Moisture meter readings

[palmettoinspect]

I just picked up a Protimeter MMS and it's great. I previously used the protimeter mini until a crawl space ate it or left it on the back of my truck and drove off. I really like the non abrasive testing of the MMS. My question is do any of you using your meter (abrasive or non abrasive) take a control moisture reading on a known "dry" area before or after testing the possible wet area? The meter states 8%-17% is dry and 18%-100% is at risk or wet.

My reason for this question is sometimes I'll test a possible wet area and will get a low reading (inside the 8-17%). Then test a few other known dry areas and get a lower reading. I worry that the higher "dry" reading might be a damp or wet area. Does anyone else ever have this concern?

[Jim Katen]

I just picked up a Protimeter MMS and it's great. I previously used the protimeter mini until a crawl space ate it or left it on the back of my truck and drove off. I really like the non abrasive testing of the MMS. My question is do any of you using your meter (abrasive or non abrasive) take a control moisture reading on a known "dry" area before or after testing the possible wet area?

It's the only way I use it.

The meter states 8%-17% is dry and 18%-100% is at risk or wet.

My reason for this question is sometimes I'll test a possible wet area and will get a low reading (inside the 8-17%). Then test a few other known dry areas and get a lower reading. I worry that the higher "dry" reading might be a damp or wet area. Does anyone else ever have this concern?

The numbers are largely meaningless. Use the tool for relative measurements. As far as I'm concerned, they could replace the numbers with people's names, like they do for hurricanes. It's all about the relative moisture, not the absolute moisture.

- Jim Katen, Oregon