Quick answer: To inspect building moisture with the testo 606-1, select the correct material characteristic curve, press both pin electrodes into the material as instructed and compare measurements at several equivalent locations. Document material type, depth/contact, room conditions and the observed pattern. A high meter reading is evidence to investigate, not proof of a pipe leak or rising damp.
How the 606-1 measures moisture
The testo 606-1 (0560 6060) is a compact two-pin electrical resistance moisture meter. Testo supplies selectable characteristic curves for wood species and building materials including plaster, brickwork and cementitious materials. The meter converts the electrical response through the selected curve to an indicated moisture content. It has a hold function and backlit display; it does not take infrared images or measure air humidity. For another non-destructive building-inspection method to complement pin measurements, see testo 871 thermal camera setup.
Testo’s manual explains that readings depend on the selected material, environmental conditions and actual material composition. For wood, measure across the grain as instructed; for mixed wall assemblies, do not compare a drywall reading with a concrete reading as though they were the same material.
Perform a comparative moisture survey
- Map the symptom. Sketch the damp area and record staining, recent rainfall, plumbing routes, floor junctions and adjacent dry zones.
- Confirm the substrate. Identify whether it is wood, plaster, brick, cement screed or another compatible material; choose the appropriate curve per the instrument manual.
- Inspect before probing. Check for concealed cables, pipes and finishes that the pins could damage. Do not puncture suspect energized or hazardous assemblies.
- Test an unaffected reference. Measure a comparable dry area of the same material, taking multiple points with consistent pin contact.
- Survey the affected area. Use a simple grid of locations, keeping the same curve and comparable pin penetration.
- Record and interpret. Save indicated values, material selection, location and conditions; use repeat measurements to check a trend.
Hypothetical example: map a moisture gradient
Illustration, not field data: on the same kind of plaster, four mapped readings are 1.1%, 1.3%, 2.7% and 3.0% using the same material setting. The largest reading is 1.9 percentage points above the lowest. The pattern warrants closer examination, but does not identify whether the source is condensation, plumbing, rain penetration or construction moisture. Material-specific test conditions matter more than applying a single universal limit. For the dew-point mechanism behind one possible moisture pattern, see why condensation forms on one wall.
What can give an artificially high reading?
| Condition | Why interpretation changes | Good practice |
|---|---|---|
| Salts or conductive contamination | Electrical response may change without equivalent free water | Corroborate with independent method |
| Wrong characteristic curve | Material conversion no longer corresponds | Confirm substrate and selected setting |
| Hidden metal, embedded services | Can bias resistance readings or present a hazard | Avoid known services and unsafe areas |
| Different pin contact | Reduces comparability | Use consistent technique and repeat points |
What the meter cannot prove
It cannot trace a concealed leak to its origin, prove mold, establish the precise moisture profile through a wall or replace gravimetric laboratory testing where required. For disputed damage assessments, document the instrument, calibration/function check, substrate, selected characteristic curve and an independent corroborating method. Avoid destructive probing of asbestos-containing, lead-contaminated or electrically hazardous materials without specialist controls.
Official documentation
testo 606-1 product information and the manufacturer’s instruction manual explain material curves, the instrument check and correct contact measurement. The manual’s example values are material-specific guidance, not universal damp-building thresholds.