Damp meter

[Welsh girl]

It's coming closer to the end of my warranty . I've had no problems except for a cold cab but I want to check the damp levels if any in the van. Which one is recommended. I really don't want to leave holes with the prongs on some tester's so which one could funsters recommend please?

 

[Deleted member 29692]

You need a non invasive type with a ball head not one of the ones with pins.

This is the one that many of us have although it was available for quite a bit less than that when we all bought them.

https://www.thermometerspecialist.co.uk/humidcheck-contact-moisture-meter

 

[magicsurfbus]

I'm not saying it's the best, but the pronged one I got from B&Q for about £40 did the job. It matched the readings our mobile fitter was getting when he tested for damp. If you don't want to leave holes, don't press too hard - you don't need to.

 

[PP Bear]

I'm not saying it's the best, but the pronged one I got from B&Q for about £40 did the job. It matched the readings our mobile fitter was getting when he tested for damp. If you don't want to leave holes, don't press to hard - you don't need to.

I'm the same only I paid even less in Lidl. Cross referenced it with an "proper one" and spot on, so it gives me an instant check and peace of mind

If I found any damp I'd investigate immediately or pass it to a specialist if required.

It's also got the prongs but they don't need to be pushed in for a reading and then left with pin holes. Doesn't matter when I do the floor as the pins then go through the carpet no problem

 

[tonka]

I have a £20 Non-Invasive one bought off ebay..
Personally I dont think you need worry about how accurate it is... If you go around the van and everywhere is close to one reading BUT all of a sudden you find an area that is a lot higher then you will know more investigation is needed


This is what i have.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-in-1-In...781836?hash=item4d4cbaa3cc:g:42YAAOxyrxZR3-NM

or here is an alternative.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-M...732437?hash=item3d30437595:g:JOsAAOSwImRYddni

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[Madcaravanner]

I bought one of these so many years ago I forget when yes it has prongs so I can find how deep the damp runs --

my thoughts but then had a totally dry caravan for 13 years think I paid around £15 and it compares to the one my engineer uses as to it's readings even though it only gives me an audible signal (the higher pitched and faster impulse the more damp ) which is useful for places I can't see where the meter is (my eyes are useless close up)

Would have loved a more modern one but SWMBO says unless it breaks we'll stick with it if we need a detailed damp test thats what we pay the engineer for

 

[Deleted member 29692]

Personally I dont think you need worry about how accurate it is... If you go around the van and everywhere is close to one reading BUT all of a sudden you find an area that is a lot higher then you will know more investigation is needed

Spot on, the accuracy doesn't matter at all.

The other thing you can do is keep a note of the readings you get in each place each time you check and then all you need to do is look for changes. If they remain consistent you're fine, if the number for a particular spot is suddenly a lot higher than the last time you checked it then you have a potential issue.

 

[hilldweller]

This is what i have.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-in-1-Inductive-Wood-Tree-Timber-Moisture-Meter-Drywall-Masonry-Non-Invasive-/331999781836?hash=item4d4cbaa3cc:g:42YAAOxyrxZR3-NMi

Same here, works a treat. Even tells me my hand has damp in it.

 

[tonka]

Spot on, the accuracy doesn't matter at all.

The other thing you can do is keep a note of the readings you get in each place each time you check and then all you need to do is look for changes. If they remain consistent you're fine, if the number for a particular spot is suddenly a lot higher than the last time you checked it then you have a potential issue.

My last hab check showed a high spot under a window and went in for re-sealing under warranty.
Since it came back i noted the reading on my meter and have done the occasional check in that area.
Sure as "eggs is eggs" the reading is slowly going down on every check so hence a nice visible sign that things are drying out.
Thats all i need.

 

[Welsh girl]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll have a look at a the few mentioned, best to find out before the warranty ends.

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[cornish boy]

I know you all are aware of the limitations of moisture meters but I thought the article at the end of this post might be of interest to a few of you.

@tonka was spot on the money when saying

If you go around the van and everywhere is close to one reading BUT all of a sudden you find an area that is a lot higher then you will know more investigation is needed

Pin type meters only read the resistance between the two pins and at the depth the pins are inserted, whereas frequency (pinless) meters read at fixed depths and are affected by varying materials, screws, nails and sandwich construction so it is a lottery to guess if a low reading means dry, medium reading means damp and a high reading means soaked.

