Diversity in your business is really a must to longevity and survival. Similar to diversity in a species of animal helps it to survive adverse environmental conditions, so it is true of business. When the business climate changes those who have put all their eggs in one basket, may find nothing left to for breakfast one morning.
Years ago the real estate business was booming, houses were selling almost as soon as they hit the market with multiple buyers lining up to make offers. Ah yes the good old days. The prognosticators were saying in the midst of all this insane activity the market could not sustain it.
It seems few were listening.
These predictions of doom and gloom were nagging at me. At that time I was doing home inspections and only home inspections. But what happens when the market takes a turn? To me the scene wasn't pretty. The answer to me was to look for other areas of business related to inspections.
What I found is the infrared camera.
I see that some home inspectors use these high tech devices for, what else; home inspections. Yet this instrument is itself diverse in its uses. One particular area the infrared camera excels in is electrical predictive maintenance. Since the infrared camera is an instrument that views the world in a light spectrum that can be simply termed heat and electrical components that are hot usually signal a problem, they are a perfect match.
Take a look at the wires going to this main switch in a commercial building. Looks like nothing more than a bunch of fat wires. Next look at the same switch through the infrared spectrum. The center two wires, particularly the one on the right, are much hotter than the other wires. The higher temperature is an indication there is a problem in the circuit.
This type of inspection does not usually require shutting down machinery or any of the electrical circuits. It can be done, and is preferred to be performed, during the normal operating activity of the facility. This of course causes little disruption of the daily business. Once the problem areas are documented in a report, the maintenance staff can address the issues at an opportune time.
Like the infrared camera a wider spectrum in your business can reveal unseen opportunities.
James Quarello
Connecticut Home Inspector
2010 - 2011 SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC
To find out more about our other high tech services we offer in Connecticut click on the links below:
Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services. | Learn more about our home energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®. |
Serving the Connecticut Counties of Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, Southern Litchfield and Western New London.
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