Now providing Infrared Inspections with FLIR Technology!

Infrared thermal imaging technology has real implications for how real estate home inspections will be conducted. The industry is slowly being transformed from a "visual" inspection service to a "technology" powered service that can satisfy even the most robust seller and buyer questions. The implications are so great that the perception that home inspectors can "kill" a deal will be thing of the past because with technology answers can be provided quickly, non-destructively (no tearing into walls), and in budget (hundreds of dollars versus thousands).

So why is infrared inspection, thermal imaging and thermography important in existing home and building inspections? Simply put, an Infrared camera in the hands of a properly trained inspector will harness the power of technology to provide you with a superior inspection. This is innovative inspection technology available today that gives you the power to see what no one else can see. Before infrared technology that brown stain on the ceiling might be a leak in the roof, after infrared technology that brown stain, well, it just needs a little paint (because we verified using infrared powered technology that the leak is not active). That is just one example of how the power of technology can literally save buyers, sellers and homeowners thousands of dollars by getting answers to their questions, rather than creating more questions.

As you can envision, this has real implications for our businesses. We can instantly image entire rooms, inspect places that can't be physically reached with moisture meters, reveal wet conditions behind surfaces such as enameled walls and wallpaper that don't readily water stain, track leaks to their source, monitor the drying process, and confirm when as structure is dry.

The FLIR BCAM SD has several robust features that are specific to building evaluations. An "Area min-max function" instantly finds the hottest or coldest temperature of a target and eliminates the risk of missing key information.With the Insulation Alarm, we can easily detect areas that don't fulfill the insulation requirements. The Dew Point Alarm displays areas with risk of surface condensation and moisture, a condition where amplification of fungal reservoirs may occur.

Click here to watch a 4-minute movie clip provided by FLIR systems about infrared cameras and thermal imaging that provides an excellent explanation of the applications of this technology in the inspection of existing homes and buildings. Read on for more discussion on the power of infrared inspections.

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. Click here for a sample infrared imaging report.

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
 
                        

In the application of electrical surveys, overheated breakers, switches, or outlets will "glow" when they are relatively warmer than the surrounding environment. This relative temperature will provide meaningful information in the observation of some critical electrical safety concerns.

                         

With skyrocketing energy costs insulation and HVAC efficiency has become a hot topic (no pun intended). In the application of insulation surveys, walls and ceilings that have missing insulation will appear as a different color (representing a different temperature band). This will alert the inspector that this area is "suspect" and may require additional testing to confirm missing insulation. The HVAC survey will include observation of the air temperature at the return and supply to check that the unit is operating in its manufacturer’s specified range.


This service will include observation of the flue/chimney as it passes through the ceiling for proper clearance. Flues and chimneys can reach temperatures of 600 F, when in close contact to drywall or framing. Many people ask why this condition has not created a problem after so many years. The answer, Pyrolysis. What the heck is Pyrolysis: when a solid organic material is heated strongly in absence of oxygen. Even though such processes are carried out in a normal atmosphere, the outer layers of the material keep its interior oxygen-free. (Which is why the outer layer oxidizes (burns) but not the inside.) So what is keeping this from starting ablaze immediately? Time. Because Pyrolysis involves a chemical process of drying a material, the end result is that its original ignition temperature is significantly reduced. For example over many years a wood framing member may have its ignition reduced to a mere 200 degrees versus 500 degrees when it was new. Don’t fall victim to the fallacy of questionable cause and think that because nothing happened before it won’t happen in the future.

 Below is a collection of various infrared images and thermograms we have collected during various field evaluations and observations. Some are work related and some are for fun! After all, all work and no play is no fun.

         

     

This is a side view of the house from above.With infrared vision you can clearly see the elevated temperature in the attic space.

   
   

                                                            

The sensitivity of the FLIR BCAM is simply amazing! Here we see the heat signature on a wall covered with sheetrock .

       

Sheesh, a cat's life  must be hard.

                                                                
 
                     

Verifying no leakage is present at the connection of the steel vent pipe into a masonry chimney is a snap with the FLIR BCAM SD.

By using the temperaure alarm with the FLIR BCAM SD we can instantly identify areas with temperature anomolies. Here we are looking at a vaulted ceiling where the ceiling meets the top plate. Vaulted ceilings are prone to inadequate insulation or air leakage. With the FLIR infrared camera we can see what the ordinary eye cannot and provide a superior inspection.

                    
             

Here we have an excellent opportunity to highlight the effectiveness of infrared technology. The picture on the left shows a light brown stain on the ceiling of a first floor kitchen. Qualitative analysis with the FLIR BCAM SD shows surface temperture anomolies that were quanatively validated with a moisture meter. Further investigation lead to a leaking shower pan in an upstairs bathroom above the kitchen. Infrared technology in the hands of a properly trained inspector provides a superior inspection service!