HI
Looking to buy our first van and want to be sure about damp
What damp meter do you recommend ?
Do sellers allow you to go around the van poking a damp meter into the walls?
And lastly what kind of reading are you looking for as i have read that all vans will have some damp ?? or are you looking for a zero reading or is so much% acceptable and if so how much ?
People on here seem to recommend the protimeter damp meter as it is used by caravan service engineers for checking damp, regards sellers minding you checking the person we bought our van from let us check the van without any problem, as for checking for Damp you want a reading of 15% or less, see Below i think you will be very lucky to get 0% readings on any van though.
Readings between (0-15%): no cause for concern.
Readings between (15-20%): dealer to make a note of these readings and re-check at next service.
Readings between (20-24%): possible early signs of ingress. Look for tangible evidence or ask for a re-check.
Readings between (25-30%): moisture evident, remedial work required; may not need strip-down unless surface damage (staining, pimpling, and softness) is apparent. (There is a risk of wallboard deterioration due to retained moisture in the structure if resealed only.)
Reading (31 % and above): structural damage is occurring, deterioration inevitable. A full strip-down of the affected area is required.
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Stanley do a damp meter available in b and q costs about £40. Don't know what its like but if you don't want to shell out as much as a protimeter its worth looking at. I was thinking about getting one.
You need to check all over the van, go right around windows and skylights.
a pronged damp meter is a simple thing.. it just reads electrical resistance between the prongs.. the wetter the test piece the lower the resistance..
plastic on the outside of the wood (or whatever) being tested dosnt help.. the prongs have to go through the plastic into the wood to get a true reading..
i would not let anyone go round poking holes in my van with one.. he he
If a seller has nothing to hide I don't see the problem, but having never checked a caravan for damp I am reading this thread with interest.
Would the normal way to test for damp using a meter, be to insert the test probes into an area that is not normally seen, say wall panel in wardrobe and in cupboards and under seats etc.
I would imagine the ceiling and visible wall sections are out of bounds for testing for obvious reasons, if the meter leaves behind 2 small holes.
A cheap and cheerful meter off Amazon will give you comparable readings just not to the same degree of accuracy.
Its about getting a series of consistent readings.
I normally check ours every 6 months or so imbetween the service, and as above the little prong holes are usually in areas under cushions, inside cupboard etc
I use a very good mobile engineer that,when he tests for damp,lifts the rubber window surrounds and tests under them,that way it leaves no visible marks,also tests at the back of cupboards etc
a cheap meter will suffice as long as you can calibrate it to compare with a good meter also if you sharpen the points or solder needles to them then any holes left are unnoticeable I have a cheap ALDI meter which when calibrated gives a reading of 25% across my dry finger tips . If you get any reading of damp at all & you really like the van its worth paying a mobile mechanic for a pre purchase inspection which will be about £50/60
but could save you hundreds of pounds
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Topic: Damp meter
