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Infrared Inspection Service
Infrared Thermography
is a powerful non-invasive means of observing a building. Infrared cameras see
"heat", our natural eyes see "light", and therefore infrared cameras by definition can see what our eyes cannot see. In the
application of moisture surveys, building materials that are wet will be subjected to the process of evaporation and therefore
be represented as a "cooler" image. This will alert the inspector that there is a "suspect" area and it will be documented
using infrared photography and natural photography in the report. This survey can be combined with a general home inspection
to include an infrared survey of the buildings walls, ceilings, and floor for moisture.
This thermogram shows us that
darker colored areas are cooler in temperature and therefore are consistent with moisture and will be quantitatively verified
with a moisture meter
Why Perform
Infrared Home Inspections?
Combined with traditional home inspection techniques, the infrared
inspection method reveals substantially more of the house than can be perceived by the naked eye and conventional inspection
tools. Many things can't be be seen with only a flashlight. Examples of infrared inspection applications: Water
intrusion: scanning
interior surfacesof a building with an infrared camera can reveal excess moisture due to plumbing leaks, roof leaks, leaks
around windows, etc. Wet areas of building materials cool when energy is transferred during the water evaporation process;
therefore, a wet (“cooler”) area will stand out from the surrounding dry (“warmer”) surface.
Insulation deficiencies: appreciable temperature differences, due to variations
in thermal energy (heat) transfer, allow for detection
of deficient or missing insulation when scanning ceiling and wall surfaces.
Roofing leaks: scanning
roof coverings can reveal water intrusion and accumulated moisture below the surface.
Due to its thermal properties (high thermal capacity), water typically gives up heat at a much slower rate than the surrounding
roof materials. The areas of accumulated moisture can therefore be detected when scanning the roof surface. This type
of roof inspection is best done in the evening or early nighttime after thermal energy imparted during the daytime is transferred
or released.
Electrical systems: deficiencies
within the electrical system can be made visually apparent by use of an infrared camera. For example, a deficient connection
between electrical components can result in resistance which will manifest in an apparent temperature elevation when compared
with similar types of connections under similar load conditions.
NOTE: Although infrared thermal imaging is a far better diagnostic tool than the naked eye,
it does not guarantee 100% accuracy, unless removal or destruction of components can be achieved to validate findings. When
possible, other tools are used to verify thermal images, but even with these considerations we do not claim to have x-ray
vision. Conditions may change and cause the apparent temperatures revealed on thermal images to be different at any given
time.
Buy
With Your Eyes Open With A Complete Home Inspection & Infrared Thermal Imaging
A Leaking Bedroom Ceiling: The thermogram clearly shows a leaking bedroom ceiling. The leak was assumed by
the owner to originate in an upstairs marble-paneled bathroom in the $3 million home. The estimated cost to rip out and replace
the marble to access the plumbing was estimated at $80,000! Further IR investigation absolved the bathroom and traced the
source of the leak to a clogged weep hole under the threshold of a door leading to an upstairs porch.
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