Best Moisture Meter Review

What is a Moisture Meter?

A moisture meter is a device that is used to measure the percentage of water, wetness, dryness and humidity within a given material. Indicator scales (analogue or digital) indicate the moisture content in percent (%MC). Water content is often directly proportional to the degree of corrosion. Both physical properties and chemical/reactivity properties are greatly affected by moisture content that may progressively degrade a material.

Here are our reviews of some of the most popular professional hygrometers on the market. I have integrated multi-function meters and single purpose meters using pins and non-intrusive functions.

The moisture meter has several measurement modes. Some use pins that measure electrical resistance to determine the moisture content in wood to the equivalent in other materials. Others are completely non-invasive and use radio waves to measure the moisture content beneath the material’s surface.

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Tramex Moisture Encounter 5 (Single Purpose Moisture Meter)

The Tramex ME5 is a single-purpose, calibrated wood moisture meter that is completely unobtrusive. The gauges feel good, maybe a little light, but covered with a grippy rubber coating. The meter’s design means you don’t have to hold it in the palm of your hand like most other hygrometers. Instead, use your fingertips to grasp the side of the meter as you rest it on the surface.

Like most instruments, this instrument is calibrated to measure relative Wood Moisture Content (WMC) in wood between 0 – 30% and Wood Equivalent Moisture (WME) in other materials between 0 – 100%. Instead of a digital display, the display uses an analog scale with a deflected needle. This analog design is responsive and generally faster than some digital gauges, and I have to admit I love the analog display, it’s big, clear, easy to photograph, and easy to interpret. Unfortunately, the dial itself isn’t back-lit, which makes it harder to see in dark environments, but it does include the familiar traffic light dial.

Protimeter Survey Master (Single Purpose Moisture Meter)

The Protimeter Surveymaster is a calibrated dual function wood moisture meter. The Surveymaster has built-in pins in the head of the instrument and a search pad on the back for non-invasive measurements of 3/4″/19mm deep. There is also an option to use an extension cable with additional remote sensors. Use the search mode to measure moisture content in wood over a quantitative range between 7.9% – 99% (over 30% is relative) and 70 – 999.

Protimeter also supply this meter with a range of accessories including an additional set of extension leads, a set of insulated deep wall probes and a range of different sized ground stakes. These accessories all connect to the side of head unit using a convenient 3.5mm jack socket. Also because Protimeters popularity, most retailers will usually have a set spare pins in stock.

Flir MR77 (Multi-functional Moisture Meter)

The Flir MR77 is a multi-functional moisture meter which incorporates both surface pins to measure Wood Moisture Content (WMC) in timber, but also a non-invasive mode to measure Wood Moisture Equivalent (WME) values in other masonry materials to a depth of .75″ 19mm. The Flir multi-functional moisture meter also includes a hygrometer, laser IR thermometer and Bluetooth feature allowing the meter to connect to other Flir devices such as, a thermal imaging camera. When paired with a thermal camera atmospheric data collected by the hygrometer can be used to evaluate surfaces ‘at risk’ of condensation during a thermographic survey. This is a feature specific to Flir and not available with other manufacturers however, with the Flir there is no ability to use the Bluetooth feature to create specialist moisture maps a feature available with both Tramex and Protimeter.

PROTIMETER MMS2 BLD8800 (Multi-functional Moisture Meter)

– Now upgraded to MMS3 below

The Protimeter MMS2, the world’s most advanced all-in-one moisture meter.

The attachments aren’t just included, they’re built in.

The Protimeter MMS2 is the industry’s most advanced all-in-one moisture meter. Its ergonomic, 4-in-1 design allows one-handed operation to measure moisture on and below the surface as well as ambient air humidity. With an infrared thermometer to calculate the difference between dew point and surface temperature, this meter is designed to assess moisture in both new and refurbishing projects, as well as to diagnose moisture-related problems in existing buildings.

All Protimeter instruments have a two-year warranty.

TROTEC BM31 (5-40 mm)/ Moisture Indicator

The BM31 is an electronic Moisture Meter, by which moisture near to surface of different materials can be detected fast, easy,and time saving. Moisture distribution can be located at walls, floors or ceilings.

Due to the dielectric measurement method the moisture indication happens non-destructive, no electrodes or probes need to be put into the messured object.
The BM31 is not only ready to use immidiately, it convinces about a short response time during measurement and shows the user, besides the current real time measured value, helpful additional informations like minimal and maximum values at a push of a button on the readable backlit display. Furthermore the current measured value can be recorded by hold function.

With this Moisture measurement instrument it ist not only possible to indicate fast various material moisture values near surface, it is perfectly suitable for preliminary test of the workability of building material at cm measurement.

Protimeter MMS3 (Multi-functional Moisture Meter) 

The MMS3 is Protimeters newest and flagship multi-functional moisture meter.

Some may consider this just a software upgrade of the MMS2 however, the MMS3 does have some really valued and appreciated tweaks over it’s predecessor and is also the first Protimeter instrument to incorporate Bluetooth pairing which can be used with their new moisture mapping software.

