jUST OUT OF SCHOOL AND 2 TEACHERS DISAGREES , ONE BELIEVES IN THE MOISTURE METER AS PART OF THE iNSPECTION, AND OTHER DOES NOT , WHAT DOES MOST THE INSPECTORS OUT THERE BELIEVE THANKS

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I think you will find out as you mature as a Home Inspector the moisture meter will become part of your bag of tricks. Very useful in certain circumstance.

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Dave

Would love to hear more about the argument against them. How would you be able to tell if a leak might be active without one?

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Scott Dana
Dana Home Inspections, Inc.

A true teacher would tell you to use all the information at your disposal to make the right conclusion on any situation. A moisture meter is one of those tools. The teacher against it is trying to offer the absolute minimal to a client in order to reduce liability.
Honesty, itegrity,accuracy,patience and practice are 5 of your most important tools. Ask your teacher in what crawlspace his integrity fell out of his tool pouch.

I'm probably in the minority (I usually am ) but I stick with a visual inspection. If I see something that makes me think a leak may be present I write it up. If I don't see signs of a leak I most likely wouldn't check the area with a meter anyways since there is no way to check every square inch with a meter. I guess my take on it is either I see visual signs of a leak or I don't see signs of a leak. It seems pretty cut and dry to me.

I inspect a ton of very old houses that have had many leaks, both plumbing and roof, over the decades. It's important to me to be able to tell the buyer if a stain is wet or dry, so I use moisture meters all the time.

James said "It seems pretty cut and dry to me."

I'm guessing you have not been a HI long. I don't think I know one inspector that does not own a moisture meter. I use mine on almost evey inspection.

Just today I suspected there might be a moisture issue on a basement wall. There was a slightly negative grade in the front yard. No signs of stains or other issues on the drywall. Put my moisture meter in and got 38% at the first spot.

If you think that just doing a "visual" inspection, and not using "special tools" is going to protect you from a lawsuit, I think you need to do some serious re-thinking. When someone discovers a moisture problem that you did not call out in your report, and you are called into court, or a deposition, you will have a hard time explaining why you don't use a moisture meter, when every other inspector in your area does.

I for one feel that a moisture meter should be the second tool an inspector should buy. The first being a good flashlight.

I just can't imagine why a HI instructor would tell someone not ot use a moisture meter.
JF

All I can say, is that my moisture meter has saved me many times over what it cost me. Worth every penny! And after years, still learning what it can do for me. Never quit.

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If I had two faces, would I be wearing this one?
Abraham Lincoln

I own 4 moisture meters, all have different uses! I use at least one if not more at every inspection.

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Scott Patterson
Spring Hill, TN
http://www.traceinspections.com

I also had 4 moisture meters, but typically only used two of them.

5 ... if you counted my infrared camera as a 'moisture meter' (it is not, but it beats one for most things, but *does not replace* a moisture meter when trying to actually *detect moisture*).

I just cannot understand the reasoning behind an instructor telling you *not to use* a moisture meter.

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Jerry Peck, Construction / Litigation Consultant
Construction Litigation Consultants, LLC ( www.ConstructionLitigationConsultants.com )

I've seen House Detective....I know the clients like the gadgets that beep and have numbers on them. I just have to razzle and dazzle them with my charm and wit....along with my K&S&A. 32 years in the trades, 3 years inspecting. I'll learn right from wrong one day!

The client really gets excited believe it or not when you pull out a moisture meter and show them a problem area.

I have one meter that I call my disposable meter. Not an expensive model but it does a great job. If needed, I pull the good one out from behind my seat of the truck.

When the client sees that meter peg out to the red line, and they see that moisture is present in that wall void they almost act like their happy you found it.

