You’re not wrong about “dry to the touch” being unreliable, but I wouldn’t write off moisture meters entirely. I get that they can seem hit or miss, but a decent quality one with pins (not just the pinless kind) can actually pick up moisture deep in the carpet pad or subfloor. The trick is knowing where to check. Corners, seams—anywhere water might’ve pooled up and not evaporated.
Those moisture meters are kinda like fortune cookies… sometimes right, sometimes just wishful thinking.
I get the frustration, but I’ve seen jobs where a meter caught what you’d never spot otherwise. It’s not perfect, but it beats guessing with your nose. The other thing I’ve noticed: fans alone don’t always cut it if there’s padding or wood underneath. Sometimes you need to pull stuff up, even if it looks fine on top.
I’ve had a similar situation—thought I’d dried a bathroom leak, but a week later, the baseboard started warping. Pulled it off and the drywall behind was mush. If I’d used a meter back then, probably would’ve caught it earlier.
Not saying you should trust gadgets blindly, but I wouldn’t toss them out either. Maybe a combo of meter, pulling up what you can, and a dehumidifier if you’ve got one? That’s what I’d go with next time.
The other thing I’ve noticed: fans alone don’t always cut it if there’s padding or wood underneath.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen meters give false confidence too. Sometimes they’ll read dry if you’re just a little off the trouble spot. Like you said, “the trick is knowing where to check,” but that’s not always obvious, especially with water sneaking under walls or into weird corners. Personally, I’d rather overdo it—pull more baseboards, cut out a bit of drywall if needed. Moisture meters help, but I wouldn’t trust them as the final word. Mold’s not worth the risk.
Moisture meters help, but I wouldn’t trust them as the final word. Mold’s not worth the risk.
Totally get that. Had a job where the meter said it was all good, but when we pulled the trim, the insulation was soaked. Fans didn’t do much till we opened it up. Sometimes you just gotta go old school—if it smells funky, start cutting.
I hear you on the moisture meters—they’re a tool, but not gospel. I’ve had similar surprises behind baseboards where everything looked dry on the surface. Here’s what’s worked for me: after shutting off the water and power, I pull up trim and poke around with a screwdriver. If it feels soft or smells musty, I cut it out. Fans and dehumidifiers help, but nothing beats getting air to the actual wet spots. Sometimes you just have to trust your nose and gut over gadgets.
Totally get where you’re coming from—sometimes those gadgets just make me second-guess myself. I’ve had a “dry” reading before, then pulled up some trim and found soggy drywall underneath. Wild how much can hide behind the scenes.
- Trusting your nose is underrated. That musty smell never lies.
- I’m with you on poking around with a screwdriver. If it crumbles, it’s gotta go.
- Fans and dehumidifiers are lifesavers, but I learned the hard way that you can’t rush it. Few days of patience beats having to redo repairs later.
- Honestly, I wish I’d known sooner not to panic about every little reading on the meter. Sometimes you just have to dig in and see for yourself.
Feels good to know I’m not the only one who’s had to play detective after a water heater meltdown. It’s messy, but at least we’re learning as we go...
