Thermal Imaging

Why Do You Need An Infrared Home Inspection?

Adding an Infrared inspection with a traditional home inspection may reveal substantially more of the house than can be perceived by the naked eye and conventional inspection tools. The thermal camera is used as an aid to help identidy problem areas. The entire home is not inspected with the camera unless specifcally requested and for an additional fee.

What Other Inspectors See

I See Missing Insulation

Thermal Imaging Applications and Uses

Thermal imaging cameras are used to identify thermal anomalies. Home inspectors can use these anomalies
to diagnose conditions, such as insufficient or missing insulation, overloaded circuit, moisture damage/leaks in a home. Some examples of how thermal imaging can help on your home inspection.

• Air infiltration - due to inadequate building envelopes, like caulking and insulation, or air leakage from mechanical equipment like the air exchanger or duct work, and windows and doors.
• Moisture intrusion - water retains its heat longer and appears warm.  A below-ground leak, or siding or roof, say from an ice dam, may be cooler than the surrounding material and show up as a cool spot as well.
• Evaporative cooling - liquids cool below the ambient, surrounding air temperature as they evaporate and appear cool.
• Condensation - water vapor warms the cool object that condenses water vapor to a liquid.
• Specific density changes - the ability of a substance to retain its heat will change when deterioration from rot or insect infestation occurs.
• Equipment performance - the first sign of impending equipment failure is increased heat, like a circuit breaker in an electric panel box.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• The infrared thermal imaging camera is not an X-ray vision scope. Instead, it identifies thermal differences.
• The infrared thermal imaging camera does not completely remove the risks of concealed damage.
• Thermal cameras are not dangerous and do not emit any form of radiation. In fact, our thermal imaging system is a non-contact, non-invasive, passive imaging system that is measuring the heat emitted.