Points on Surveying a Wagner Moisture Meters

A moisture meter is an instrument which is used to measure the water content in a given material or substance, generally expressed as a percentage value.

This information can be used to determine whether or not the material is ready for use, unexpectedly

wet or dry or in need of closer inspection. Wagner Moisture Meters are commonly used in a variety of

materials science applications; and even more so in the quality control processes of manufacturers, especially in respect to foods, concrete and wooden products.

Industries which rely on wood as a raw material make especially heavy use of these instruments. For

example, a newly cut log may have a moisture content which is as high as 75% and up. As any carpenter

worth their salt knows, wood tends to shrink as it dries and can split or change in shape as a result;

which is why wood is generally dried either in a kiln or air-dried before use. The drying process results in

an end product which is between 10% - 20% water and the progress of drying is monitored using a

moisture meter.

Moisture meters are used to measure the moisture content wood so that the woodworker can

determine whether or not it is suitable for its intended use. Building inspectors, carpenters, hobbyists

and others who work with wood often find themselves needing to know the moisture content of

materials. Contractors who install wood flooring, for instance, need to establish the moisture content of

the wood since matching this figure to the relative humidity in the area where the flooring is to be installed is important to prevent warping, buckling and cracked finishes.

Similarly, those engaged in laying concrete use a concrete moisture meter to determine the water

content of their materials. These specialized moisture meters were developed as contractors saw a need

for an instrument which could measure the moisture of their materials more accurately than those designed for use with wood.

In agriculture, crops (especially grains) are often measured for water content following harvests; the

moisture levels of soil are also measured regularly both for agricultural applications as well as by

building surveyors and civil engineers to determine the suitability of a given location.

Those conducting tests of indoor air quality also commonly employ a moisture meter to test the water

content of materials to determine if the conditions in the building are conducive to the growth of mold

and other organisms which negatively affect indoor air quality. The types of Wagner Moisture Meters

used in a given application depend largely on the specifics of the material to be tested; the traditional

style of meter uses conductivity testing with probes which must penetrate the material being analyzed.

There are also nondestructive instruments which use impedance measurement to determine the

moisture content of a given material.