%, which I thought was high. But what mattered was that same measurements were found on several spots around the room.

  • @csimet
    @csimet8 ай бұрын

    I have that Klein non-destructive meter.. the second one he showed. Works well and very reasonably priced (

  • @xoxo2008oxox
    @xoxo2008oxox8 ай бұрын

    Tools like this will save home buyers from crooked builders, flippers and sellers. Home inspectors if suspicious of water damage, can get a reading without invasive or damaging techniques to warn buyers and lenders of hidden damage.

  • @Honestandtruth
    @Honestandtruth6 ай бұрын

    Thank you for the informative video 👍

  • @rosstret

    @rosstret

    5 ай бұрын

    You’re welcome! Thanks for watching

  • @Mspikes
    @Mspikes3 ай бұрын

    Great video. I had a contractor come out to assess water issues around my home who tried to sell me a system that would cost me $12-15k using only the thermal cam. Nice to know they weren’t totally off the mark, but that they should have used some of the other tools to verify the readings.

  • @danielelse3914
    @danielelse39148 ай бұрын

    "So, which one are you taking?" Looks like Kevin has amassed quite a toolbox from all these videos. 😅

  • @rosstret

    @rosstret

    5 ай бұрын

    Yes he has! 😂

  • @taniat3412
    @taniat34123 ай бұрын

    I am here because my dishwasher leaked (brand new install) and the restoration company came out and used the pin meter on the floor joists and subfloor in my basement, it was reading 80% in some parts as I looked at his meter. I now have all kinds of fans and dehumidifiers going. How much water is too much water to dry out?

  • @saidtheblueknight
    @saidtheblueknight8 ай бұрын

    For a little more than those proding moisture meters you can get a FLIR attachment for your smartphone that does the same thing as those infrared guns.

  • @CarputingYT
    @CarputingYT8 ай бұрын

    Oh the Moist Critical boys are going to have a field day with this one

  • @supernatural2130
    @supernatural21307 ай бұрын

    I have the GENERAL brand, model MMD4E w/pins Moisture Meter. It has 2 modes BLDG/WOOD I need to test drywall. Do I use BLDG mode?

  • @watchmenpropertyinspection3469

    @watchmenpropertyinspection3469

    5 ай бұрын

    yes

  • @rosstret

    @rosstret

    5 ай бұрын

    Yup, BLDG for drywall

  • @richconrad4554
    @richconrad45548 ай бұрын

    Can it read if there is water under a vinyl floor? Our shower overflowed a little, and I'm nervous is moisture is trapped under thr floor. Or will it dry since the heat is on now(low humidity) , and it was a one-time thing?

  • @dtemp132

    @dtemp132

    8 ай бұрын

    Generally, there needs to be an ongoing source of moisture for something to stay wet. I wouldn't be too worried about a one-time small-ish exposure staying wet for a long period of time.

  • @Direct_Home_Inspections

    @Direct_Home_Inspections

    7 ай бұрын

    Yes it can. Always compare to a known dry area. Not all materials measure the same. Anything over 14% is considered wet but it's not an absolute

  • @user-no5hk4zy5x
    @user-no5hk4zy5x7 ай бұрын

    What manufacturer and model thermal gun is that?

  • @rosstret

    @rosstret

    5 ай бұрын

    We use Flir thermal imaging cameras. The one we used in the segment is the Flir e60. It has since been replaced. But it’s my favorite tool!

  • @jn1mrgn
    @jn1mrgn2 ай бұрын

    "Water in the house, not a good situation" yeah that's why the city turned mine off. Just looking out for me.

  • @drummingbad9358
    @drummingbad93586 ай бұрын

    One correction here: The average (affordable) Moisture meters dont work on concrete. Though they make speciality one in the hundreds of dollars for concrete

  • @atomicburrito
    @atomicburrito3 ай бұрын

    "That sweet spot is that 6-9 percent range" 69 ladies and gentlmen.

  • @kperkins1982
    @kperkins19828 ай бұрын

    Somebody needs to tell Keven about moisturizer

  • @Kevin-mp5of

    @Kevin-mp5of

    7 ай бұрын

    Someone needs to tell you how to spell Kevin.

  • @kperkins1982

    @kperkins1982

    7 ай бұрын

    sorry Keven@@Kevin-mp5of

  • @wuldntuliktonoptb6861
    @wuldntuliktonoptb68614 ай бұрын

    Always say hard water damage never use that M word (mold), if you do the insurance company will say oh that’s old damage and not cover anything.

  • @donc-m4900
    @donc-m49008 ай бұрын

    Almost looks like cement board, not drywall.

  • @grantguy8933
    @grantguy89338 ай бұрын

    Or touch it feeling the wetness

  • @rd-ch1on

    @rd-ch1on

    8 ай бұрын

    That's what she said

  • @dougruwe288

    @dougruwe288

    8 ай бұрын

    It’s not always wet to the touch if it’s on the other side of the drywall. Not always visible either.

  • @Direct_Home_Inspections

    @Direct_Home_Inspections

    7 ай бұрын

    Doesn't always work that way

  • @rosstret

    @rosstret

    5 ай бұрын

    Unfortunately your fingers wouldn’t feel the drywall being wet in this case, the moisture was from the back, and diffused through.

  • @the-bu3lb
    @the-bu3lb8 ай бұрын

    99% don’t have. FlIr gun or can afford it

  • @rosstret

    @rosstret

    5 ай бұрын

    Klein KT-140 is ~$50. And Flir makes thermal imaging cameras that attach to your phone for under $200 now

  • @MrElemonator
    @MrElemonator8 ай бұрын

    It can also tell you when your girlfriend is ready 🤓

  • @rosstret

    @rosstret

    5 ай бұрын

    😂

  • @Daniel_yah
    @Daniel_yah8 ай бұрын

    Moist

  • @rd-ch1on

    @rd-ch1on

    8 ай бұрын

    That's what she said

  • @Daniel_yah

    @Daniel_yah

    8 ай бұрын

    @@rd-ch1on yep lol

  • @stavroslask1292
    @stavroslask12928 ай бұрын

    What about a basement? That’s what us homeowners care about

  • @Direct_Home_Inspections

    @Direct_Home_Inspections

    7 ай бұрын

    Yes, it applies for foundation walls as well. Always compare to a known dry area. Anything over 14% is considered active. I'm making a video about them soon. Use these exact ones for home inspections.

  • @herculesrockefeller8969
    @herculesrockefeller89698 ай бұрын

    Don't read my comment.

  • @JimDean002

    @JimDean002

    8 ай бұрын

    Too late