Handheld Thermal Imaging Cameras for Home Inspections

Handheld thermal imaging cameras for home inspections can detect a wide array of issues in a cost effective manner.  When it comes to a purchase such as a home or investment property, a nominal amount for a thermal inspection can save you literally thousands in the long  run in home repairs.  Below is only a small list of potential issues thermal imaging cameras can detect and images illustrating how they would appear in thermograms when performing thermal imaging analysis.

Water Intrusion & Moisture

Handheld thermal imaging cameras for home inspections can easily identify mold & moisture damage in hidden areas, or even in plain sight that the human eye cannot detect.

Water leaks can be a serious two-fold issue. For one, water leaks can lead to structural integrity issues in roofs, floors, ceilings & beams, which in turn can lead to more property damage than you bargained for. Water leaks & moisture can also be particularly hazardous to your family’s health, because they can foster the perfect environment for molds to grow unchecked. Molds can be an allergen that causes irritations in individuals as small as a runny nose or as fatal as Anaphylaxis. Water leaks and mold should be dealt with in an expedient manner.

For more information on mold’s potentially harmful effects, please see the World Health Organization’s Guidelines for Indoor Quality and the CDC’s Mold FAQ page. You can also find more information in our blog article, “Thermal Building Inspections Highlight Water Damage & Mold Link to Children’s Skin Illness.”

Insulation Gaps & Air Leaks

Handheld thermal imaging cameras for home inspections can point to leaking air and drafts around windows and doors.

Insulation gaps are one of the biggest issues with home heating.  Air drafts and heat loss can significantly increase energy costs because your money is literally going out the window.  Since poor building construction and air leaks are often extremely difficult to identity, having a thermal imaging camera is a huge benefit. It can quickly identify the problem areas around windows, doors & flooring, pinpointing the exact areas of your home insulation that need to be improved.

In this picture, you can plainly see all of the cool air escaping beneath the door.  This both wastes cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter, contributing to higher heating & cooling bills.

Energy Audits

Handheld thermal imaging cameras for home inspections can pinpoint overheated wiring or outlets that may become potential fire hazards

When basic home inspections are conducted, the inspector generally uses his eyes and hands, not much else. The inspector can see what type of electrical service is implemented in the home, whether its a 15 or 20 amp service. He can identify wiring types, circuit breakers as being functional, and use multimeter gauges to measure amps being emitted from wall outlets. But what he can’t see is if a certain circuit breaker may be overheating. With a home inspection being conducted as preventative maintenance, over-tasked or dated circuits can be easily identified.

It is crucial to identify overheated circuitry or wiring to avoid power surges and potential fire hazards.  According to an NFPA article, “In 2011, an estimated 47,700 home structure fires reported to U.S. fire departments involved some type of electrical failure or malfunction as a factor contributing to ignition. These fires resulted in 418 civilian deaths, 1,570 civilian injuries, and $1.4 billion in direct property damage. In 2007-2011, home electrical fires represented 13% of total home structure fires, 18% of associated civilian deaths, 11% of associated civilian injuries, and 20% of associated direct property damage.”

Pest Infestations

It’s bad enough when a home inspector tells you that your house is filled with pests such as termites, beetles or even rodents. But seeing the entire picture of just how much damage that varmints can cause is important in determining just how much repairs need to be made.  Thermal imaging cameras can point out gaps in beams and tunnels through insulation and walls of the home. Knowing where the pests are hiding is key to stopping them in their tracks, at the soonest possible time before any more damage is done.

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