Hidden Moisture Inspection After Plumbing Leaks

When to request a hidden moisture inspection

• After a plumbing repair, to verify the water damage scope before closing up
• Suspected slow leak with no visible source — rising water bill, musty smell, soft drywall
• Second-opinion scoping before accepting a restoration estimate from another contractor
• Pre-renovation diagnosis of prior water damage that was never properly addressed
• Pre-purchase home inspection follow-up when the standard inspection flagged possible moisture
• Insurance claim support — documented readings for an adjuster
• Verification that a dried area is actually dry before reconstruction

What we use and how it works

• Thermal imaging (FLIR). Infrared cameras read surface temperature. Wet materials are typically cooler than surrounding dry materials because of evaporative cooling. Thermal imaging doesn't directly measure moisture — it identifies temperature anomalies that warrant further investigation with a moisture meter.
• Pin moisture meters. Two sharp pins driven into the material measure electrical resistance between them. Wet materials conduct more current. This gives a direct moisture content reading expressed as a percentage.
• Pinless moisture meters. Non-invasive surface scanners that read dielectric response of the material. Faster for large-area scanning but less precise than pin meters.
• Thermo-hygrometer. Measures air temperature and relative humidity. We use it to establish the drying environment and to calculate wood equilibrium moisture content.

What a typical inspection looks like

Call us, schedule a visit (typically within 24–48 hours for non-emergency diagnostic), we spend 1–2 hours in the home with equipment, photograph thermal anomalies, take pin readings at suspect locations, and provide a written report with findings. If we find active water damage, we can transition into mitigation on the same visit. If we don't find anything — which happens — we tell you that and we don't manufacture a job.

Costs

A dedicated moisture inspection is typically $200–$400 depending on home size and scope. If you proceed with mitigation work from us within 30 days, we credit the inspection fee against the mitigation invoice. For post-mitigation verification on a job we did, it's included in the completion deliverables.

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