Thermal Imaging & Infrared Inspection Services
Commercial Building Inspections, Energy Audits, Moisture Intrusion, Electrical Issues, Solar Panels, and Electrical Power Systems, Areas of Heat Loss and Inadequate Insulation
We can evaluate your home or building for energy loss, moisture intrusion, or leaks using our state-of-the-art equipment such as our FLIR T865 thermal imaging camera. With our specialty tools, we will locate areas of heat loss, inadequate insulation, duct leakage, and more. We will also show you where you can save money throughout your home with other systems. Start saving money by hiring us to perform a thermal scan of your home or building envelope analysis today!.
The photo to the right shows typical air leakage with the blower door between the drywall and the wall cavity. This leads to what’s called the stack effect.
Our Inspectors:
Our inspectors are fully trained and certified
FAA Certified sUAS Pilot #3987636
FLIR Level 1 Certification #170314159
FLIR Level 1 sUAS Certification #172651650
CRT Certified Residential Thermographer
NACHI® Building Science and Infrared Thermal Imaging for Inspectors
Commercial Building Client Testimonial Link
Thermal Imaging Camera Can Be Used for:
- Commercial Roof Inspections
- Energy Audits
- Heat Loss
- Moisture Intrusion
- Electrical Issues
- Electrical Power Systems
- Low Sloped Roofs: To identify leaks and moisture intrusion in large low sloped roofs
- Solar Panels: Inspect solar panel arrays for functionality, shorts, overheating and other damage.
- New Roof Commissioning: Commissioning of new roofs for a baseline and routine of annual monitoring and evaluation.
- Window Seals: Inspect windows for failing thermal pane seals under window warranty period.
We utilize the state-of-the-art thermal imaging equipment from FLIR and DJI.
- Flir T-865
- Flir E-96
- DJI Mavic 3T Thermal Drone
HIKMICRO Thermal Camera Pocket2
How Thermographic Inspections Work
Thermography measures surface temperatures by using infrared video and still camera equipment. These tools measure the light within the heat spectrum. Images on the video or film record the temperature variations of the building's skin, ranging from white, for warm regions, to black for cooler areas. The resulting images help the auditor determine whether insulation is needed. They also serve as a quality control tool, to ensure that insulation has been installed correctly.
A thermographic inspection is either an interior or exterior survey. The energy assessor decides which method would give the best results under certain weather conditions. Interior scans are more common because warm air escaping from a building does not always move through the walls in a straight line. Heat loss detected in one area of the outside wall might originate at some other location on the inside of the wall. Also, it is harder to detect temperature differences on the outside surface of the building during windy weather. Because of this difficulty, interior surveys are generally more accurate because they benefit from reduced air movementThermographic scans are also commonly used with a blower door test running. The blower door helps exaggerate air leaking through defects in the building shell. Air leaks appear as black streaks in the infrared camera's viewfinder.
Thermography uses specially designed infrared video or still cameras to make images (called thermograms) that show surface heat variations. This technology has a number of applications. Thermograms of electrical systems can detect abnormally hot electrical connections or components. Thermograms of mechanical systems can detect the heat created by excessive friction. Energy assessors use thermography as a tool to help detect heat loss and air leakage in building envelopes.
Infrared scanning allows energy assessors to check the effectiveness of insulation in a building's construction. The resulting thermograms help assessors determine whether a building needs insulation and where in the building it should go. Because wet insulation conducts heat faster than dry insulation, thermographic scans of roofs can often detect roof leaks.
In addition to using thermography during an energy assessment, you should have a scan done before purchasing a house; even new houses can have defects in their thermal envelopes. You may wish to include a clause in the contract requiring a thermographic scan of the house. A thermographic scan performed by a certified technician is usually accurate enough to use as documentation in court proceedings.
Types of Thermographic Inspection Devices
One of the most accurate thermographic inspection device is a thermal imaging camera, which produces a 2-dimensional thermal picture of an area showing heat leakage. Spot radiometers and thermal line scanners do not provide the necessary detail for a complete home energy assessment. Infrared film used in a conventional camera is not sensitive enough to detect heat loss.
Preparing for a Thermographic Inspection
To prepare for an interior thermal scan, the homeowner should take steps to ensure an accurate result. This may include moving furniture away from exterior walls and removing drapes. The most accurate thermographic images usually occur when there is a large temperature difference (at least 20°F [14°C]) between inside and outside air temperatures. In northern states, thermographic scans are generally done in the winter. In southern states, however, scans are usually conducted during warm weather with the air conditioner on.
Sometimes during the year, because of a phenomenon known as “thermal loading,” it might be necessary for the homeowner, depending on local conditions, to create and maintain a specific inside/outside temperature difference for a period of up to four hours before the test will be performed. Running the air conditioner in cool climates or the central heat in hot climates can do this. Ask the thermography prior to the test if this will be necessary.
