Thermal Imaging

Thermal imaging is a scan of your home using a special infrared thermal imaging camera.  This infrared (IR) camera detects very small temperature variations in your home’s components, even in hidden areas such as behind the walls, above the ceiling and beneath the floors.  These very minor temperature differences often reveal ‘invisible’ problems which cannot be seen with the naked eye, and would not be found with just a traditional home inspection.  Some people refer to this technology as “seeing through walls” or “X-ray Vision”.  While neither of these analogies are technically correct, in many cases a thermal imaging scan can help the Inspector “see” problems that would otherwise not be visible.
Why do I need Thermal Imaging
Thermal Imaging takes your home inspection to the next level!  While a good home inspector can detect a wide variety of problems without “seeing inside the walls”, a standard home inspection has limitations because it’s a visual inspection.  Thermal Imaging is an inexpensive, non-invasive and non-destructive method of finding hidden problems that would otherwise go undetected.  Often times Thermal Imaging can find a problem in its early stages before there are visible symptoms, making it easier and less expensive to repair.  Much like a medical x-ray can help a doctor to diagnose a problem inside your body without doing exploratory surgery, Thermal Imaging is a quick and painless way to find certain types of problems that can be hidden within your home’s walls, floors and ceilings.  But even Thermal Imaging has limitations, and it takes much more than a special IR camera to “see through walls”.  Just like it takes a trained Radiologist to properly interpret your medical x-ray, it takes a trained Thermographer to properly interpret your Thermal Imaging scan.  Rest assured that when you order Thermal Imaging from Solid City Home Inspections, your Inspector is also a trained and experienced .

The U.S. Dept. of Energy recommends having an infrared scan done before purchasing a home because even new houses can have defects in their thermal envelopes.

Thermal Imaging of a ceiling reveals an area with no insulation.       
 

What types of problems can Thermal Imaging reveal?
Thermal Imaging can find several different types of hidden problems, including:

• Plumbing leaks, moisture intrusion and water damage
• Missing insulation and energy loss
• Heating, cooling and ventilation problems (HVAC), including ductwork leaks
• Roof leaks, structural issues and foundation cracks
• Faulty wiring, breakers and fuses 
• Pests such as termites, rats and mice