I grew up in an older house in Ohio that had a recurring moisture problem in the basement. My father and I spent two summers trying to figure out where the water was coming from — tearing out drywall, resealing the foundation, running a dehumidifier that ran constantly and still couldn't keep up. We were guessing. At 17, I picked up an analog moisture meter at a hardware store, more out of curiosity than expectation. The first reading I took pointed directly to a section of the rim joist we hadn't touched. That was the problem. We fixed it in a weekend.
That experience didn't just solve a basement problem. It showed me that most moisture failures — in floors, walls, framing, and foundations — aren't mysteries. They're measurement problems. The right instrument, used correctly, gives you a number. The number tells you what to do. The rest is execution.
I've been working from that principle for 18 years. I started as a field technician doing humidity and mold inspections across the Midwest, moved into independent consulting in Colorado in 2013, and founded Rocky Mountain Indoor Analytics in 2018. Over that time I've inspected more than 2,000 residential properties, trained over 300 field technicians, and tested more than 250 professional-grade instruments — from basic pin meters to multi-mode thermal imaging systems.
My work has taken me into every climate zone in the continental US. I've tested subfloor moisture in coastal Georgia in August and checked framing lumber in Phoenix in January. I've pulled ASTM F2170 readings from slabs that looked bone dry and came back above 90% RH. I've watched $11,000 floors fail because a contractor skipped a 45-minute moisture test. The patterns are consistent. The mistakes are preventable.
Every article I write on Sensora Home comes from direct field experience. I don't test products in a lab — I use them on real job sites, in real conditions, across real climate zones. When I cite a standard — NWFA, IRC Section R319, ASTM F2170, USDA Wood Handbook — it's because I've applied it in the field and verified it holds. When I give you a number, it comes from a meter, not a manufacturer's brochure.
Certifications & Training :
- Indoor Air Quality Specialist (IAQS) — Certified
- Mold & Moisture Inspector (CMI) — Certified
- Thermal Imaging Diagnostics — Advanced Training
- B.S. Environmental Building Sciences — University of Michigan
Field Experience :
2,000+ Residential properties inspected across the US
250+ Professional instruments tested and evaluated
300+ Field technicians trained
18 Years in moisture detection and building diagnostics
Professional History :
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2008–2013 — Humidity & Mold Inspection Technician, Midwest Home Diagnostics
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2013–2018 — Independent Consultant, IAQ & Thermal Diagnostics, Colorado
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2018–Present — Founder, Rocky Mountain Indoor Analytics, Denver CO
Areas of Specialization :
Wood moisture detection and flooring installation standards (NWFA, ASTM F2170, IRC R319). Subfloor and concrete slab moisture assessment. Thermal bridge and building envelope diagnostics. Indoor air quality monitoring — CO₂, PM2.5, VOC, formaldehyde, and relative humidity. Instrument calibration verification and species correction methodology. Climate-specific acclimation protocols across high-humidity (Florida, Georgia, Gulf Coast) and arid (Arizona, Nevada, Mountain West) markets.
How I Write for Sensora Home :
Every article I publish here follows the same process. I start with a field problem I've encountered directly — a measurement error I've seen on a job site, a failure mode I've diagnosed in a real property, a standard that contractors routinely misapply. I verify current guidelines against the primary source (NWFA, IRC, ASTM, USDA FPL) before writing, and I update articles when those standards change. I don't cite secondary sources when the primary document is publicly available and I can read it myself.
I include real numbers — actual moisture readings, real remediation costs, specific climate zones — because round numbers and vague ranges don't help you make a decision on a job site. If a number in one of my articles seems unusually precise, it's because it came from an instrument, a job file, or a published standard. I note the source.
I also note limitations. No meter is perfect in every condition. No standard covers every edge case. Where the answer is "it depends," I explain what it depends on and give you the framework to decide, not a false certainty that gets you into trouble.
Articles by Caleb Rowland :
