There would be almost little chance of survival without moisture. It will happen even if you stay inside. Humidity is a measurement of the amount of moisture in the air and is produced when indoor moisture combines with outdoor air from sources, such as showering, cooking, breathing, and the use of certain building materials.
However, using correct building techniques can help you avoid having moisture seep into your walls in the first place. Exterior wall typically has a moisture barrier and siding installed, while interior walls typically have a second moisture barrier installed directly under the sheathing.
In the majority of related cases, that’s all that’s required to prevent water from seeping into the wall material. However, if there is a leak detection, the damp wall can quickly become soaked and develop mold or decay.
How To Detect Moisture Behind Walls
Manual checks should be performed first, then a wood moisture meter used to determine if moisture is present inside the walls.
- Pay close attentiveness to the exterior of the wet wall. Check the outside of the component for any indications of mildew or mold growth, such as a yellowing material, circular brown patches, or black discolorations that frequently seem like hairy growths. Look at the wall texture very carefully. Surfaces that warp or buckle are other telltale signs of moisture issues, as example peeling paint.
- Lightly testing the wall with a push. Drywall that has been destroyed by moisture will have a spongy, almost unnatural sensation, while wood-sheathed walls may still feel slightly solid despite the presence of moisture. Structural damage is often visible after being gently scraped with a butter knife, screwdriver, or similar tool.
- Detect dampness by sniffing the wall. Mildew and mold thrive in the dark, damp conditions created when an interior wall becomes wet, and the abundance of organic matter that serves as food for the fungus. Wet conditions accelerate the development of mold and wood decay. If a wall has a musty odor, there is definitely an issue. Taking off the cover plate from a wall outlet can allow you to get your nose closer to the inner wall, which can sometimes help you locate the issue faster.
- Make two holes in the wall, spaced approximately an inch apart and 3/16 of an inch in diameter. You can do your job just as well from the comfort of your home’s interior as you can from the yard. To avoid damaging the outer wall sheathing while drilling through the siding, make sure to only drill deep enough to penetrate the siding. To access the insulation on the inside, you’ll need to drill through the wall.
- Moisture meter’s probes are inserted into the holes that were bored. To check the moisture level, activate the meter and refer to the display as directed by the manufacturer. The probes should be adjusted as needed to maintain a constant reading and obtain reliable data. It’s best to take your readings at different times, say, three readings in a half hour.
- Get the measure of the result in relation to the recommended amount of moisture present in the air. It’s impossible to have absolutely no moisture in the air, as even the wood used to build a house has a certain quantity. The range of values between 7 and 13 percent moisture is considered normal. Even though somewhat higher readings may be typical for your home, really high readings need to be addressed immediately.
- If the moisture levels inside your wall appear normal using both visual and mechanical tests, you can close the test holes. Apply some silicone caulk, either colored or clear, to the outside of the hole to seal it. Wood putty, spackling compound, as well as drywall tape can be used to patch up damage inside the home. However, if you’re dealing with a moisture issue, you might have to remove the wall sheathing before you can make the necessary repairs on the inside.
Inside information: Before you perform the test on your wall, make sure the moisture meter has been calibrated properly. One sort of meter is a simple desiccant spike that slides into the probe hole and is taped over.
Others employ electromagnetic waves to detect moisture below the wall surface without the need for probes. If the spikes turn green after being exposed to too much moisture for a while, you know you have a problem.
Detecting Wall Moisture Without Disrupting The Wall’s Structure
Walls composed of sheetrock, plaster, concrete, or brick can all be tested during a standard home moisture inspection without any harm occurring.
If you’re a home inspector, you probably have a pinless meter and a pin-type moisture meter on hand, and using either one is quick and easy without risking any harm to the walls.
Damage-Free Inspections With Pinless Moisture Meters
Using a pinless moisture meter, checking for dampness in walls is a breeze that won’t leave a mark on the surface. If you don’t ram the pinless moisture meter into the wall you’re checking, you won’t damage it. This is due to the fact that no pinless measurements can be taken above the surface. The fact that they don’t cause any damage to the sample is what makes them a great choice for use as a non-intrusive moisture meter.
