Finding Out What You Don’t Know
A
Seattle home inspection entails many things, including
knowledge, experience, training, and technology. For
the
most advanced and thorough building inspections,
request that infrared thermography be included.
This
sophisticated infrared technology locates and
pinpoints sources of leaks and water intrusion in
homes without destructive source
finding.
Seattle Home Inspections
considers an infrared camera to be one of the most
important tools in a Seattle home inspector’s tool bag. A
scientific process that essentially measures thermal
or infrared energy, infrared thermography can
detect
insulation, air leakage, water, electrical, heating,
and cooling problems.
Without any disruptive – or destructive –
exploration, Seattle Home Inspections can discover water leaks around
windows, doors, interior and exterior walls, roofs,
and water pipes. Wall insulation and the heating and
cooling efficiency of windows and doors can also be
assessed by using an infrared camera.
Here
are some common areas where infrared thermography is
most helpful:
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.
Water Intrusion
Scanning interior surfaces
of a building with an infrared camera can reveal
excess moisture due to plumbing leaks, roof
leaks, and leaks around windows, to name a few. 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.
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.
Infrared Thermography is beneficial in the following
areas:
• Flat roof leak detection for buildings,
plants, facilities
• Identify water damaged
portions of a roof quickly and accurately
• Eliminate unnecessary replacement of roofing
• Document problems before the warranty expires.
• Boilers
•
Detect problems quickly, without interrupting
service
• Assess priorities for corrective
action
• Locate radiant heating wires or pipes
• Detect delaminations in concrete bridge deck
• Locate and identify mold growth areas in
building structures
• Inspect burners for flame impingement and
burner management
• Look at combustion patterns of fuel
• Minimize preventive maintenance and
troubleshooting time
• Electrical Systems
• Thermal heat loss inspections for buildings
• Moisture contamination
• Concrete integrity inspections
• Concrete water heated floor inspections for
leaks and temperature distribution
• Locate missing or damaged insulation
• Identify air leakage energy losses
• Evaluate the thermal performance of retrofits
• Heat ventilation air conditioning equipment
evaluation
• Cold Storage cooling losses.
• Detect insulation leaks in refrigeration
equipment
• Environmental Applications
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Missing Insulation in Ceiling |
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Moisture in Ceiling |
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Infrared View of a Switch Panel |
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Overheated Breaker Panel |
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Unshielded Electrical Outlets |
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