Method and apparatus for moisture detection in exterior sheathing of residential and commercial buildings

A method for detecting moisture comprising:

• for a first initial period, establishing a plurality of datum moisture parameters by:
• disposing a set of electrode pairs in exterior sheathing walls of the building;
• detecting electrical parameter values between each of the electrode pairs;
• and,
• storing the detected electrical parameter values as said plurality of datum moisture parameters;
• after said first initial period, periodically detecting the electrical parameter value between each of said set of electrode pairs;
• and,
• generating an alarm signal when, for each of the electrode pairs, a difference between the detected electrical parameter value and the datum moisture parameter is indicative of moisture in said exterior sheathing walls of the building in excess of said datum moisture parameter.

Apparatus for monitoring moisture content of an associated building, the apparatus comprising:

• a first moisture sensor located at a first wall in a first zone of the associated building, the first moisture sensor being adapted to provide a first signal representative of a first moisture content at said first zone;
• a second moisture sensor located at a second wall in a second zone of the associated building, the said moisture sensor being adapted to provide a second signal representative of a second moisture content;
• and,
• a control unit in operative communication with said first and second moisture sensors at said first and second zones, the control unit generating an alarm signal when at least one of said first signal and the second signal exceeds a non-zero threshold value.

A method for detecting moisture in a building comprising:

• for a first initial period, establishing a plurality of datum moisture parameters by:
• disposing a set of moisture sensors in the building;
• detecting electrical parameter values of said moisture sensors;
• and,
• storing the detected electrical parameter values as said plurality of datum moisture parameters;
• after said first initial period, periodically detecting the electrical parameter value of each of said set of moisture sensors;
• and,
• generating an alarm signal when, for each of the moisture sensors, a difference between the detected electrical parameter value and the datum moisture parameter is indicative of moisture in said building in excess of said datum moisture parameter.