Importance of Thermal Imaging in Home Inspections

Importance of thermal imaging

Whether you are in the process of buying or selling a home in Ottawa, one of the most important steps in this process is the home inspection. These inspections are designed to identify the condition of a home while also pinpointing specific areas that should be addressed. Infrared thermal imaging in home inspections is a special technique used to discover defects in the building that can’t always be seen by the eye.

What Is Infrared Thermal Imaging?

Infrared thermal imaging uses an infrared camera to measure the surface temperatures within your home. The colours that are displayed on the tool range from red for warmer areas in the house to blue for cooler areas. By scanning your home with this tool, the inspector can see temperature differences that signify issues with the home.

Some of the numerous problems that can be detected with infrared thermal imaging include heating systems that have become damaged, leaks within the compressor of your air conditioner, and any source of heat loss around the windows, walls, floors, and other areas of your home. Thermal imaging in home inspections is also designed to detect additional problems aside from standard heating and cooling ones, which extend from leaks in your plumbing to electrical equipment that has become overheated. It’s even possible for pest infestations to be located with this type of imaging, which is why it’s so important that you choose a home inspector who uses thermal imaging in home inspections.

Weather stripping or door seal around exterior doors or poorly sealed exterior sliding doors. The dark colour in the winter indicates exterior air leaking into your home.

What Are the Benefits Of Infrared Thermal Imaging In Home Inspections?

There are an array of benefits associated with thermal imaging in home inspections, the primary of which is the wide variety of issues that can be detected with this tool. By having a thermal imaging scan done on your home, you’ll have a more thorough home inspection report than one completed without a thermal imaging camera.

If you’re selling your home, thermal imaging gives the buyer more confidence in purchasing the property once the inspection has been completed because there shouldn’t be any surprises once they’ve moved in. Before you select a home inspector to take a look at the property that you’re buying or selling, first make sure that they offer infrared thermal imaging with their home inspections.

For this picture below: It was very cold in the laundry room, owners thought it was the garage door leaking air?! With Bent Nails’ infrared camera, I showed the owners of this new build. The wall surrounding the ductwork to the exterior wasn’t properly insulated. After that is fixed that room will be warmer.

How to Prepare For a Home Inspection

If you own the home that is going to be inspected with an infrared camera, there are steps that you can take to prepare for the inspection. For the inspector to obtain an accurate result in a short period of time, make sure that there’s no furniture pressed against the exterior walls of your home. It’s also recommended to have these inspections performed in the summer or winter (winter being the perfect time of year!) because a strong contrast between the interior and exterior temperatures leads to the best results. Your Bent Nails inspector will be able to tell you whether or not you need to do anything more before the inspection occurs.

How do I inspect the areas that are cold in a home in Ottawa Ontario?

I use a top of the line infrared camera, it will catch any air leaks of missing insulation in the walls, around any exterior doors or windows, as well as the ceiling below the attic. Especially needed to catch any leaks in the plumbing, I test all faucets throughout the home.

Who attends a home inspection in Ottawa Ontario?

I always highly recommend the buyers. If they can’t be there, once they receive & look over the report. I tell them to never hesitate to ask me anything. I don’t need any seller there. Realtors are happy to join me.

Bent Nails Inspections uses a FLIR® infrared camera and includes infrared thermal imaging in my home inspections to give you the most detailed report on the condition of your home. Contact me today to schedule your inspection.

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