- Totally get what you mean about chasing “hot spots.” Had a similar thing last summer—thermal showed a big patch, turned out to be my neighbor’s grill reflecting heat.
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Yeah, humidity messes with mine every July. Sometimes I can’t tell if it’s a leak or just muggy air.“Anyone else notice how moisture meters sometimes give weird readings if it’s humid out?”
- Has anyone tried different brands of meters? Wondering if some handle Midwest humidity swings better than others...
Had a job last August where my meter kept pinging “high moisture” on a roof that was bone-dry—turns out it was just one of those muggy Midwest days, and the attic was basically a sauna. Swapped to a Tramex meter after that, and honestly, it’s been more reliable in weird humidity swings than the old Protimeter. Still not perfect, but I trust the readings more now. Nothing’s foolproof though—sometimes you just gotta trust your gut and double-check with another method if something feels off.
Had something similar happen last summer—my old meter kept freaking out on a hot day, said the whole attic was soaked. Ended up just being the humidity trapped up there. I’ve learned to double-check with a screwdriver or even just my hand sometimes. Tech’s great, but it can’t beat a little common sense.
Tech’s great, but it can’t beat a little common sense.
That’s the thing—these inspection reports look impressive, but half the time they’re just spitting out data that needs a human filter. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen “moisture intrusion” flagged in attics during July, only to find it’s just humidity from a string of muggy days. The gadgets don’t know if someone left the attic hatch open after hauling up boxes.
I get why people trust the tech—those thermal images and moisture meters seem super precise. But I always tell owners: poke around a bit yourself before panicking. If you’re getting wild readings, check for obvious stuff like blocked vents or insulation gaps. And yeah, sometimes just feeling the wood tells you more than any meter.
I’m not saying ignore the fancy tools, but relying on them alone is risky. They’re just one piece of the puzzle. If you ever get a report that sounds over-the-top, ask for photos and context. A little skepticism saves a lot of money on “emergency” repairs that aren’t needed.
Had a similar thing happen last summer. The inspector’s report was loaded with these color-coded graphs and infrared snapshots—looked like something out of a NASA briefing. It flagged “possible water intrusion” in three spots, but when my boss and I checked, it was just condensation from a humid week, nothing actually leaking. The insulation was a bit patchy, which probably threw off the readings.
I get why folks get nervous when they see all that techy stuff in a report. But honestly, sometimes it’s just the attic breathing weird because someone left the hatch open or the vent’s clogged with dust bunnies. I’ve learned to trust my hands and eyes as much as any gadget. If you’re seeing wild readings, try poking around for obvious stuff—like damp insulation or airflow issues—before calling in the cavalry.
Not saying ignore the fancy tools, but they don’t always tell the whole story. Sometimes a little old-school snooping goes a long way.
