How does it work | MoistureGuard

MoistureGuard is able to prevent moisture damage by continually tracking both ambient (air) humidity and temperature, but also the actual moisture content of structural wood elements. We place our proprietary sensors in critical places throughout the building (typically 6-8 sensors for a 150m2 family home). These sensors are wired into a central control unit that sends data to our cloud, where we use proprietary algorithms to evaluate anomalies and generate alarms and reports as to the size and possible causes of a problem. MoistureGuard is designed to be absolutely service-free, requires no battery changes, and currently we estimate life expectancy of 20+ years aiming for 30 years. This is critical, as sensors are often placed in difficult-to-access places. The science behind MoistureGuard originates from the Czech Technical University (ČVUT) and the Research Center for Energy Efficient Buildings (UCEEB).

Customers can benefit from using MoistureGuard in the following areas:

New-build wood-frame houses
Retrofitting MoistureGuard into selected critical areas in existing wood-frame houses
All types of renovations, especially in critical areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and utility rooms to monitor and prevent moisture damage

Historical wooden structures
Basement walls to measure potential ground water accumulation damage
Where accurate, long-term, and/or continuous measurements are needed to monitor brick and/or wood moisture levels prior to/after renovations, façade structures, etc.

MoistureGuard can be used, among other, in the following materials and places:

Massive wood structures
Prefabricated panels with timber frame
Cavities inside wall construction
Floor sandwiches

Glue laminated timber
Cross laminated timber
In the future brick and mortar materials

MoistureGuard detects problems arising from a wide range of causes:

Accidental flooding caused by occupants
Leakages from external occupant damage such as drilling, nailing, and similar
Leakages from external forces such as frost, temperture difference, vibration, etc.
Leakages due to equipment failures such washing machines, boilers, radiators, etc.
Leakages due to material failures such as burst pipes or seals

Leakages due to poor workmanship
Condensation from temperature difference in inaccessible points
Moisture accumulation from inadequate ventilation
External rain leakages from normal wear and tear, typically after the guarantee period
Moisture seepage and accumulation from ground water

Key Elements

MoistureGuard uses a combination of sensors, a central on-site data processing unit, sophisticated off-site data interpretation, and client reporting to ensure that moisture in critical areas of the house is under control.

Sensors

The highest quality sensor parts available on the market come from Switzerland. They are not cheap, but we value reliability, accuracy, and longevity. This is not the area where you want to pinch pennies.

We use a variety of proprietary sensors:

HT02 Ambient air sensor

This sensor measures ambient humidity and temperature, which we typically place outside, inside, and in construction cavities in critical places.

MHT03 Wood mass multi-sensor

This sensor directly measures the moisture content of the structural wood mass using two different methods, along with our standard ambient temperature and humidity sensors.

Simple flooding sensors

To detect the presence of water (flooding) on floors or in other horizontal places.

Special sensors

for measuring humidity inside bricks (in the near future)

Central processing unit

Collects, consolidates, does initial data-processing and interpretation to immediately catch critical situations, and then encrypts data package for off-site cloud processing using artificial intelligence algorithms. This helps detect developing problems while minimizing false alarms.

Connectivity

We recommend wiring sensors to the main control unit as this is service-free, but where this is impossible or impractical, we have RF-enabled sensors that do the job.

Separately, we strongly recommend that connectivity between the installation and MoistureGuard server is immediately enabled following installation by using a remote LTE modem, typically before the house is connected to the internet by wire or other means – this is because many installation faults occur even before the house is delivered to the client and MoistureGuard can already help in detecting and rectifying these. Once delivery/handover is completed, it is then up to the client if LTE connectivity is maintained separately, or if connectivity is switched to the house internet provider. We can help you with this.

Advanced data interpretation

This is processed by MoistureGuard on our servers in Germany and reports are either sent to clients on a regular basis or clients can log into their space at any time and see current values.

Automatic water mains shut-off option

We have a simple, low-cost, retrofitable solution that fits over most water mains valves and enables MoistureGuard to automatically turn off your mains in case of emergency and you are not at home.

Technical parameters of wood

Wood is a hygroscopic, meaning it is a material that absorbs water. Water gets into wood in three ways: as a fluid through the cell lumens through capillary tension, as vapour through the cell lumens, and as molecular diffusion through the cell walls. The moisture content of wood expresses the relationship between the mass of water in it and the mass of wood without water. (For example, if a piece of wood with a total weight of 120 kg contains 20 kg of water, the moisture is 20%). The humidity of newly cut wood is well above 40%. Before use in construction, the wood is dried to 14 - 16%. In normal use of the house, the moisture content of wood varies between 10 and 20% by weight, depending on the relative humidity of the surroundings.

Our products