Thermal Imaging Inspection
INFRARED THERMAL IMAGING INSPECTIONS IN SAN DIEGO
Not every San Diego Home Inspector offers Infrared Thermal Imaging Inspections with their Home Inspections. And not all who offer it, are properly qualified or trained. Thermal Imaging Inspections allow the inspector a broader range of capabilities, extending their “visible inspection” into the infrared field of light [and heat]. Here are eight points to consider on why having an Infrared Thermal Imaging Inspection available at the inspection should be an absolute must.
1. What is Infrared Thermal Imaging?
Infrared thermography (IRT), thermal video and/or thermal imaging, is a process where a thermal camera captures and creates an image of an object by using infrared radiation emitted from the object in a process, which are examples of infrared imaging science. Thermographic cameras usually detect radiation in the long-infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum (roughly 9,000–14,000 nanometers or 9–14 μm) and produce images of that radiation, called thermograms. Since infrared radiation is emitted by all objects with a temperature above absolute zero according to the black body radiation law, thermography makes it possible to see one’s environment with or without visible illumination. The amount of radiation emitted by an object increases with temperature; therefore, thermography allows one to see variations in temperature. When viewed through a thermal imaging camera, warm objects stand out well against cooler backgrounds; humans and other warm-blooded animals become easily visible against the environment, day or night. As a result, thermography is particularly useful to the military and other users of surveillance cameras.
Thermography has a long history, although its use has increased dramatically with the commercial and industrial applications of the past fifty years. Maintenance technicians use thermography to locate overheating joints and sections of power lines, which are a sign of impending failure. Building construction technicians can see thermal signatures that indicate heat leaks in faulty thermal insulation and can use the results to improve the efficiency of heating and air-conditioning units.
The appearance and operation of a modern thermographic camera is often similar to a camcorder. Often the live thermogram reveals temperature variations so clearly that a photograph is not necessary for analysis.
2. What is an infrared thermography inspection?
Thermal Imaging Inspections, or simply, “Thermography,” measures surface temperatures by using infrared video and still cameras. These tools see light not visible to the naked eye, which resides in the heat spectrum. Thermal Imaging Inspection record the temperature variations of the building’s skin, ranging from yellow to red for warm regions, and from green, blue or purple and black for cooler areas.
3. What is infrared electrical inspection?
IR Electrical Inspections of electrical equipment identify excess heat on apparatus and detect electrical issues such as loose connections, faulty fuses, defective breakers, damaged switches, overloaded or imbalanced circuits and a myriad of other problematic electrical conditions.
A thermal imaging inspections using infrared cameras is a good starting point to detect higher than normal temperatures within electrical components such as circuit breaker panels and fuses.
- circuit breakers in need of immediate replacement;
- overloaded and undersized circuits;
- overheated electrical equipment and components; and
- electrical faults before they cause a fire.
4. Roof problems detected in Infrared Thermal Imaging Inspection
There are many signs to look for when it comes to a roof inspection. When a professional home inspector sees one or several of these signs present, depending on the specific issue, it could be the sign of potential costly repairs.
While there is no such thing as “The Perfect House,” an urgent roof repair could be a concern worth further evaluation. Furthermore, no roof lasts forever. The average life expectancy of a quality rook is usually somewhere between 15-30 years, but this may vary greatly by the area in which the house is located.
A commercial roofing contractor, or roof inspector, will use an infrared camera to take images or videos of the roof surface and insulation. Those images help identify what areas of the insulation are compromised or defective, without having to tear off the top layer of roof or move the insulation from unaffected areas.
Also, because thermal cameras completely ignore the visible light, their heat readings aren’t obscured by solid objects, like walls or roof membranes.
Some areas where Thermal Imaging Inspection excel for roofs and attics are:
- plumbing leaks;
- hidden roof leaks before they cause serious damage;
- missing, damaged and/or wet insulation; and
- water and moisture intrusion around penetrations and at the roof and roof contact points that could lead to structural damage and mold.
5. Heating and Cooling System Inspections using Thermal Imaging. Furnace issues, HVAC Systems, Performance Testing
A new furnace will usually cost between $3,000 and $6,000. If a furnace is broken beyond repair, or approaching the end of it’s life expectancy, it would be wise to know this before entering into negotiations for a home purchase.
