Quote:
Originally Posted by chiefcope
o we r gonna start cking out the extent of our water damage. where is any info showing how we measure for water damage? in the files?
|
Hi,
See here for info on the moisture meter. I am not sure which meter model and which brand you bought.
https://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f...per-17613.html
If you bought a General Tools "pinless" meter make sure the operating mode is set to "Wall Mode" and not softwood or hardwood. Wall mode gives you a range of wetness of 0 to 100%. This is not percent of moisture in the object but a wetness scale.
A few other pointers to help
The meter will give high readings when there is metal in the wall within approx. 1" from the meter. Like wires, or metal pipe fittings, screws etc. For wires, fittings and screws, just slide over a little to get off the metal. Metal in the wall of a camper does not take up large spaces like a wet wall can. A wet wall will have high numbers of moisture over a large area, many inches or feet in size. Not a blip the size of a dime or silver dollar like a metal screw, pipe fitting etc can in the wall.
You cannot scan through the metal siding outside. The metal will give false high numbers. To scan for wet walls, ceilings and floors, go inside the camper and scan the wall, ceiling or floor boards. The meter only scans about 5/8" to 3/4" into the wall and will not see the metal siding on the outside.
You can scan through plastic, like a shower surround glued to the wall or a fiberglass door or wall.
You can scan through vinyl floor tile or carpet. On the carpet, the wood under the carpet may not be as wet as the carpet is. Or both floor and carpet can be very wet.
If your camper has a plastic tarp kind of waterproof membrane on the bottom to prevent road splash from hitting the floor, you can scan up on the plastic membrane to look for wet insulation or rotted wood. Some older campers have a metal shield on the bottom. This metal type of barrier will give false high numbers.
Scanning a camper in a very high humidity time, may give false readings or reading where the entire camper is wet and really it is not. Surface humidity can trick the meter. In this case, wait for slightly drier times.
For the General brand pinless meter on "wall mode" these percentage numbers can be a guide. These are from my own using the meter on a camper, not from General tool. Consider them a guide only, not absolute.
0 to 5% is a dry condition. No issues.
6% to 10% may be OK depending on high humidity that may have gotten into the wood.
11% to 15% means something is moist enough that moisture in some form is present in the meters scanning range.
16% to 25% means there is a problem with something wet behind this area
26% to 35%, wet wood or insulation is present in the meters scanning range. A reading this high has high odds wetness is large enough to need repair. An active leak has started and can be ongoing. Further investigation is needed, often times these numbers show a leak.
36% to 60%, very wet wood or insulation is behind this meter location. Often it has been wet a long time. Repair is recommended
60% to 100% this is a very very wet area. Insulation or wood may be dripping wet. Odds are high water damage has been going on in this area for a large amount of time. Repair is inevitable if you want to keep the camper a long time.
Note: Wood that has dry rot, or a prior wet area that is dried out often will not show very high numbers. The meter only detects moisture and is a tool to help inspect a camper.
Hope this helps and ask away on any questions you have. When you do ask, tell us the brand and model of the meter you have.
John
__________________
Linear Mode
