Infrared Scan Inspections

Good Morning Stephen and Welcome to Active Rain.  Interesting questions, I will be back to read the answers you receive.

Infrared scanning is very condition dependent. The camera "sees" heat difference from evaporating moisture.  It can still be visible after 72 hours in some cases.  The walls don't dry out that fast unless there is some serious ventilation going on.

If the conditions are not right, say the house is unheated, there will be little or no heat diferential to see. This can be compensated for by raising the inside temperature to about 80 degrees for an hour or two prior to inspecting.

The camera works in conjunction with a blower door.  The blower door accentuates the pressure differential by pulling a negitive pressure on the inside.  The traditional way the air leaks were found was by using "smoke sticks" that produce a chemical smoke.  They are placed in front of all teh likely spots to see any air flow.  Slow process because you need to check every place.  The IR camera can quickly scan for a thermal pattern consistant with an air leak.  Big time saver.

The time needed is totally dependent on the size of the house and the conditions.  Because the camera is faster, a whole house scan only takes about an hour or less to cover the entire interior.

Due to SoP restrictions out here in California, I cannot include the IR portion during a regular home inspection.  It can be concurrent but must be a separate action with a separate contract.  If I do one concurrent with a home inspection, I consider that I am already there so I give a discount down to $179.00 from the normal $300.00.  Basically, I charge $150 per hour with a two hour minimum.

Dana Bostick, Certified InterNACHI Home Inspector and Certified Level 1 Thermographer.