Often times, when a certified home inspector sees signs of decay, weak performance or any other signs of concern, they may suggest a more In-Depth evaluation. This could be as simple as hiring an HVAC company to do a simple service and inspection. Usually these are a small cost to incur to better understand a vital piece of your homes comfort creating system. In many parts of the country, the furnace is a vital part of the homes safety.
6. Termites or Vermin
Mice and Termites are not an uncommon issue. On the small-scale annoyance, a few traps and some monitoring is all that’s needed. On the large scale concerns, they could literally be eating through the wood structure of the house and could require further remediation or treatments.
Both mice and termites leave evidence of their presence which can often times be detected in different ways using thermal imaging.
- possible pest infestation, as revealed by energy loss through shelter tubes left by boring wood-destroying insects;
- the presence of intruders, such as rats, mice and other larger pests hiding within the structure and detected because of their heat signature that the IR camera captures;
- and, dangerous flue leaks, which can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning of the home’s residents.
7. Faulty Wiring or Excessive Heat in the Electrical System
Wiring systems often have small concerns. But finding old, outdated, inefficient or unsafe electrical issues is a concern worthy of immediate attention and repair.
Using Infrared Thermal Imaging Cameras, a Trained Inspector can quickly identify, pinpoint and isolate areas of excess heat that could be the location of a current or future fire risk to the property.
Expansive wiring repairs can be costly, sometimes requiring walls to be breached or entirely torn down. The proper repairs are always recommended, and often an experienced electrician is best in advising the prospective buyer of what’s needed. If your expert home inspector sees any signs of excess heat, melting, black marks near outlets, exposed wiring or other signs through the use of their infrared thermal imaging camera, then further review is often suggested. While rare, it sometimes does happen during a quality home inspection.
8. Puddling and Poor Drainage Around The Home
Water damage is a serious issue. If water is present over an extended period of time, a number of serious problems could develop. A trained property inspector should notice and call out any observable areas of concern.
Using specialty tools, such as an infrared thermal imaging camera, an experienced home inspector has a much greater chance of observing issues that are not visible to the naked eye. Because temperature is not usually visible to the average eye, the infrared camera extends the capabilities of the average inspector to another level. It’s technically allowing the observation of electromagnetic radiation, with longer wavelengths than visible light, and this means that a temperature difference of 5 degrees or more, is readily observable to a trained technician who has thermal imaging technology.
When it comes to water issues, because water is an excellent conductor of energy, water usually holds or retains temperatures longer than the air and material it’s around. Knowing this, the trained technician and experienced home inspector will usually seek to change the temperature of the room or area being inspected, then they will use the Thermal Imagain Camera to see if there are any areas which are changing temperature more slowly. Also, with water, a home inspector may purposely attempt to change the amount of water, to see if the leak is present and if so, the spot being witnessed would likely grow or expand. Again, this is a delivcate issue and one that a trained technicin would quickly seek to isolate.
As water can occur anywhere on or around the house, it’s important to have a quality and thorough inspection completed prior to the closing of the house. If significant moisture problems are noted, you would want to have the repairs done as soon as possible, and most likely, prior to the close of escrow, and/or potentially negotiated in the closing.
Water damage can come from almost anywhere, but is most common when we see roofing problems, plumbing leaks, or poor exterior drainage leading to intrusion.
Water can cause structural integrity issues in foundations, it can cause wood rot, mold growth, or it can create an environment that allows termites to thrive.
If moisture, standing water, or dripping is seen in the crawlspace, it would be recommended that a professional who specializes in restoring and remediating water damage come out to assess and remedy the issues and their causes, or simply quote the cost of the repair work.
We’ve seen water issues become major and costly issues in short periods of time. We’ve seen signs of water leaks and water intrusion that have led to thousands of dollars in repairs. Some of the signs are almost unnoticeable, but an qualified home inspector is trained to notice these things, and through years of experience, they’re often able to make suggestions that could save thousands in both the immediate and not-so-distant future.
We hope the above information helps explain some of the
Top Reasons to get
Thermal Imaging Inspections
Thermal imaging is simply the process of converting infrared (IR) radiation (heat) into visible images that depict the spatial distribution of temperature differences in a scene viewed by a thermal camera.
Infrared Thermal Imaging Inspections help the PROPERLY TRAINED home inspector to evaluate the condition and quality of the home and identify hidden defects and opportunities for improvements.
