When buying a moisture meter, it is important to consider how you will use it and how accurate the readings will be. This way, you will determine whether the meter you are buying can do its job or not. Here are some tips for buying a moisture meter:
Make sure the moisture meter you buy has good sensitivity. A good sensor plate allows the moisture meter to find the moisture level in a small space. It is impossible to obtain accurate moisture reading with an uncalibrated sensor plate. Some moisture meters even have a built-in calibration function that can only check a small part of the unit. Again, this can only check the inside of the unit and are usually not reliable.
Please do not purchase a moisture meter that has a pin inside them. This means that moisture is leaking and could potentially release harmful spores into your home. Pinless moisture meters are a great buy for allergy sufferers and those who live in areas with higher humidity. However, if you are allergic to mould, do not purchase these as they won’t detect any amounts of mould. They will detect moisture.
It is important to know the moisture content of your building materials. This is especially important when finding moisture meter options. Some homeowner meters come equipped with a material probe that can check the moisture content in one to five sieves at once. Others come with other attachments that allow a homeowner to check different building materials with a single probe.
Some moisture meters do not require calibration regularly. However, some do. For instance, a moisture meter with a built-in calibration mechanism will need to be calibrated regularly. A good rule of thumb is that the moisture content should be checked every three months or when the meter’s area is subject to significant temperature fluctuations. Calibration should also be done when the manufacturer’s instructions are followed, but no sooner than once per year.
Most moisture meters today have meters that allow them to measure small samples of wood. If you plan to buy a meter that allows you to check moisture levels in small wood samples, make sure that the model you choose has a high tolerance to moisture. The wood floors in your home are prone to infestation by a variety of moulds. A moisture meter that can detect small changes in mould levels allows you to detect leaks before the wood floors become damaged.
A good moisture meter should have a high enough sensitivity to pick up subtle changes in the moisture content. However, make sure you buy a meter that can detect small changes in the content even when the surroundings are cool or dry. This is especially important for homeowners who live in humid areas where flooding may occur. Suppose the water intrusion is not detected and the humidity level is maintained at the same level throughout the house. In that case, the homeowner is likely to suffer damages to their belongings.
The accuracy of moisture meters is best for people who plan to use the device to monitor water intrusion, moisture levels in the air and humidity. For other homeowners, a basic moisture meter that has an effective built-in calibration system should be enough. However, suppose you feel more comfortable with models that have higher sensitivity. In that case, you should consider buying models that offer an automated procedure for detecting water levels in the air, ambient air temperature and humidity, and temperature changes in the surface and under surfaces of your home. A homeowner should check the accuracy of their device by purchasing one that comes with a measuring guide or by consulting the manual that comes with it.
Go to www.instrumentchoice.com.au to buy your first moisture meter.
