Damp...Meter please ?

jagmanx

jagmanx

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Damp...Meter please ....Thanks all done

A Water ingress repair has been done but I would like to be able to Track / measure dampness.

Eg I would take several readings from various locations inside the van on a warm sunny day
Record the values

Repeat the metering both regularly and after a Heavy rainstorm

I do not wish to spend a huge amount and ask which of the following is most suited to this function
(in one sense accurate values are not essential it is relative changes which will inform me of the completeness of the "roof Re-seal")

Any suggestions for a damp meter suitable for this preferably below £30

Ads I put above " absolute accuracy" is not important..any changes in readings will alert me to any further problems
 
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Damp meters are one of those things where you can't just stick it in and take a reading. It doesn't really matter how much they cost. Like an expensive guitar, if you've got no experience, you'll still sound like a beginner.

You can wipe off surface condensation with a cloth, that's a start, but unless you stick the pins deep, you won't get to what is behind, and if you push deep, you can damage the finishes in a motorhome. They are beloved of "habitation" surveys where you can get any reading you want depending on how you use the device. I think they are better suited to domestic use and even then in very experienced hands.
 
Thanks for your advice

Firefox said:
Damp meters are one of those things where you can't just stick it in and take a reading. It doesn't really matter how much they cost. Like an expensive guitar, if you've got no experience, you'll still sound like a beginner.

You can wipe off surface condensation with a cloth, that's a start, but unless you stick the pins deep, you won't get to what is behind, and if you push deep, you can damage the finishes in a motorhome. They are beloved of "habitation" surveys where you can get any reading you want depending on how you use the device. I think they are better suited to domestic use and even then in very experienced hands.
Click to expand...

I note what you say and appreciate it.

I simply want a way to estimate the stability of the situation.
The particular spots are inside top lockers and next to a windows so a couple of "pinprick holes would be OK
May go for a more expensive "non-damaging" Meter

Yes care with getting reliable readings is needed so we will see
 
jagmanx said:
Many thanks
Looks a good one to try .. Not too cheap
Click to expand...


I`m happy with it, a friend recommended it.

I wanted one that wasn`t a Lidl /Aldi £9.99 cheapie and i didn`t want to spend a fortune on one either. This seemed a happy medium.
 
Got one from a stihl dealer for checking firewood. About a tenner I think.
 
molly 2 said:
Aldi sometimes have them about a tenner. Or eBay.
Click to expand...
PMSL at this one ooh where's my tens lady
get it damp meter
tenner
tens lady
:raofl::raofl::raofl::raofl::lol-049::lol-049::lol-049::lol-049::lol-061::lol-061::lol-061::lol-061:
help stop my sides hurt.
 
damp meters?

what on earth do you want to be running around your van with expensive damp meters for?...........when damp gets bad enough to be a problem, it will soon show itself with wetness on inside surfaces, or black mould arising...........thats the time to consider dealing with it when you actually got a problem to deal with......steve bristol
 
No Mould no Black patches

pughed2 said:
what on earth do you want to be running around your van with expensive damp meters for?...........when damp gets bad enough to be a problem, it will soon show itself with wetness on inside surfaces, or black mould arising...........thats the time to consider dealing with it when you actually got a problem to deal with......steve bristol
Click to expand...

But Damp !

I believe the problem has been solved. (at some cost)

I need to be sure it has been solved and/or pre-emp a repeat.

The most expensive meter (without being silly) I have found is about £50... a small price to pay to ensure my Vehicles longevity.
It is worth at Least 20 K (more to me) ..I need to keep it for several more years

Damp patches and mould etc ... TOO LATE
Water ingress could ruin it
 
campervanannie said:
PMSL at this one ooh where's my tens lady
get it damp meter
tenner
tens lady
:raofl::raofl::raofl::raofl::lol-049::lol-049::lol-049::lol-049::lol-061::lol-061::lol-061::lol-061:
help stop my sides hurt.
Click to expand...

Get her coat Annie, your taxi's here...
 
pughed2 said:
..when damp gets bad enough to be a problem, it will soon show itself with wetness on inside surfaces, or black mould arising...........thats the time to consider dealing with it when you actually got a problem to deal with......steve bristol
Click to expand...

​
Waiting for puddles to appear in the kitchen is not the way to discover missing roof tiles... Mould is a b*stard to get rid of once it's established so better to find out sooner and get some silicone round the heki...
IMHO on course...Stihl Wood Moisture Guage

Cheaper than a tube of sikaflex.
 
Made mine myself.
 

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Thanks to all

For all the comments and links to products.

A few damp patches were identified last March.

We used the vehicle all summer and noticed some damp in a couple of "Top Lockers" near the roof/wall.

No Mould or black etc

We have had the roof/wall mouldings repaired/resealed etc

Simply want to be sure the problem has been solved and monitor the situation myself.
So
1 Identify the possible problem areas ( about 10)
2 2 use a cloth to make sure inside is indeed dry
3 Measure moisture content and record
4 Repeat measurements initially every 2 weeks (then monthly)
5A Measure after a long dry spell eg doors windows lockers open
5B Measure again during/after wet weather.

Analyse thee results

It will be any big changes in the readings which will inform me..

I will also get some "drying out crystals" (or the like)

In short not a problem now but I want to keep and use the vehicle for several more years...Its layout suits us
I have invested in GasIt and a solar panel.

Like most things "Prevention is better than cure"
 
I couldn't agree more. Much better to catch a problem early than wait till it becomes an expensive repair.
 
I bought mine TEN01071 - TENMA - MOISTURE METER | CPC initially when i had a leak from the kitchen window.

When i removed the window ( which came out very very easily ) i could see that it hadn`t been fitted correctly from new.

I then needed to check how far the moisture had spread.

Thankfully it hadn`t got into the main frame and i then decided that a check on all the windows was needed but they came back OK.

The damp / moisture meter lives in the van and a couple of times a year i do a quick check in all the usual / suspect places just to be sure.

As has been said catch a problem early and it might not be as expensive as it would be for leaving it until you`ve mould growing on the walls.
 
Hi,

I have one of these Mini Moisture Meter | Toolstation and it does the job providing you get through the surface, after the Habitation service I used the meter to checked the areas checked by the Mobile Engineer with his Protimeter and got similar results which is the best I could get to correlating the cheap meter. A word of warning most of the cheaper meters don't hold the reading and can be akward to use as you always need to see the display.

Clive
 
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