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As affected government agencies and courts begin to re-open, we will resume our program in those jurisdictions. As always, we encourage consumers to perform their own research, to the extent possible, before hiring any business. He found issues and helped us make the right choice on all three of them.
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Complimentary thermal imaging exposes eletrical issues, pests, and water damage in between walls. A bad moisture reading would be one that climbs to 20 percent or higher—in this environment, your porous materials like lumber may be susceptible to mold growth or decay. Regular readings in high-moisture homes can help detect and stop mold growth. First, we had to read the manual to discover how to change the species setting, but once we did, the change was easy. Also, cycling through the calibration, species, and materials menu was a little confusing at first.
Taking accurate readings with either requires putting holes -- about ½ to ¾ of an inch apart -- into a material. Unlike the pin type, this mode of operation arrives at a relative value for moisture content that must be calibrated, using an external equivalency table in some models. The meter will display moisture content as a scale of color-coded lights that indicate whether the material is damp, dry, or in a borderline condition. In addition, Wagner's meters take a three-dimensional moisture average of the wood, which decreases the likelihood that intermittent wet spots will be missed.
California Home Inspection Checklist
Taking several readings spread out over a period of time -- such as three readings in a half hour -- helps. A seasoned home inspector will undoubtedly recognize certain signs of water damage, moisture collection and possible mold accumulation during his visual inspection. However, the experienced inspector also knows that not everything is visible on the surface. That’s where a good, dependable and easy to use home inspection moisture meter comes in.
Second, it provides readings for a wide range of species while only requiring the user to switch between “Group 2” or “Group 3”—no fancy calculations necessary. And, we couldn’t help but enjoy the Lignomat’s accuracy and the way the cap forms a comfortable hand-hold during testing. If we’re going to complain about something, it’s that this thing looks and feels like it’s straight out of the 1980s, but we’re not so sure nostalgia is a bad thing. When we were testing the Extech in pin mode, we continued to press the materials button, which would inevitably give us a reading of our index fingers rather than the material we were testing. Beyond that, we liked how easy the Extech was to use, and we appreciated the digital raindrops and audio alerts that speed up according to a wood’s moisture content.
Schroeder Exteriors
For example, if the temperature in the room is around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and the RH is 50%, then a “safe” level of moisture in the wall would be about 9.1% MC. What constitutes a “safe” level of moisture in a wall will change depending on what the wall is made of. However, older buildings may use other interior wall surfaces, such as wooden paneling or plaster.
The typical cost of an inspection varies depending on the area, size of the home, and services provided by the home inspection in New Prague, MN company. As with most services, there is a strong element of getting what you pay for. Selecting the lowest priced inspector can often result in problems down the road. But unlike fixtures, appliances may also malfunction and create a moisture issue. For instance, a refrigerator’s defrosting drain line can become clogged, causing water to pool underneath the appliance for months before it’s even noticed.
Certified Home Inspections
A moisture issue in a basement floor can affect the walls in other parts of a house -- from those in direct contact with the floor to the walls in upper-level floors. The same goes for exterior walls -- a compromised wall on a home’s outside can allow moisture to make its way inside. Wood installers use moisture meters to make sure that wood is dry enough to be installed. An inspector can test the moisture level of a section of building material that appears to be dry, in order to establish a baseline from which other measurements can be compared. For a home inspector’s toolbox, there isn’t a choice -- it should include both types of meters. Having both tools at the ready lets you not only locate the source of moisture, but also confirm the exact extent of its presence.
In fact, he recommends home inspectors calibrate their moisture meters prior to each inspection. For example, if your moisture meter displays a high reading, you may want to investigate that area further by looking for signs of discoloration, staining, or swelling. To check for outdoor sources of moisture, conduct an exterior inspection. Look for blocked vents and downspouts, evidence of wicking or splash-back, and any damaged roofing or exterior building envelope materials. High moisture levels and relative humidity in the home can lead to a host of health problems and construction damage. As crawlspaces have concrete floors, there’s a higher probability for moisture content in the space and surrounding materials.
Excess moisture can cause deterioration as the freeze-and-thaw cycle occurs. Search for signs of mold and mildew, especially in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and utility rooms. Mold and mildew appear as brown, orange, green, black or white discolorations.
This mode is used to measure the moisture content of a material’s surface, or at an incremental depth using probes. While in this mode, the meter can measure the amount of moisture on a material by its electrical conductivity. This method can be used to test for moisture on the surface of building materials, such as stucco, drywall, plaster or wood. It is especially useful for determining if the source of a stain on a wall or ceiling is active, or if it has been repaired. All moisture meters’ readings are displayed as a percentage of moisture content (% MC).
For shoppers with extra room in their meter budget, the Wagner Meters Orion 940 is one of the best pinless moisture meter options worth considering. While the model might be a bit expensive, it does offer deeper, more accurate readings than most meters, and it does it without pins. For home and building inspectors, a moisture detector is necessary for verifying the condition of a home. Similarly, you can use this tool to verify that your home is moisture-free or ensure the quality of materials during DIY projects. A moisture meter can help you determine if there is too much moisture or your home needs a dehumidifier. Wood starts to rot and is susceptible to mold when its moisture content reaches 35 to 50%.
We specialize in a variety of residential and commercial services and take pride in the attention to detail put into each of the projects we're involved with. We're known for our quality work and the integrity of our business. We look forward to building long-term relationships with our clients, and guarantee your satisfaction. To use a moisture meter for drywall, first ensure that the meter is calibrated to accurately measure moisture in the material. Once the pins are inserted, you can operate the moisture meter with a control pad to send an electrical signal down one pin. This signal travels through the material on its way to the other pin.
Q: How do you use a moisture meter on drywall?
Wood can typically hold up to 25% without showing signs of deterioration. Moisture meters work well with concrete, wood, tile, vinyl, gypsum/drywall, plaster, and many other building materials. Furthermore, knowing what your moisture meter can do and how to interpret its findings can prevent claims. Hurtado says inspectors who are new to using a particular meter or meters generally can make mistakes if they aren’t careful. For example, they could attribute high levels of moisture to a concrete wall with a normal level of moisture for such a porous building material. Or an inspector may hit a metal corner bead at the corner of a window and say it’s a leak.
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