Moisture Readings: Identify & Remediate

• Identify and address the source of infiltration

• Elevate or transport all personal or business effects to asecure, climate-controlled storage

• Inspect damages and develop a course of action for the remediation process

• Commence any necessary water extraction and the removal of all saturated debris

• Develop moisture map and begin re-establishing proper ambient temperatures

• Strategically position dehumidification and air moving system to stabilize environment

• Apply antimicrobial treatment to prevent possible mold contamination

• Prepare comprehensive structural damage report for submission to your insurance carrier

• Meet and discuss scope of damages with your insurance company representative

• Monitor moisture levels until environment is dry and optimal air quality is achieved

• Repair and/or replace all necessary components of the structure and substrate

• Return all personal or business effects to your newly restored home or place of business

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Created on March 08, 2022 By

Cory Meister

Moisture Readings

Am-Cats Ems certification program is designed to provide the correct techniques in measuring moistures readings throughout the home and or commercial properties.

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Q. What is an acceptable level of moisture in a wall?

A. A range of 5 to 12 percent is considered optimal. A reading of up to 17 percent is generally considered moderate moisture and acceptable. Any reading over 17 percent is considered to be an indication of saturation and the need to replace the drywall and to take preventative measures against future moisture buildup.

B. Crawl space wood moisture content should be between 10% and 16%. Wood moisture levels will vary some, but they should not remain too low or too high. This moisture content is also where you may see decay-producing organisms leading to wood decay and loss of structure.

C. All reading above 17%, is acceptable.

D. Moisture reading of 0-15% is quite normal and raises no cause for concern.

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Q. What is an acceptable moisture reading?

A. Moisture reading of 0-15% is quite normal and raises no cause for concern.

B. All reading above 17%, is acceptable.

C. Levels between 25-30% indicate that there may be water ingress, meaning that remedial work could be required.

D. Moisture content above 16% reading is considered damp.

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Q. What is the normal moisture level in a house?

A. Every home is different, but a level between 30 and 40 percent humidity is typically ideal for keeping your home warm and comfortable in the winter, without leaving condensation on the windows. In the summer, that level can be higher, between 50 and 60 percent.

B. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends keeping the humidity at 65 percent, while the Environmental Protection

C. It's known that humidity in the air traps odor causing molecules and causes them to not only travel farther, but also linger longer, this results in a noticeable bad smell.

D. If your home or clothing smells musty, chances are you have mold or mildew hiding out.

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Q. What moisture index does mold need to grow?

A. All reading above 17%.

B. High humidity, many species of mold can grow and thrive on humidity alone if the humidity level stays high for a sufficient period of time. Humidity levels typically need to be at 55% or higher before mold begins to grow.

C. This means the EMC ranges from 6.2% to 7.7%. In other words, wood in interior locations will equilibrate in this range. Therefore, lumber intended for interior use should be dried to a moisture content of approximately 6% to 8% and should be kept at this moisture content both prior to and during manufacturing.

D. Dry lumber is lumber with a moisture content no greater than 19%; wood does most of its shrinking as it drops from 28-19%.

E. All The Above.

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Q. At what humidity does mold grow in crawl space?

A. Digital hygrometers are more precise than analog hygrometers but still most are accurate + or - 5 points. They are calibrated in the factory. We recommend that you check the calibration of your digital hygrometer using the salt method so that you know exactly the margin of error of your instrument.

B. Increasing the relative humidity of the air in the crawl space approximately 26% (from 51% outside to 76% in the crawl space). At 60% RH, mold begins to grow.

C. A hygrometer is an instrument used to measure the moisture content – that is, the humidity – of air or any other gas. ... These are called mechanical hygrometers, based on the principle that organic substances (human hair) contract and expand in response to the relative humidity.

D. Cool it down to 70 degrees (typical crawlspace temperature) and the humidity level in that same air changes to 100%. It's estimated that about 40% of the crawlspace air enters the house. This impacts your indoor air quality significantly.

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Q. What is the acceptable amount of moisture content in drywall?

A. Between 5 and 12%, While relative humidity can have some effect on moisture levels, drywall is considered to have an appropriate level of moisture if it has a moisture content of between 5 and 12%.

B. All reading above 17%, is acceptable.

C. Levels between 25-30% indicate that there may be water ingress, meaning that remedial work could be required.

D. Moisture content above 16% reading is considered ok.

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Q. What causes moisture under hardwood floors?

A. Wood floors experience cupping when moisture becomes trapped underneath the wood. This sometimes happens when there's been a flood that has seeped into the floor. If wood floors are placed directly on concrete with no vapor barrier installed underneath, humidity will pass through the porous concrete.

B. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends keeping the humidity at 65 percent, while the Environmental Protection

C. It's known that humidity in the air traps odor causing molecules and causes them to not only travel farther, but also linger longer, this results in a noticeable bad smell.

D. If your home or clothing smells musty, chances are you have mold or mildew hiding out.

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Q. What percentage of dampness is acceptable?

A. Most houses have varying levels of humidity up to 50%, so moisture levels in drywall can vary from home to home. While relative humidity can have some effect on moisture levels, drywall is considered to have an appropriate level of moisture if it has a moisture content of between 5 and 12%.

B. Levels between 25-30% indicate that there may be water ingress, meaning that remedial work could be required.

C. Any moisture content above 16% reading is considered damp.

D. All reading above 17%, is acceptable.

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Q. What is a bad moisture reading?

A. In general, any reading between 6% and 10% is considered normal here. Now if you are testing exterior wood that has direct contact with the surrounding humidity, you can tolerate values that are up to 20%. Things start to get worrying when the meter indicates higher values than 20%.