Pinless meters are able to detect moisture by measuring the average moisture content of a material at a given depth, using radio frequencies. In fact, pinless moisture meters’ primary function is to confirm the presence of water leakage in a given environment. They aid in tracing it back to its origin, even in inaccessible places, such as:
- Wall cavities
- Underneath floors
- Behind cabinets
Damage-Free Inspections With Pin Type Moisture Meter
You would assume that a pin-type meter used for a house moisture survey would inevitably do some damage.
Although pin-type meters have sharp metal probes (pins) sticking out of them, when used properly, they should not leave any more than barely perceptible scars on a wall. When using a pin-type meter to check for moisture in a wall, it is not necessary to force the pins into the surface.
Instead, simply touching the probes to the surface of the material being studied is all that is necessary. The probes will only leave tiny impressions in some wall materials, and the meter will take care of the rest.
A pin-type meter analyzes the electrical resistance in between the probes to ascertain how much humidity or dampness is present in a material. Wood moisture equivalencies are used as the basis for the readings on pin-type meters (WME). This means that pin-type meters will read the moisture content of any substance as though it were wood.
Wall Moisture Is Problematic
The majority of well-built houses come complete with protective barriers, cutting-edge infiltration systems, and siding composed of materials tailored to resist moisture since they were created with the wear and tear of everyday moisture elements in mind. Despite this, moisture still finds a way to seep in over time.
Water seepage has the potential to damage you, your house, and others in many different ways.
To begin with, drywall is made from wood and gypsum – two elements that are soft and easily deteriorated. If the framing or drywall in your home is damaged, it might be very unsafe and very expensive to fix.
Second, when water sits for an extended period of time, it can foster the formation of a wide variety of pathogens, such as mold and mildew. Because their interiors are shielded from light and air, walls are prime locations for the growth of mold and mildew, both of which thrive in damp environments.
These chemicals are not only unpleasant to look at, but they also pose a health risk to anyone who breathes them in for an extended period of time. Your well-being should not be placed in jeopardy over something as easily preventable as moisture in the walls. Your walls can be saved from the deterioration caused by excess moisture if the problem is detected and addressed quickly.
Preventing Moisture In Walls
1. Make sure your house has enough ventilation.
Ventilating your home effectively is the single most critical thing you can do to maintain a level of relative humidity within it. Did you know that moisture may form in walls from anything as basic as breathing, bathing, cooking, tumble-drying, etc.?
Focus on the bathrooms and kitchens. Don’t let the moisture in your attic lead to worse issues. Make sure these vents go straight outdoors. Remember that you must switch on a vent in order for it to function. In order to eliminate all the excess moisture from the room, you can use one of the many vents on the market, some of which even have timers or moisture sensors.
2. You need better insulation.
Double-paned windows, which consist of two panes of glass, are a common and effective method of warding off condensation. Because of this, insulation levels will rise significantly, resulting in less heat being lost. The wet air might escape through the vents in the window’s upper sash. Blocking them off is as simple as closing a door when you’re done.
3. Put in some vent fans
Be sure to have a bathroom exhaust fan installed and always have it turned on when you are using the steam shower. This will ensure dry air and prevent condensation on the walls.
Another thing to remember is to always inspect the grout in your bathroom floor tiles for any signs of damage. Several varieties of commercial fan chandeliers can be purchased at present. Humidity levels in the home can be lowered by using these fans to draw in dry air from outside.
4. Install a dehumidifier.
General tools, such as a dehumidifier removes excess humidity from the air – keeping the space dry and free from mold contamination. If you have a portable model, you can take it with you from room to room (often leaving it for 24 to 36 hours at a time) when the need arises. Closets, RVs, sheds, windowsills, and even attic spaces are all suitable locations for a portable dehumidifier.
5. Include vapor retarders in the design.
Walls, floors, as well as ceilings can benefit from vapor retarders for the simple reason that they slow down the rate at which moisture can penetrate them.
6. Prevent mold from spreading.
Condensation, and thus mold, tends to congregate in specific areas of your home. These might be tucked away in the recesses of cupboards and wardrobes, at the back of a closet, in a corner of the room, beneath a window, or on the window frame or sill. If you see any mold, wipe it off with a moist cloth or spray it with a mold killer. Bleach diluted with water also works quite well.