This makes the MMS3 direct competition to Tramex’s range of intelligent moisture meters.

The MMS3 incorporates material moisture measurement modes using pins, probes and a non-invasive search function. The unit also incorporates a hygrometer and infrared thermometer allowing the device to calculate atmospheric conditions such as; temperature, dew point and relative humidity and also the risk of condensation when the surface temperature is measured.

Tramex CMEX5 (Multi-functional Moisture Meter)

The CMEX5 is Tramex’s Flagship multi-functional moisture meter.

Designed just like Tramex’s previous selection of moisture meters, this is an instrument that isn’t constructed to be held in the palm of your hand, like so many other moisture meters and instead is to carried by gripping the sides over its face.

The CMEX5 is the largest of all the multi-functional moisture meters.

It is well built with a smooth rubber material along its sides for extra grip, the CMEX5 also incorporates the largest screen too.

As a multi-functional moisture meter this instrument incorporates quantitative measurement modes for wood and relative measurement modes masonry however, the CMEX5 is the only multifunctional instrument that is also calibrated for taking quantitative readings from concrete too.

The instrument incorporates a built-in hygrometer and connector for additional accessories such as; extension pins, insulated probes, hammer electrodes and hygrometer probes this meter really packs it.

TROTEC BM31WP (Single Purpose Moisture Meter)

A useful wood moisture content (WME) measurement device with a twist.

Aimed at timber / sawmills, but can be utilised on all soft building materials such as gypsum or plaster.

The “Made in Germany” quality ensures accuracy

The T510 can determine all wood composites, the T510 has a menu option that allows the selection of hundreds of different types of wood.

This is made possible by a large number of validated material curves, which are stored in the instrument software and can be selected from the T510 wood-type table using the corresponding material number.

You can connect the T510 moisture meter to a PC with a USB cable.

With the MultiMeasure Studio Software (free in the service / download section of uk.trotec.com) the measured values of the T510 can be transferred online and in real time to the PC. In this way, the values are saved for later analysis or reports.

With the online-memory function, you can perform faster measurements on the computer, e.g. at the building moisture measurement of a tested cellar wall.

The standard scope of supply includes, besides the T510 measuring instrument, two cap nuts, ten measuring spikes (length 20 mm, ø 1.5 mm), protective cap for the electrodes, battery, operating manual and a comprehensive 170-page index of wood types.

In addition, you can widen the T510’s range of applications considerably by connecting any electrodes from the MultiMeasure range to the T510 using the optionally available TS adaptor set and the TC 25 connecting cable.

The Tramex MRH3

The Tramex MRH3 is a non-destructive, digital moisture meter for measuring & evaluating moisture content instantly in building materials such as wood, plaster, drywall, brick, roofing. The MRH3 features a plug in port for optional wood pin type probes or Relative Humidity probes for Ambient Relative Humidity, Temperature, Dew Point, and Humidity Ratio of the environment and building materials. Calibrate using the MRHIII Calibration Check Box

• Digital, non-destructive moisture meter.
• Deep signal penetration to over 25mm (1″) into the materials being tested without the need to damage the surface. Signal penetration depends on material being tested and meter setting.
• Specific gravity adjustment for wood species. 
• External Rubber electrodes make direct contact with the material being tested for best sensitivity and repeatability.  
• Wide range of readings for wood of 5% to 30% and 0 to 100 comparative for all other materials.
• Backlit, large, clear, easy to read LCD display.  
• “Hold” function enables user to “freeze” the reading. Useful for taking readings when the meter face is not visible.
• Switchable “On” or “Off” audio warning tone.    
• Automatic power cut off switches “Off” when not in use.
• Automatic default to last user setting when switched back on.
• Battery operated (included).
• Attaches to plug-in wood probe (optional).
• Attaches to plug-in Tramex Hygro-i2 ® relative humidity probe for relative humidity, temperature, dew point and mixing ratio readings (optional).

CONCRETE MOISTURE ENCOUNTER 5 – CME5

The Tramex Concrete Moisture Encounter 5, the updated CME4 Concrete Moisture Encounter, is a non-destructive analog concrete and screed moisture meter for measuring quantitative moisture content in concrete floors, slabs and screeds. The Concrete Moisture Encounter 5, CME5, determines this instant and precise quantitative measurement of moisture content using Gravimetric testing as a baseline. This moisture meter for screed and concrete tests the concrete to a depth of approximately 20mm (3⁄4″) into the slab.

The CME5 concrete floor moisture meter also provides Carbide Method equivalent readings for concrete and anhydrite screeds or substrates. Comparative readings make this moisture meter suitable to perform a concrete moisture test as per ASTM F2659. 

The CME5 is a top quality moisture meter for concrete and an essential tool for non-destructive testing of concrete and screeds for professionals in the concrete coatings or flooring industry to help prevent moisture problems on concrete floors.

The use of the CME5 can be extended with the optional Concrete Moisture Probe which detects in-situ quantitative moisture content within the concrete down to an extendable depth of up to 4″ (100mm)