Infrared cameras are the latest technology being
used for fast, reliable, accurate building diagnosis in the
entire range of building problems, from post-catastrophe fire
and flood investigations to chronic leaks and moisture detection.
Moisture in building materials can destroy structural integrity
and nurture mold. The first step in moisture detection problem
remediation is to quickly and accurately locate and remove
all sources of moisture. By finding variations in temperature,
Infrared cameras instantly show you what's wet and what's
dry.
For example, an area that is damp from a plumbing
leak will heat up at a different rate than a dry area. The
variations in heat emitted can be easily detected with an
Infrared Camera. IR cameras can often find the ultimate source
with little or no physical disassembly of the premises and
minimal disturbance of inhabitants. To illustrate how the
infrared camera "sees" heat, Rosco (pictured at
left) was kind enough to pose for a picture. As you can see,
his nose, which is wet and cold, appears as blue and black
while his eyes are white hot.
How do they work?
Thermography is the use of an infrared imaging and measurement
camera to "see" and "measure" thermal energy
emitted from an object. When two areas composed of the same or
similar materials experience changing ambient temperatures, the
area with the higher thermal mass will change slower. The first
thing we do is turn on the heater to warm up the house. The dry
areas with less thermal mass will warm up quickly. Areas with
a higher thermal mass which may include damp areas will warm up
slower, and these differences will be obvious when viewed through
the Infrared camera.
Thermal, or infrared energy, is light that is not visible because
its wavelength is too long to be detected by the human eye; it's
the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we perceive as heat.
Unlike visible light, in the infrared world, everything with a
temperature above absolute zero emits heat. Even very cold objects,
like ice cubes, emit infrared. The higher the object's temperature,
the greater the IR radiation emitted. Infrared allows us to see
what our eyes cannot.
Infrared thermography, produces images of invisible infrared or
"heat" radiation and provide precise non-contact temperature
measurement capabilities.
Some of the more common infrared
inspection applications include:
Electric system inspection and component scans
Water and moisture intrusion inspection scans
Thermal insulation inspection scans
Flat roof inspection scans
Pitched roof inspection scans
Building envelope inspection scans
Air infiltration/Heat loss scans
HVAC component scans
Energy Audits / Surveys
And much more…
Infrared thermogoraphy is especially helpful in locating
potential problems like electrical hazards and minor roof
leaks before they get out of control. Our service can also
assist with quality assurance by identifying missing insulation,
plumbing leaks, and structural issues or defects. We can
help to pinpoint troublesome issues such as roof leaks,
plumbing leaks, and energy efficiency without the need for
invasive or destructive investigations. Infrared technology
can prove invaluable in saving time and revenue typically
required to identify and correct these issues.
NOTE: Although infrared thermal imaging
is a far better diagnostic tool than the naked eye, it does
not guarantee 100% accuracy, unless removal or destruction
of components can be achieved to validate findings. When
possible, other tools are used to verify thermal images,
but even with these considerations we do not claim to have
x-ray vision. Conditions may change and cause the apparent
temperatures revealed on thermal images to be different
at any given time. For example, if there has been no rain
for several months, the infrared camera will not detect
moisture from the roof leak since none is present.
Home Inspections covering the counties
of the San Francisco Bay Area such as Solano County, through
Contra Costa County , over to Napa County and Sonoma County,
Down to Alameda County, San Mateo County and Santa Clara
County to the Central Valley of Sacramento County, El Dorado
County, and Placer County including Lake Tahoe Homes, and
other counties such as Amador County to Calaveras County,
Stanislaus County and San Joaquin County and Sutter County,
Butte County, Lake County, Shasta County, Tehama County,
Yolo County, Yuba County, Nevada County and Colusa County.
This includes outlying areas for home inspection services.
Partial
list of cities served: Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, Granite
Bay, Elk Grove, Ranch Cordova, South Lake Tahoe, Davis, Woodland,
Stockton, Lodi, Galt, Yuba City, Marysville, Vallejo, Vacaville,
Fairfield, Concord, Walnut Creek, Napa, Oakland, Berkeley,
Fremont, San Jose, Santa Clara, Modesto, Tracy, Pleasanton,
Santa Rosa, San Rafael, San Francisco, Chico, Oroville, Red
Bluff, Redding, Orland, Corning, Paradise.
Golden State Home Inspections LLC • 3539 Bradshaw Road Sacramento, CA 95827
Member of NACHI-National Association of Certified Home Inspectors
Ca. State Contractor License #913615
Phone: 800.441.0804 • Fax: 530.676.3098
