Many people know that, if left unchecked, moisture buildup can weaken the structural integrity of your home. But did you know that moisture also leads to toxic mold buildup? Toxic mold can put people at risk for asthma, and other dangerous respiratory related illnesses. What’s more, mold problems can develop in just about any area of your home: inside of pipes, behind tiles, even on carpets. In order to safeguard your home and your loved ones, it is imperative to take steps towards mold prevention. 

Educate Yourself
Understand that moisture in your home can lead to mold. Know what moisture problems to look out for and what to do to alleviate them. Also, it’s important to be informed about mold itself: the types of mold, their individual risks, etc. It’s always a good idea to know what you’re working with. Next, research the kind of climate your region has. Do you live in the dry Southwest? Or the hot and humid Southeast? Know what kinds of climates mold thrives in, and adjust your home accordingly.

Dry Wet Areas
Basements are culprits for moisture retention and water seepage. Routinely check for damp areas and clean them immediately. Invest in an inexpensive dehumidifier. Humidity levels should never get higher than 50%.

Improve Circulation In Your Home
Open windows and doors. Properly ventilating your home on a regular basis can greatly reduce moisture and potential mold problems.

Clean Your Roof Gutters
Yes something as simple as cleaning roof cutters can help prevent mold. Many homeowners procrastinate when it comes to cleaning their gutters. However, a simple cleaning, twice a year, can prevent mold problems in future. Roof gutters that aren’t set up properly or have aged over time tend to sag. This causes water to accumulate inside of them. When water accumulates, that means one thing: mold. To prevent this, clean your roof gutters regularly. 

Invest in a Quality Moisture Meter
Wet areas can be due to moisture, plumbing, appliance issues and natural disasters - ie.  flooding, hurricanes, storms. While not all water damage can be prevented, mold problems can be.


If you do see moisture buildup in your home, it is important to identify potential mold problems with a moisture meter. Moisture meters are a necessary tool in the process of eliminating any kind of moisture. Used to measure the percentage of water in any given substance, there are two categories: pin-type and pinless. Pin-type moisture meters have two pins on the top, and measure the resistance between the two pins inserted into the material being measured. Pinless moisture meters create an electric field when turned on, which is distorted by the presence of moisture.

At General Tools, we offer a variety of both pin-type and pinless moisture meters for drywall, wood, and other building and construction materials.

Here are three of our best moisture meters sold exclusively at Home Depot:

MM7 Pin-Type Moisture Meter

  • - Pin-Type
  • - Comes with a protective cover for the pins, along with an extra set of pins
  • - Works on wood, drywall, and other building materials
  • - Measurement Ranges 5 to 50% for wood, 1.5 to 33% for building materials
  • - 3 Color LED bar graph
  • - Easy to read white on black screen
  • - 9V battery included

MM8 Pinless Moisture Meter 

  • - Pinless
  • - Best with drywall, hardwood, softwood and masonry
  • - Non-invasive capacitive sensing technology
  • - Detects surface moisture only
  • - Measurement Ranges, 0 to 53% for softwood, 0 to 35% for hardwood
  • Relative readings for wallboard and masonry
  • - 3 Color LED bar graph
  • - Easy to read white on black screen
  • - 9V battery included

MM9 Pin/Pinless Moisture Meter:

  • - Pinless and pin-type: pinless pad sensor for scanning large areas of drywall and wood, with pin sensors to to give more precise readings on specific areas
  • - Pin Mode Measurement Ranges: 5 to 50% for wood, 1.5 to 33% for building materials
  • - Pinless Mode Maximum: 3/4 in. (20mm) in wood; Sensing Depths 3/8 in. (9.5mm) in drywall; 1/4 in. (6.5mm) in cement board
  • - Pin sensors protected by cap
  • - 3 Color LED bar graph
  • - Easy to read white on black screen
  • - 9V battery included

Each of our moisture meters have something to offer. Regardless of the moisture meter you choose -- whether it’s pin-type, pinless, or a combo -- be sure to keep a General Tools moisture meter in your toolbox. 

Additional resources to guard yourself against flooding can be found on the General Tools Hurricane Preparedness Resources Guide. 

About General Tools:
 Ingenuity is at the core of every tool we make. With General in your tool belt, you can proudly take on the title of “Genius At Work”. Check out generaltools.com  for all your precise tool needs.