In this fourth segment of our in-depth series, we'll dive into the best practices for hardwood flooring professionals to get the most out of their moisture meters. Our latest blog continues from the previous article that recommended some of the top Delmhorst moisture meters for specific hardwood flooring applications, including the BDX-30 pin meter from the Navigator™ series and ProScan non-destructive meter.
This article highlights the careful measures that professionals can take to ensure accurate and efficient measurement of moisture levels in hardwood flooring installations. These recommended procedures include selecting the most suitable meter for the job, utilizing established calibration methods, and referring to a diverse range of available resources as a reliable guideline.
Select the Most Suitable Moisture Meter
The first step for optimized moisture meter use involves applying the most appropriate tool for your particular application. As highlighted in our previous article, pin meters will help identify the exact location of any moisture damage within your woodwork and determine MC at varying depths for a comprehensive assessment of moisture levels throughout the material. However, pinless models operating through electromagnetic wave frequency are ideal for scanning vast areas efficiently.
Bringing both a pin and pinless moisture meter model to hardwood flooring projects enables you to conduct wide-area scans and examine exact moisture content in hardwood flooring at various penetration levels.
Remember that pin meter readings may vary by species, temperature and even electrode type (insulated pins vs non-insulated ones) while pinless meter readings are most influenced by the specific gravity of the wood. Corrections further corrections for accurate results.
Perform Moisture Meter Calibration Checks
As with all equipment, it is vital to perform regular checks on your moisture meters to ensure that they continue to function with optimal efficiency across projects and through the years.
Routine moisture meter calibration checks ensure that your devices continue to detect a consistent MC reading range with minimal deviation. A single percentage of points off the usual scale could result in significant differences in MC readings, affecting the quality of an installation.
Delmhorst provides built-in calibration checks for its digital moisture meters to ensure that you capture accurate MC readings. We also recommend checking calibration through other external reference methods, such as sensor blocks and moisture content standards, for precise calibration results. Typically, professionals use the sensor block method for pinless calibrations and a moisture content standard (MCS) for pin models.
You can check electrical calibration of your pin meter models by aligning their pins against the MCS's metal contact and checking the readings against the values outlined in the provided instruction manual. Similarly, when calibrating pinless models, hold your meter's scanning plate against the sensor block to acquire a reading for comparison with the value listed in the instruction manual.
For pinless calibrations, it is important to use the proprietary sensor block designed for your specific moisture meter, as devices from other manufacturers may lead to inaccurate pairings.
You may compare your moisture meter readings with another identical measuring device as a third calibration option. However, you should consider using another device for calibration only as a last resort, since it provides a lower accuracy than sensor block and MCS methods.
Access User Manuals and Online Moisture Meter Resources
When in doubt, refer to the user manuals provided with your specific moisture meter models. These guidelines will usually include an easy reference for calibration processes, wood species corrections, and MC ranges that will help you optimize the use of your moisture meter.
Delmhorst offers detailed and accessible online resources that will guide you in leveraging the full benefits of your chosen moisture meter models. We have categorized our moisture meter eGuides based on industry to quickly direct you toward relevant device information and best practices.
The original Delmhorst guide, "Complete Guide to Measuring Moisture in Flooring Systems," provides an organized reference to the common moisture concerns faced by industry professionals and how you can avoid them with quality moisture meters.
Delmhorst - Your Leading Partner in Quality Moisture Meters
Delmhorst Instrument has over seven decades of industry expertise in providing hardwood flooring professionals with a diverse selection of advanced moisture meters for various applications. Our friendly and experienced moisture meter specialists will guide you toward the most suitable model for your specific requirements through exceptional product knowledge and unmatched customer support.
The next blog in our series unpacks an insightful case study on the real-world benefits of Delmhorst moisture meters within the hardwood flooring industry.
Contact Delmhorst's dedicated experts to discover the most suitable moisture meter for your hardwood flooring projects today!
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