Moisture is an issue that may occur in buildings of all types. Excessive moisture can eventually lead to costly damage.
To prevent moisture damage, it is important to identify where moisture is located, how much moisture is present, and what the source of the moisture is.
Once this is determined, steps may be taken to eliminate or reduce the moisture, correct the source of the moisture, and prevent future re-occurrences.
One way to determine if moisture is present is to perform a moisture test.
A moisture test measures the amount of moisture in a material. This can be useful for determining if a material is wet, damp, or dry.
Moisture tests can be performed on a variety of materials, including wood, drywall, concrete, and masonry.
One common assumption that homeowners make is that if there is moisture on the surface of a wall, then the moisture must have originated inside the wall.
However, the source of the moisture may indeed be from outside the wall.
The materials inside the wall may have become damp because moisture was able to penetrate through the exterior wall from outside.
A moisture test on walls can be performed using a moisture meter. A moisture meter is a device that measures the electrical conductivity of a material. Moisture content has an effect on the electrical conductivity of a material, so a moisture meter is able to provide an indication of how much moisture is present.
There are two main types of moisture meters:
Pinless moisture meters are less invasive than pin-type moisture meters, but they may not be as accurate, particularly in materials that are very thick.
To perform a moisture test on a wall, follow these steps:
A moisture content reading of 0% indicates that the material is dry. A reading of 100% indicates that the material is saturated with water. A reading between 0% and 100% indicates that the material is damp.