Free Thermal Imaging with Home Inspection

Items Inspected with Infrared Camera Scan

During the home inspection we scan all exterior surfaces looking for moisture or missing insulation.  Older homes with dormers are typically found to have poor or missing insulation.  Home built in the 80’s some times have finished basement where insulation only extends down 18 inches below grade.  (  this is not a deficiency as that was the requirements of the Ontario Building Code at the time of construction.  None of these deficiencies can be noted unless an Infrared Camera is used.   That is why the Barrie Home Inspector includes Free Thermal Imaging Scan with every home inspection.

 Scan includes Exterior Walls and Main Electrical Panel

Thermal Imaging is an advanced technology used to detect infrared energy waves which are outside of our visible human light spectrum. The main advantage of this technology is it provides a non-destructive and non-invasive means of inspecting many applications and can be used to help detect many types of defects in homes and their systems including but not limited to: Heat Loss, Water Leaks, Presence of Moisture and overheating electrical components.

Thermal Imaging Spectrum

 This Thermal Imaging spectrum shows the difference in light waves which are visible to humans and also depicts the area visible using Thermal Technology.

Thermal Imaging has made a significant impact on the Home Inspection industry with the reduction in costs associated with owning a Thermal Imaging Camera. Investing in new technology has always been a priority with my company and we were the first Home Inspection company in Simcoe County to offer this Free service with our home inspections. Even Mike Holmes has been a vocal advocate of Thermal Imaging Cameras and I believe all his “home inspectors” now offer this service as part of the Mike Holmes package.

Thermal imaging is not magic, some people will try and convince you that it is, but simply a device that measures light that the human eye cannot see. You can buy Infrared film for you older style film cameras and take your own Thermal Imaging pictures. There are even animals who naturally have the ability to see images in the infrared spectrum. Thermal Imaging is a tool that can aid in finding missing insulation, electrical hot spots, moisture problems, water leaks, in-floor heating problems, flat roof problems and finding where plumbing or electrical cables are located prior to renovating. This is not magic, no more than using moisture meter or video camera snake for inspections.

Thermal imaging is a non-invasive, non-destructive way of evaluating conditions below the surface. Because everything from faulty wiring to the presence of termites to mold to wet insulation affects the surrounding temperature, heat-sensitive photography can reveal these and other issues that just cannot be seen by the naked eye or with conventional or digital photography. In providing thermal imaging reports we can document a hidden fault for corrective action or to prioritize repairs. For an energy loss we can show exactly where cold air is entering the home or heat is being lost, along with energy dollars. You can also document the safety of a property by revealing dangerous electrical hot spots or the presence of harmful mould. Thermal photography lets us deliver a more thorough and in-depth report to our clients.

Lack of or missing insulation can be detected with the proper use of thermal imaging cameras except that unless there is a temperature difference of over 10 degrees the information is basically useless. Thermal imaging will only measure differences in temperature and is unable to measure the thickness of your insulation. If the temperature difference is not extreme then the insulation will perform its job even if not installed to required R value. So as you can see Thermal Imaging does have its limitations.

Contact the Barrie Home Inspector

Send Roger an Email for Information or Availability

Cell Phone  705.795.8255

Toll Free   888.818.8608