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Moisture Meter for testing caravans.

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  • 24-03-2020 9:16pm
    #1
    MorganIRL
    Registered Users Posts: 589 ✭✭✭


    Do people use these when buying caravans, I'm thinking of getting one before I go looking. As another poster in this group has had a rough draw on a recent purchase I'd like to elevate as much chance as I can. Something like this .


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    #2
    db
    Registered Users Posts: 1,078 ✭✭✭db


    MorganIRL wrote: »
    Do people use these when buying caravans, I'm thinking of getting one before I go looking. As another poster in this group has had a rough draw on a recent purchase I'd like to elevate as much chance as I can. Something like this .

    Insist on a recent damp report from a professional. The cheap damp testers are only suitable for testing moisture levels in firewood.


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    #3
    MorganIRL
    Registered Users Posts: 589 ✭✭✭MorganIRL


    db wrote: »
    Insist on a recent damp report from a professional. The cheap damp testers are only suitable for testing moisture levels in firewood.

    Not gonna be spending big money so it's gonna be hard to insist on a damp report.. if I was selling in the bracket I'm looking, I'd be saying sling ur hook and wait till the next call comes.


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    #4
    autumnalcore
    Registered Users Posts: 825 ✭✭✭autumnalcore


    The majority of moisture meters are resistive, they need to penetrate the material they are testing to give a meaningful reading especially in something like a caravan where surfaces are covered in melamine etc. You can buy more expensive capacitive / electromagentic meters but their readings are thrown off by metal or super expensive microwave meters not sure how they do with a mixed subtrate including metal.

    A low moisture reading is kind of meaningless unless you'd poked it into every square inch of the caravan leaving it looking like a pin cushion and can give a false sense of security there is no substitute for looking under floors carpets in lockers, every nook and cranny and pressing/tapping walls, floors everywhere to check for delamination especially around windows and seams. Your nose if you have a good sense of smell is a powerful tool also for isolating areas for further inspection.


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    #5
    oinkely
    Registered Users Posts: 945 ✭✭✭oinkely


    autumnalcore wrote: »
    The majority of moisture meters are resistive, they need to penetrate the material they are testing to give a meaningful reading especially in something like a caravan where surfaces are covered in melamine etc. You can buy more expensive capacitive / electromagentic meters but their readings are thrown off by metal or super expensive microwave meters not sure how they do with a mixed subtrate including metal.

    A low moisture reading is kind of meaningless unless you'd poked it into every square inch of the caravan leaving it looking like a pin cushion and can give a false sense of security there is no substitute for looking under floors carpets in lockers, every nook and cranny and pressing/tapping walls, floors everywhere to check for delamination especially around windows and seams. Your nose if you have a good sense of smell is a powerful tool also for isolating areas for further inspection.


    This - poking and prodding in every nook and cranny is the way to go. Concentrating your poking around the usual spots, corners, around all windows and skylights.

    Last caravan i sold was a 1998 Swift which was to my mind damp free and had given us four great years of service. Any requests for inspections were most welcome but i would not have been transporting it to someone to get it professionally checked and certified.

    Likewise the replacement was purchased through donedeal and i did all my own checks, including a thorough (as you can be without poking a damp meter through walls inspection of every panel in the van. I was satisfied that there was no damp present based on my inspection and five years later it is still damp free.

    I walked away from a few bargains where I discovered soft walls during inspection. One particular swift was soft enough that i almost put my finger through the wallpaper under one window. Any signs like that and away you go. When i mentioned the wall to that particular private seller he offered the van at half his advertised price, which was already keen. I thanked him for his time and went on my way.


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