Should You Get an Infra-Red Scan Before you Buy that New Home?
Some info on why it is important to have an infra-red scan performed before you buy your new home.
Some info on why it is important to have an infra-red scan performed before you buy your new home.Finding problems before you buy your home is your Ace Card and your home inspector as well as your certified mold inspection company or certified mold re-mediator should be able to offer you an infra-red scan to the home you are thinking about purchasing.
By investing in an infra-red scan prior to purchase the homeowner can experience lower maintenance costs or a reduction in major surprise repairs. The inspector can see where cool air and moisture is leaking into the house and potentially save the home buyer money in the long run.
Having an infra-red scan is like having a second pair of eyes on the inspection but these eyes see things our natural eyes cannot. If the ceiling is wet from a roof leak it will display as a darker area and therefore be of concern for the home buyer. If there is nothing to be seen it will give the buyers peace of mind on the condition of the roof and any potential leaks.
Although these scans don't detect actual moisture they can detect surface temperature which can offer the inspector reasons for the leak and possible solutions.
The following is some Temperature Guidelines for infra-red scans and possible hazards.
• Delta T or temperature change is the rise of the exception temperature to a reference. The
reference might be the ambient, adjacent/similar component under same conditions, or
maximum temperature of component.
• Utility - Rules of Thumb – Temperature Rise
Level 1: 0 to 10 C 0 (0 to 18 F 0): correct at next scheduled maintenance.
Level 2: 10 to 20 C 0 (18 to 36 F 0): correct as scheduling permits.
Level 3: 20 to 40 C 0 (36 to 72 F 0): correct ASAP.
Level 4: 40 C 0and above (72 F 0 & up): corrective action required immediately.
• N.E.T.A. (National Electric Testing Association) – Temperature Rise
– 1 to 3 C 0 (2 to 5 F 0): possible deficiency warrants investigation.
– 4 to 15 C 0 (7 to 27 F 0): deficiency, repair as time permits.
– 16 C 0 and above (29 F 0 & up): major deficiency, repair immediately.
Absolute Conversion Formulas
TF is the Fahrenheit temperature & TC is the Celsius temperature
To change 0 F to 0 C: TC = (TF – 32) 5/9
To change 0 C to 0 F: TF = (TC x 9/5) + 32
Relative Rise Conversions
To get the Relative Rise values, drop the 32 in the above formula
C 0 Rise = F 0 Rise x .56
F 0 Rise = C 0 Rise x 1.8
Note: technically speaking, the term “Celsius degrees” (C 0) refers to a temperature difference or
relative temperature, where “degrees Celsius” (0 C) designates a specific temperature reading on the
Celsius scale.
Contact Snell Experts and Executive Restoration for any and all Infra-red scans on home inspections and mold damage restoration.
By investing in an infra-red scan prior to purchase the homeowner can experience lower maintenance costs or a reduction in major surprise repairs. The inspector can see where cool air and moisture is leaking into the house and potentially save the home buyer money in the long run.
Having an infra-red scan is like having a second pair of eyes on the inspection but these eyes see things our natural eyes cannot. If the ceiling is wet from a roof leak it will display as a darker area and therefore be of concern for the home buyer. If there is nothing to be seen it will give the buyers peace of mind on the condition of the roof and any potential leaks.
Although these scans don't detect actual moisture they can detect surface temperature which can offer the inspector reasons for the leak and possible solutions.
The following is some Temperature Guidelines for infra-red scans and possible hazards.
• Delta T or temperature change is the rise of the exception temperature to a reference. The
reference might be the ambient, adjacent/similar component under same conditions, or
maximum temperature of component.
• Utility - Rules of Thumb – Temperature Rise
Level 1: 0 to 10 C 0 (0 to 18 F 0): correct at next scheduled maintenance.
Level 2: 10 to 20 C 0 (18 to 36 F 0): correct as scheduling permits.
Level 3: 20 to 40 C 0 (36 to 72 F 0): correct ASAP.
Level 4: 40 C 0and above (72 F 0 & up): corrective action required immediately.
• N.E.T.A. (National Electric Testing Association) – Temperature Rise
– 1 to 3 C 0 (2 to 5 F 0): possible deficiency warrants investigation.
– 4 to 15 C 0 (7 to 27 F 0): deficiency, repair as time permits.
– 16 C 0 and above (29 F 0 & up): major deficiency, repair immediately.
Absolute Conversion Formulas
TF is the Fahrenheit temperature & TC is the Celsius temperature
To change 0 F to 0 C: TC = (TF – 32) 5/9
To change 0 C to 0 F: TF = (TC x 9/5) + 32
Relative Rise Conversions
To get the Relative Rise values, drop the 32 in the above formula
C 0 Rise = F 0 Rise x .56
F 0 Rise = C 0 Rise x 1.8
Note: technically speaking, the term “Celsius degrees” (C 0) refers to a temperature difference or
relative temperature, where “degrees Celsius” (0 C) designates a specific temperature reading on the
Celsius scale.
Contact Snell Experts and Executive Restoration for any and all Infra-red scans on home inspections and mold damage restoration.
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