About Infrared Thermal Inspections

Infrared Thermal Imaging is a relatively new technology based on the well known science of Physics.  Every object on earth produces heat (a form of energy). Most of the time, we cannot see this energy with our naked eyes and so we need the assistance of a thermometer or Infrared Camera. Thermometers can certainly measure the temperature of surfaces and objects, but they are limited in providing a visual picture of those temperatures. An Infrared Camera, on the other hand, can provide us with those pictures through Thermal Imaging! Infrared Thermal Imaging is the process of interpreting surface temperatures into a visual image that we can easily observe and interpret. 

That’s great, but what does this have to do with home inspections?

Good question! 

Only recently has Infrared Thermal Imaging been applied to building science. Physics tells us that all objects and materials are thermally different. Simply put, different materials heat up and cool down at different rates. A thin piece of material or object (such as a curtain) heats up much faster than say a 3/8” drywall. Since homes are constructed of many different materials and components, we can easily apply Infrared Thermal Imaging in our inspection process to help us identify concerns that we may not have found otherwise. Environmental conditions also have an impact on our Florida homes. Conditions such as rain, wind, and sun will affect building components.  A roof leak after a significant rain can often be found through an infrared thermal inspection long before it can be seen with the naked eye.

As a Florida home inspector, I am limited to what I can inspect by my naked eyes. I can often only guess at what may be occurring behind finished surfaces such as walls, ceilings and floors. Thermal imaging helps us to see what our eyes cannot. While it’s not x-ray vision, an inspection with thermal imaging is often considered the next best thing! Simply looking at a finished wall or ceiling, you and I cannot tell if there is insulation behind it. With a thermal inspection, a ceiling or wall that is missing insulation will glow like a light bulb in our Florida weather. Discovering this defect can help save you hundreds of dollars in wasted energy bills once corrected.

Once only considered a military or scientific technology, Infrared Thermal Imaging now has many various applications that can directly assist the everyday consumer. From residential and commercial building diagnostics, to medical applications, to industrial technology, Infrared Thermal Imaging is continually making an impact in our lives.