Electronic moisture meter readings are only indicative not conclusive and this is especially pertinent when a dealer is moisture testing your pride and joy prior to trading it in!

Without being cynical, if you knew where to test, you could almost be sure of a medium to high reading....

Article HERE

EDIT

@NickNic types faster than me but hit the nail on the head with

Spot on, the accuracy doesn't matter at all.

The other thing you can do is keep a note of the readings you get in each place each time you check and then all you need to do is look for changes. If they remain consistent you're fine, if the number for a particular spot is suddenly a lot higher than the last time you checked it then you have a potential issue.

 

[Jagtazman]

I have one of these, seems easy enough to use and I just don't press to hard
have test with and without force, same reading
I tend to check around the van quarterly, only had van since June last year due back in for service, mot, habitation shortly so will check before goes in and then see if dealer finds anything also.

 

[Welsh girl]

I have a £20 Non-Invasive one bought off ebay..
Personally I dont think you need worry about how accurate it is... If you go around the van and everywhere is close to one reading BUT all of a sudden you find an area that is a lot higher then you will know more investigation is needed


This is what i have.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-in-1-In...781836?hash=item4d4cbaa3cc:g:42YAAOxyrxZR3-NM

or here is an alternative.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-M...732437?hash=item3d30437595:g:JOsAAOSwImRYddni

hi.
I bought one of these. Delivered today and it asks what kind of wood is it that I'm measuring.
I don't know what wood is in the van so can you tell me which number or gear as they call it to use please?
Thanks
@tonka

 

[tonka]

hi.
I bought one of these. Delivered today and it asks what kind of wood is it that I'm measuring.
I don't know what wood is in the van so can you tell me which number or gear as they call it to use please?
Thanks
@tonka

Never seen one, so unsure...
On mine it has brick, masonry etc... I use "softwood"..

 

[Welsh girl]

Never seen one, so unsure...
On mine it has brick, masonry etc... I use "softwood"..

Ok thanks I'll ask @hilldweller . He said he's bought one.
Can you tell me please Brian?

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[Welsh girl]

Hers all the wood choices.

 

[Welsh girl]

 

[tonka]

COR.. That's a bit in depth.. Maybe start with the top one..
It wont do any harm and you just need to go around and find the "average".. If you suddenly find a higher reading then you know to investigate more.. Thats how i would do it..

 

[hilldweller]

Ok thanks I'll ask @hilldweller . He said he's bought one.
Can you tell me please Brian?

Your van is full of cheap light softwood.

They could have used some serious hardwoods that are immune to water damage but the weight would double and you'd not be able to afford it anyway.

As has been said before, the numbers are not important, if most shows green and the somewhere else lights the red LEDs it's time to worry, but even then don't get too alarmed, it just might be something odd in the construction underneath. But if an area turns from green in the past to red, get worried a bit.

 

[Welsh girl]

COR.. That's a bit in depth.. Maybe start with the top one..
It wont do any harm and you just need to go around and find the "average".. If you suddenly find a higher reading then you know to investigate more.. Thats how i would do it..

It is certainly confusing.

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[Welsh girl]

T

Your van is full of cheap light softwood.

They could have used some serious hardwoods that are immune to water damage but the weight would double and you'd not be able to afford it anyway.

As has been said before, the numbers are not important, if most shows green and the somewhere else lights the red LEDs it's time to worry, but even then don't get too alarmed, it just might be something odd in the construction underneath. But if an area turns from green in the past to red, get worried a bit.

There's no red or green lights just numbers.

 

[hilldweller]

There's no red or green lights just numbers.

Sorry I thought you got the same as others in here but no matter just judge by the numbers.

Just for fun put it down on a wooden table, note the number. Get a piece of newspaper and damp it a little, put on table, put meter on top and you'll see just how sensitive it is.

 

[ChrisL]

Some might find the following video usefull



And the comments on the following video showing the amount of damp found in a one year old caravan are interesting especially the one from an employee of the manufacture.