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Rick Hurst_Home Works Inspection Co_Rockwall TX
In the words of Mike Tyson.... "Everyone has a plan until they get hit inda mouf"

I have to say, I can see both points of view. I got an e-mail from a very happy client this week because I had tested and found high levels of moisture below the windows, recommended mold testing and saved them a ton of money as the samples came back extremely high. There was no visible evidence, BUT, I had a few advantages. It was a pueblo style home (some call it Santa fe) with no overhangs; the people who install stucco and windows here don't know what flashing is; the caulking was poor at the window frames. So, I had a pretty good idea going in that the windows were leaking.
On certain styles of homes, I routinely check. It is also useful to check obvious stains and report them wet or dry. I think it is good for your own information, whether or not you include it in the report.
One thing I can tell you, if there is a serious mold issue you WILL be named in the lawsuit, regardless of whether or not you moisture tested, regardless of the disclaimers in your IA. CYA, moisture test when indicated, decide for yourself whether to report your findings when negative. I guarantee you you will report them when positive. Sometimes it is the most significant defect you will find.
These "Visual Inspection" people have tunnel vision. They don't realize that they are using tools throughout the inspection from screwdrivers to flashlights to outlet testers. I think we are seeing the tip of the iceburg, lead, follow or get out of the way. The tools of the future will make our moisture meters look like tinkertoys. How about a whole house MRI?

wait, I answered the wrong question, I don't have a Moisute Meter, I have a moisture meter! where can I get one , do I need one?

Since a non tunnel vision HI does not miss the boat they must carry all the following to be through:

A Ultrasonic leak detector- to check for leaks in ductwork
A sewer video inspection camera system- to check for rusted cast iron
A psychometry- to check relative humidity & dew point temps
A microwave leak detector- to check for microwave leaks
A Electromagnetic Field tester- to check for EMF emissions
A indoor air quality meter- to check IAQ
A combustible gas leak detector- to check for combustible gas leaks
A CO leak detector- to check for CO leaks
A velocity air meter- to check the CFM at registers
A set of manifold guages- to check the charge on the HVAC system
A sound level meter- to check dB levels
A borescope- to check for hidden problems
A HVAC Video Inspection System- to check the inside of duct work
An of course a Thermal Imaging Camera-

Not using any of these meters could be considered negligence under the right circumstances. I think the term visual inspection is in place for a reason. Once the term changes from visual to invasive and/or comprehensive then I'll raise my price and follow the new SOP. I think the most important thing is to be consistant in your reports and not be jumping all over the place. JM2C

James,

Don't forget the Robinson 44 Helicopter to view the roof with.

You must like going to (need to go to) extremes to justify NOT using a moisture meter?

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Jerry Peck, Construction / Litigation Consultant
Construction Litigation Consultants, LLC ( www.ConstructionLitigationConsultants.com )

Naw....Just saying you have to stop somewhere!

I see your point but think a happy medium can be found. I for instance have a moisture meter, combustible gas detector and laser thermometer.

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Scott Dana
Dana Home Inspections, Inc.

For the life of me, I can't figure out why some folks insist that if you use one instrument, that you will/ can get in-trouble for not using them all... That's just a home-inspector myth.

I have a Moisture Encounter Plus and a Protimeter. I do not pull them out of the bag unless I suspect an area or have good reason to verify a condition. Using a moisture meter is no different from using the Suretest, gas leak detector or any other item that will help you CONFIRM an issue that you may uspect. These instruments are basically for quality control of my own findings to VERIFY what I already found.

In every case, I use these specialized insturments to VERIFY what I suspect may be going on or VERIFY that another tester has told me was going on. Hell, I've got a carbon monoxide detector that I've used three times--and I may never use it again.

Rich

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"If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?"
Richard Rushing, HCRI
Duncanville, Tx.

It's not rocket science! Water or moisture causes more home inspector complaints than anything else. About the only reason I can see a home inspector not having a moisture meter is that they are too cheap to buy one. If you have to select just one meter you need to invest in the Protimeter Survey Master. With both pin and noninvasive technology it is a hard meter to beat. The next would be the Tramex Moisture Encounter.

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Scott Patterson
Spring Hill, TN
http://www.traceinspections.com

James, I didn't mean to imply that guys who didn't use all the latest gadgets had tunnel vision. What I meant was that we all use tools in this business. A totally visual-only inspection means no ladders, screwdrivers, flashlights, etc.
When you think about it, every tool in our trade is simply a way to see better. We need the screwdriver to see inside the electric panel, we need the moisture meter to see moisture.

And.... if that don't work (seeing the moisture) use the infrared camera.


RR

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"If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?"
Richard Rushing, HCRI
Duncanville, Tx.