Infrared Thermal Imaging Inspection
Why Infrared Thermal Imaging?
How Does Infrared Thermal Imaging Work and why you need an Infrared thermal imaging inspection?
An infrared thermal camera identifies heat patterns of an object’s surface. They do this by rendering heat (infrared radiation) as light. The camera’s display renders different heat patterns in different colors, allowing users to easily determine hot and cool spots on a wall, a condenser unit, or a duct, for example.
For years professional have relied on visual and manual inspections for virtually every type of inspection today, Infrared thermal imaging inspection technology is used in a diverse range of applications in many industries. There is an endless list of benefits of utilizing thermal imaging in preventative maintenance.
The Key Benefits Include:
Cold Air Infiltration:
It is easy to detect air leaks when you sit next to a defective window on a super cold winter night. Unfortunately, we don’t always know where air leaks are or how they might be impacting our health, physical structure or wallets. One of the best ways to detect air leaks is with an infrared camera.
Excessive Moisture in Building Materials:
With the growing concern about mold damage and associated health problems, inspectors have become increasingly vigilant in checking for areas of moisture within the confines of the structure. Weather related damage and flooding, and subsequent mold growth, have also escalated the need for tools that can facilitate fast and accurate moisture inspection readings.
Infrared can identify water infiltration, such as roof leaks located with recent rain fall within 24~48 hours. Water leaks and moisture infiltration can cause serious damage, and can be difficult to detect until it’s already too late. Using a thermal imaging camera and under the right circumstances, it’s possible to find hidden water and moisture issues without resorting to destructive inspections.
Pest Detection:
For years professional has relied on visual and manual inspections to locate insect pest infestations. As building materials have improved, the ability to locate pest problems has become more difficult since building materials are often able to mask the existence of pest infestation. Within the past five years, IR thermal imaging has aided in the detection of pest infestation by detecting evidence of latent moisture within structures.
Heating and Cooling:
Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems are critical to indoor air quality (IAQ) and comfort, so they need to be well maintained. Unfortunately, these systems can be compromised by mechanical failures, while poor construction and installation can lead to air leaks, dripping water, and loose duct work. You need a way to catch these problems before they lead to higher energy costs and lower air quality. When you survey HVAC systems armed with a thermal imaging camera, you gain a whole new understanding of the building’s heating and cooling issues. You will be able to see problems such as misaligned duct work and electrical faults, and then make decisions about corrective actions. HVAC inspection with a thermal imaging camera can help you:
- Identify leaking duct work
- See electrical or mechanical HVAC system faults
- Confirm the source of energy losses
- Find missing insulation
- Discover AC condensate leaks
Pipe and Tubing:
Thermal imaging cameras are used to assist in the diagnosis and detection of leaks, and for locating hot water pipework in a non-invasive, fast and efficient manner.
Our thermal imaging equipment allows us to measure and detect the changes in surface temperature that is being investigated. These temperature changes are not visible to the naked eye. By identifying surface temperature changes we can pinpoint leaks under concrete slabs, in walls, ceilings, roofing and behind tiled surfaces.
Our thermal imaging cameras allow us to locate leaks where there is no physical evidence of any moisture damage. It also allows us to track the extent of damage to the affected area, most often the leak is never at the point of the visible damage.
Other uses for IR Thermal Imaging:
- Studs / Joists / Beams / Rafters
- Insulation Gaps
- Electrical Drops, Panels, Breakers, Switches and Wire Connections
- Special Inspections
- Energy Audits
- Insurance Claims
While there is no guarantee that nothing will be missed during the visual inspection, thermal imaging brings us one step closer to what otherwise might be overlooked.
So, ask yourself, do you want a home inspector that offers thermal imaging or risk going with one that does not?
BOSS Property Management Group, LLC
PO Box 4577
Crafton, PA 15205
