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Thermal Imaging In Home Inspections: What is it Used For?

Sometimes a home has problems related to moisture intrusion, lack of insulation, or hot spots in electrical circuits that cannot be detected using the naked eye alone. While all of the issues noted above are things a potential buyer would want to know about, discovering unwanted moisture in the home is probably the main use of thermal imaging in home inspections. Not only can water cause a tremendous amount of damage; it can also lead to ancillary problems, like mold growth.

What is Thermal Imaging?

Infrared Thermography, or thermal imaging, involves the use of a special camera that allows the detection of even small differences in surface temperatures. The images produced by the camera alone are not telling enough, however – you need a qualified home inspector to interpret the thermal images and decipher what issues might be depicted there. Often, the problem has to do with moisture intrusion, and your home inspector will likely also use a moisture meter in order to detect moisture levels and whether or not excess moisture is present.

Can a Thermal Imaging Camera See Through Walls?

A thermal imaging camera does not X-Ray anything; it cannot “see” through walls. Rather, it produces visual measurements of surface temperatures and displays these differences through changes in color that can be read by your home inspector. Using thermal imaging in home inspections cannot directly detect the presence of water; this is why a skilled, infrared certified thermographer and a moisture detection tool are also necessary. Still, thermal imaging provides us with enough extra information that it is an invaluable tool to detect potential issues.

Why Use Thermal Imaging in Home Inspections?

Because a home inspection is a visual and non-invasive inspection of the safely accessible systems and components of a home, a tool that enhances your home inspector’s ability to detect defects and issues with the home is a welcome one. Your home inspector may perform a full thermal imaging scan of the home, or he or she may only bring out the thermal imaging camera when a particular problem is suspected. Either way, you’ll be rewarded by the extra help this tool adds to the inspection process and for the additional information you’ll receive about the home you wish to purchase.

If you’re thinking about buying a house with a pool, there are some important things you need to know — before closing the deal. A swimming pool is one of the most valuable assets in a home and it can be the place your family and friends share some of the best times of their lives.

Or it can be a headache that just won’t go away.

Get a Certified Pool/Spa Inspection. You’ll want to buy your next home with your eyes wide open. But unless you’re a pool expert yourself, you’ll be wise to engage a professional pool inspector to conduct a thorough inspection. You need one that’s been around some time and has experience with a wide variety of pools – and the many problems that can happen with them over the years.

Are you selling your home? Let an InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector® inspect it before you even list it. A Move-In Certified® home has been pre-inspected, which means that the seller can confirm that there are no major systems in need of immediate repair or replacement, and no known safety hazards. A Move-In Certified® Seller Inspection informs you of any defects or problems with your home so that you can address them before prospective buyers discover them. You can then take the time you need to obtain reasonable repair estimates. Show prospective buyers that you are dealing in good faith. Avoid 11th-hour negotiations and delays, and justify your full asking price by having your home pre-inspected now.