Moisture meter for drywall recommendation

[09Q]

My apologies if this question has been asked before; yet this is possible that new information is available. Seems the two brands most recommended are the Klein pinless ET140 and the General Tools two pin and pinless models. I'd be interested in hearing what anyone with experience using moisture meters.

 

[larry4406]

I use a General Tools one that I bought from the orange box store. Seems to work ok.

I use it as a comparator mainly vs an absolute.

For example, when assessing water damage to a component (drywall, framing, hardwood, etc) I will take readings from a remote unaffected component to establish a “normal baseline”.

I then inspect the affected area to see how much it differs from “normal” and then assess extent of needed demo and remediation. Sometimes simple drying with a fan is adequate.

 

[09Q]

Thank you for that information; my main concern(s) accuracy and false positives. Being that I am not in this industry doesn't make a lot of sense to spend hundreds of dollars either.

 

[larry4406]

Thank you for that information; my main concern(s) accuracy and false positives. Being that I am not in this industry doesn't make a lot of sense to spend hundreds of dollars either.

The General Tools one I recall was $40-60 range, not too hateful.

I do know that when I compared its readings on hardwood flooring to the high dollar meter my hardwood vendor has (don’t know brand) we were within tenths (0.1%) so I felt pretty good.

 

[RTM]

Pinned units are more accurate. Pinless cause less damage. I had a friend drying some lumber, and testing it every so often. At the end of the study, he was worried about all the bugs that had infested his lumber.

He forgot about the pin meter. We all had a good chuckle.

 

[09Q]

For what I would use this for; I'd rather not damage the drywall. Granted I understand that pinned units tend to be more accurate. Seems wood has it's own industry with testing moisture.

 

[mike93lx]

A thermal camera can show wetness on a wall and a lot more

 

[larry4406]

A thermal camera can show wetness on a wall and a lot more

For only a few dollars more…….

 

[09Q]

A thermal camera can show wetness on a wall and a lot more

That is true and I imagine Flir is likely still the most prominent brand with thermal camera's.

 

[larry4406]

@09Q what are trying to chase?

 

[cgrutt]

I went with the Ligomat pinless but main concern was flooring. It does has settings for drywall and general construction material but haven't used it for drywall. Good company and they stand behind their products.

 

[Two Door]

If you're looking for blatant moisture damage, it doesn't take much of a meter to find it. The relatively cheap pin/pinless meter (Accumaster Duo Pro) I bought will measure in tenths of a percent, and will vary maybe 1% depending just on how you hold it against the wall.

In practice it is very clear-cut. Normal, for my purposes is around 5-7%, anything over 10 is almost certainly moisture that shouldn't be there. Granted, this is while using the pins, but they aren't intrusive. It isn't like they leave holes.

 

[mike93lx]

For only a few dollars more…….

There are some cheap ones out there. That said, I like my flir a lot

 

[tarbellb]

My General Tools meter NEVER seemed to work right