Damp walls can have negative effects on your goods and health, so it’s necessary to get rid of the moisture and the mold.
7. Ensure that water is diverted away from your property.
The easiest approach to stop water from entering your house is to keep your roof in excellent condition. In addition to that, you should increase the size of your home’s overhang to divert water away from the structure’s exterior.
Do you need another method to divert water away from your crawl space or basement? Establishing a slope around your home will ensure that rainwater will flow away from the structure. Installing French drains or rerouting downspouts may be necessary to solve surface water issues.
You should also ensure the condensation from your air conditioner drains away from your home. You may prevent ground moisture from entering your home through the crawlspace by laying down thick plastic sheets. The same logic applies to watering your grass or flower beds. You don’t want to soak the soil too deeply around your house.
8. Fix all the water leaks.
Repairing water leak is crucial if you want to stop condensation from forming on walls. Problems with the plumbing are the most common source of leaks that cause water damage. Most water damage is caused by a hidden leak – leaking tub, sink, or other item that uses water, such as a washing machine or dishwasher.
In addition to that, skylights, vents, and chimneys all present entry points for water to enter a building and eventually find its way down the wall cavity. Your first item of business should be to conduct an inquiry into what caused the water to spill out of the pipe.
It is strongly suggested that you seek the services of an expert in the event that you are unable to carry out the task yourself. Don’t try to fix broken pipes, flashing, or gutters on your own. Plumbing and roofing are two trades that need to be considered for such intricate work.
9. Set up large glass panes
When preparing for moisture removal in the home through venting, it is essential to think about both the source of the fresh air and even the method by which it will enter the house. Make sure there’s enough airflow within your home by having plenty of big windows and doors. Let adequate light and air in by keeping them open.
Make sure that your window coverings don’t block off too much light. Keeping your house at a reasonable humidity level may be accomplished in an efficient and cost-free manner by letting in natural light.
10. Be smart about the building material you use.
Moisture is held and transmitted by different materials in different ways. Brick, on the other hand, is more prone to enable moisture to travel through it and also retains moisture, in contrast to siding made of aluminum.
Plaster-based interiors are not as durable as concrete. Hence, it’s best to use concrete for the exterior. The second option causes moisture to leak in. Install eaves on the outer walls of your home.
Conduits and adequate ventilation are also needed in the kitchen. Avoid blocking air vents with large pieces of furniture. You should also invest in quality extractors for the kitchen and the bathroom. Choose unfinished wood over treated wood.
Normal Amount Of Dampness In Walls
Drywall is considered to have a suitable degree of moisture when its moisture content falls anywhere in the range of 5% to 12%. However this might vary depending on the relative humidity.
Moisture Reading/Moisture Detector
After subtracting the dry weight from the starting weight, the amount of water is obtained. After that, the moisture content is calculated by dividing the entire quantity of water by either the dry weight or the total weight – depending on which one was used in the reporting.
Getting Rid Of The Dampness On The Wall Surfaces
Turn on all of the fans and crack all of the windows and doors to speed up the drying process. In order to dry the walls, you should set up some fans. In addition to that, dehumidifiers can be used to assist in the removal of moisture from the air and the walls. Professionals rely on dehumidifiers, industrial-strength fans, moisture meters, as well as infrared cameras with thermal imaging.
Moisture And Water Difference
Moisture is the presence of some kind of liquid, most commonly water, in an environment. Small quantities of water can be discovered in a variety of places, including the air (relative humidity), foods, and even some manufactured goods.
Excessive Wall Moisture
When warm, humid air meets cold, dry air, condensation results. The condensation of water droplets on the cold surfaces is a result of their colliding, such as in your walls. After a really hot shower, condensation like this forms on the bathroom walls.
Final Words
Moisture detection isn’t as difficult as you would think! Indeed, if you follow this step-by-step advice, you can ensure that your walls are dry with minimal and non-invasive work in the vast majority of circumstances.
To avoid having to pay the cost of water damage restoration services, there should never be any standing water inside of a home. If the issue is not addressed, the walls that have moisture in them will degrade and become a breeding ground for mold and mildew if nothing is done to fix it.
Fortunately, there are a variety of precautions you can take to guarantee that your walls will remain dry and unaffected by moisture.