Yeah, moisture meters aren't foolproof—I learned that the hard way once. Thought I had a leak behind the shower tiles, tore out half the wall only to find everything bone dry and perfectly sealed. Turns out, condensation from hot showers was throwing off the readings. Now I always double-check visually before trusting the meter completely. Like you said, better safe than moldy...but also better safe than unnecessarily demoing your bathroom, lol.
Man, now you've got me second-guessing myself... I just ordered a moisture meter yesterday because I'm paranoid about hidden leaks behind my shower tiles. Are there any other visual clues you noticed before you tore into the wall? Like discoloration or grout issues maybe? I'm trying to avoid unnecessary demo at all costs, haha—my DIY skills are still pretty questionable and I'd rather not turn a weekend project into a month-long disaster. Also, did you find any reliable way to tell condensation apart from actual moisture buildup? Just wondering if there's some trick to it or if it's mostly trial and error (and crossed fingers).
"Are there any other visual clues you noticed before you tore into the wall? Like discoloration or grout issues maybe?"
Definitely keep an eye out for grout that's cracking or darker than usual—especially if it stays dark even after drying. I noticed a subtle discoloration along the lower tiles that didn't fade, which turned out to be moisture behind the wall. Condensation usually evaporates pretty quickly, but actual leaks stick around. Your moisture meter should help clarify things, though... fingers crossed it's just paranoia and not a month-long DIY saga.
Had a similar experience last year when I noticed some grout lines near the shower floor were staying dark. At first, I thought it was just soap scum or dirt buildup (you know how it is), but after scrubbing like crazy and seeing no change, my gut told me something else was up. Sure enough, when I finally got brave enough to peel back a tile, there was moisture trapped behind it. Turns out a tiny leak from the shower valve had been quietly wreaking havoc for months.
Honestly, if you notice grout discoloration that doesn't fade after cleaning or drying, trust your instincts and dig a little deeper—literally. Better to catch it early than end up with moldy drywall and a weekend spent wearing a respirator mask (ask me how I know...). Good luck, hope your situation turns out less dramatic than mine did!
Yikes, sounds like you caught it just in time. Had something similar happen a couple years back—thought I was losing my mind scrubbing grout that never got clean. Turned out to be a slow drip behind the wall. You're right though, trusting your gut is key. Better to rip out a tile or two now than deal with mold remediation later...been there, done that, not fun. Glad you figured it out before it got worse.
