Infrared Thermal Imaging

Infrared imaging provides important information relating to otherwise inaccessible areas of a residential building. Infrared detects extremely small but crucial differences in temperature from one area of a house to another. These temperature variations show up on the camera’s view screen as “cold” or “hot” spots, which reveal hidden problems that often cannot be detected in the course of a traditional visual inspection.

These problems may include:

  • Faulty wiring, breakers and fuses
  • Hidden moisture intrusion
  • The moisture sources of mold
  • Pipe and duct work leaks
  • Roof and ceiling leaks
  • Foundation cracks
  • Heat/energy loss
  • Structural concerns
  • Missing insulation
  • Ventilation problems

Why Perform Infrared Home Inspections?

Combined with traditional home inspection techniques, the infrared inspection method reveals substantially more of the house than can be perceived by the naked eye and conventional inspection tools. Many things can't be seen with only a flashlight.

Examples of infrared inspection applications:

Water Intrusion

Scanning interior surfacesof a building with an infrared camera can reveal excess moisture due to plumbing leaks, roof leaks, leaks around windows, etc. Wet areas of building materials cool when energy is transferred during the water evaporation process; therefore, a wet (“cooler”) area will stand out from the surrounding dry (“warmer”) surface.

Insulation Deficiencies

Appreciable temperature differences, due to variations in thermal energy (heat) transfer, allow for detection of deficient or missing insulation when scanning ceiling and wall surfaces.

Roofing Leaks

Scanning roof coverings can reveal water intrusion and accumulated moisture below the surface. Due to its thermal properties (high thermal capacity), water typically gives up heat at a much slower rate than the surrounding roof materials. The areas of accumulated moisture can therefore be detected when scanning the roof surface. This type of roof inspection is best done in the evening or early nighttime after thermal energy imparted during the daytime is transferred or released.

Electrical Systems

Deficiencies within the electrical system can be made visually apparent by use of an infrared camera. For example, a deficient connection between electrical components can result in resistance which will manifest in an apparent temperature elevation when compared with similar types of connections under similar load conditions.

Structural Issues

differences in thermal capacity, conductivity, and other intrinsic qualities of building structural components can allow for their detection when scanning walls, floors, and ceilings with an infrared camera. Under the right conditions, missing structural components, and portions of structural components which are damaged (to the extent that their intrinsic qualities are significantly changed), can be detected.

NOTE: Although infrared thermal imaging is a far better diagnostic tool than the naked eye, it does not guarantee 100% accuracy, unless removal or destruction of components can be achieved to validate findings. When possible, other tools are used to verify thermal images, but even with these considerations we do not claim to have x-ray vision. Conditions may change and cause the apparent temperatures revealed on thermal images to be different at any given time.

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What our clients say

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“Our first response to having a home inspection done was..."No, We'll just have someone we know look at the home. Someone who has experience in home building, plumbing and general contract work." That person did look at the home for us, but still recommended we have a professional home inspection done. When Richard was done with his inspection, he walked us through the home, pointing out each issue we needed to be concerned about or make note of. He pointed out things in the home that we had not realized needed repair. His final report included pictures that were very descriptive and will serve as a great reference tool when we begin our repair projects. If it hadn't been for the inspector's thorough inspection, we could potentially have had many problems in the future.

Thanks you Premier Property Inspection. God Bless You”

Tammi Boultinghouse
Harlingen, Texas
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“Our first response to having a home inspection done was..."No, We'll just have someone we know look at the home. Someone who has experience in home building, plumbing and general contract work." That person did look at the home for us, but still recommended we have a professional home inspection done. When Richard was done with his inspection, he walked us through the home, pointing out each issue we needed to be concerned about or make note of. He pointed out things in the home that we had not realized needed repair. His final report included pictures that were very descriptive and will serve as a great reference tool when we begin our repair projects. If it hadn't been for the inspector's thorough inspection, we could potentially have had many problems in the future.

Thanks you Premier Property Inspection. God Bless You”

Tammi Boultinghouse
Harlingen, Texas
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Home Inspector Serving McAllen, Mission, Edinburg, Sharyland, Brownsville, Harlingen, South Padre Island, Laredo, Zapata, Eagle Pass, Carrizo Springs, Hebbronville, Uvalde and the rest of the Rio Grande Valley.