B. All reading above 17%.

C. Moisture content above 16% reading is considered damp.

D. All The Above.

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Q. What do the readings on a moisture meter mean?

A. Generally speaking, for drywall, a safe moisture content (%MC) would be less than 1% MC. Anything above 1% MC in drywall would indicate a level of moisture that could compromise the integrity of the gypsum board. Exterior walls may use a variety of materials, from wooden siding, to vinyl, aluminum, brick, and stone.

B. When your basement is too humid, you'll probably be able to feel it. A comfortable basement should maintain a humidity level of 30 to 50 percent — however, those may differ depending on your climate.

C. Moisture meters include visual LED indicators related to the percent reading on the scale for dry, moderate, and saturated or wet readings. Additionally, some meters also offer a third scale for readings of gypsum. These scale readings can range from 0.2 to 50% moisture content.

D. All reading above 17%, is acceptable.

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24/7 emergency services; American Catastrophe Emergency Services 7101 w Gunnison suite #126 Chicago IL, 60656 Phone 1-888-832-4139

Drying Methods Fire Restoration Services 1 1

Water Extraction Fire Restoration Services 1 4

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Drying Methods

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Water Extraction

Extracting water from a location.

Winterizes each fixture is critical from causing more damages with frozen temperatures.

To Remove Clogged Drains

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Material Used

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2x4 '8 sticks are used to frame out all openings for the plywood

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2x4 '12 sticks are used to frame out all openings / or barricades for the plywood

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2x3 '8 sticks are used to frame out all openings for the plywood

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To cover openings in the roof to prevent leaks

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To cover openings in the roof to prevent leaks

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To cover openings in the roof to prevent leaks

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To cover openings in the roof to prevent leaks

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To cover openings in the roof to prevent leaks

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Plywood is used to cover all openings

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Plywood is used to cover all openings

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Plywood is used to cover all openings

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Plywood is used to cover all openings

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Used to seal tarps down on roofs to prevent leaks and or to cover small cracks and holes on flats roofs.

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used to secure doors, key will be placed in a lock box or handed to owner

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each strand of lights come with 5-8 lights

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winterization with RV antifreeze is used for each fixture hold water.

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Fasteners specially requested to secure coverings

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when need to cover and protect a large 10-15' opening s

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If a need to block a driveway with a vehicle as a barricade

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to remove large amount of debris 1-5 tons per truck load .

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Plywood is used to cover all openings

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Plywood is used to cover all openings

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Plywood is used to cover all openings

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Plywood is used to cover openings

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Used to seal tarps down on roofs to prevent leaks and or to cover small cracks and holes on flats roofs.

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used to secure door with the a lock.

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Used to create a functional door, to secure and lock.

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per Labor man hour for Clean up.

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Clean up area of problem and or issue.

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Fasteners to secure plywood over openings

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Fasteners to secure plywood over openings

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Special headed Fasteners to secure plywood over openings

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Fasteners to hold down tarps

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1x2 '6 furring sticks are used to hold down tarps on roofs

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Mitigation Services

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each drain that is cleaned

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Choose your Am-Cat Emergency Service call

24/7 emergency services; American Catastrophe Emergency Services 7101 w Gunnison suite #126 Chicago IL, 60656 Phone 1-888-832-4139

Drying Methods Fire Restoration Services 1 3

Mitigation Service calls 20 miles in the city includes 1st FAN.

Drying Methods Fire Restoration Services 1 4

Mitigation Service calls within 20-30 miles out of the city includes 1st Fan.

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Meter Readings

An infrared camera (also known as a thermal imager) detects and measures the infrared energy of objects. The camera converts that infrared data into an electronic image that shows the apparent surface temperature of the object being measured.

C. Radon gas can damage cells in your lungs, which can lead to cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States, though it usually takes 5 to 25 years to develop. Early signs and symptoms of lung cancer may include persistent cough.

Any reading over the known value percent would be considered to be an indication of saturation and the need to replace the drywall and to take preventative measures against future moisture buildup.

Any reading over the known value percent would be considered to be an indication of saturation and the need to replace the drywall and to take preventative measures against future moisture buildup.

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Questions?

What is Water Damage Restoration?

Water restoration is a specialized service that removes water from your home and restores it to a livable, pre-damaged condition. Restoring a home after a water damage emergency must happen quickly. Standing water and moisture create a perfect environment for bacteria and mold growth.

How do you mitigate water damage in your home?

If your home is subject to serious water damage, due to burst pipes, flooding, fire-extinguishing water hoses or some other unforeseen catastrophe, we must locate the cause of the water leak to turn off or terminate source of water

leakage. Remove surface water then start drying methods before we can start to do a Thorough clean of the compromised area.

What happens when water compromises my Drywall?

more often than usual water damaged causes drywall to be replaced, depending on the rating of the drywall installed / used. Wet drywall will lose its structural integrity if left alone for long enough period of time it will develop mold spores, between the insulation and the drywall.

How Long Is the Drying Process for Water Damaged Home or Office?

Unfortunately, there is no exact estimate on how long the drying process would take. But, in general, a water damaged Home or Office can dry out for around 5-7 days. In some cases, it would take as little as 2-3 days, and other times it takes several weeks to dry out a home or Office.

Why is mold a problem?

Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

How expensive is mold removal?

$500 to $4,000 to remove mold from crawlspaces only. $2,000 to $6,000 to remove mold from ducts, crawl spaces, walls, and attics. $10,000 to $30,000 (or more) to repair widespread structural damage.

Moisture Readings