Daily log layout
- Date and time
- Day 1, morning
- Location
- Kitchen, north wall low
- Material
- Drywall
- Reading
- Room humidity
- Equipment running
- 2 air movers, 1 dehumidifier
- Notes
- Marked with pencil dot
- Date and time
- Day 2, morning
- Location
- Kitchen, north wall low
- Material
- Drywall
- Reading
- Room humidity
- Equipment running
- Notes
- Same dot
- Date and time
- Day 3, morning
- Location
- Kitchen, north wall low
- Material
- Drywall
- Reading
- Room humidity
- Equipment running
- Notes
- Date and time
- Reference
- Location
- Hall wall, dry area
- Material
- Drywall
- Reading
- Room humidity
- Equipment running
- Notes
- Unaffected comparison
Copy the columns into a notebook or spreadsheet and keep the same read points each day.
How to read the log
The numbers on a pin or pinless meter vary by model and scale, so your readings matter mostly as a trend. A series that falls each day suggests drying is working. A flat stretch usually points to a spot airflow is not reaching, a humidity problem or a hidden source of water. Compare each wet-area reading with your reference area so you know what normal looks like in this house.
If a reading rises, check the date. A rise after rain, after plumbing use or after a door was left open often explains itself. A sudden rise without any of these can mean a hidden leak that needs attention.
Where to place read points
Choose read points where water is most likely to linger: the lowest part of each wet wall, behind baseboards, at door frames, near corners and along the edge of a subfloor. Add a point at the highest visible wet line and one beyond it, so you can see whether moisture is wicking higher. In basements, include a point on the concrete floor near a wall and at the bottom of any framed wall.
Keep the number of points manageable so you actually read them each day. Ten to fifteen well-chosen spots are better than fifty that you skip.
Habits that keep the log trustworthy
- Mark read points with a pencil dot or tape so you return to the same place.
- Record the time and the meter model or scale used.
- Take a reference reading each day in a dry area of the same material.
- Photograph the meter display next to the wall.
- Write down equipment changes, such as a fan moved or a dehumidifier emptied.
- Note anything that could affect readings, such as a door left open or a heater turned up.
Words that show up on a log
- Reference reading
- A reading from an unaffected area of the same material, used as a target.
- Dry standard
- The reading at which a material is considered dry for this job.
- Trend
- The direction readings are moving over several visits.
Common questions
Does my meter need to match the contractor's?
No, but note the make and scale. Your log is for trends and questions, not for disputing instrument readings.
How many read points are enough?
Enough to cover each wet material in each affected room, plus a few at corners and wall bottoms. More points help with a large loss.
General information for Northglenn, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.