I’ve been very interested in performing IR inspections for several years now. However, whenever I have spoken about this to my boss he always states he is nervous of additional liability. After taking the IR coarse and reading additional information from the library I don’t believe we can afford not to provide this service. Not only will it better inform our clients to potentially hazardous and expensive issues, it will also increase our profits. I believe the biggest hangup he has is how to implement it effectively in our reports, but after reading this article I believe I now have a better grasp on how to make that a reality.
This is a photo of some water staining on a ceiling from an inspection that I did recently. There had been a water leak in the master bathroom above that had been repaired, but the ceiling below was never replaced. I was able to confirm with my moisture meter that the ceiling was dry at the time of the inspection. If I had an infrared camera I may have been able to see even more damage. At the time I was using a moisture meter and just my naked eye so I could only observe the surface. If I was using an IR camera I may have been able to detect possible moisture that is still within the wall. That kind of technology can help me to express the need to replace such problems before they turn into worse problems such as mold or fungi growth. In order to compete with and surpass other inspectors I will be purchasing a IR camera for tool kit
IR Cameras: Inspecting for Moisture Intrusion
Infrared cameras are great tool when inspecting for moisture intrusion problems. By the time moisture has become visible on the surface there may already be serious damage underneath. It is common for water intrusion accumulate and expand before is becomes an visible problem. If you are using an IR camera and a moisture meter you will be able to locate possible moisture intrusion before the damage gets too serious. Infrared cameras are becoming more and more popular because of the great advantages that they can have over the older traditional methods. Understanding and the ability to interpret your IR camera properly will help you to create better more accurate reports.
In these two images we see that the grading to the house is level or even a little towards the house. Also, the clearance from wood to ground is only about an inch. The wood has rot on both sides of the corner and the siding has begun to turn green. On the inside of the house, the carpet had to be cutout due to water saturation. This is a costly repair. Recommend correct grading and increasing the distance form ground to wood to six inches if possible.
Thermal imaging reports article
This is part of an assignment for the course on building science and Thermal Imaging.
This article is full of useful information. It clearly explains the steps to follow when dealing with clients and when writing reports. It tells how to explain the limitations and capabilities of IR and what they can expect. The photos of IR can be alarming to a client that has no idea how to interpret them. The article shows how to be professional in addressing the concerns of the client and clearly explaining the process
of IR.
This is an article I will use again. Very well written.
This course and subsequent articles on thermal imaging and its usage strongly emphasizes the importance of verifying with a moisture meter to confirm visual findings
I took an IR picture of a GFCI outlet in my kitchen. When I first saw the image on the camera my immediate reaction was that there was something wrong with it. After looking at it a little closer it appears to be working fine. The hottest part of the outlets appears to be around 83 degrees. This differently confirmed you can’t just rely on the image itself and that the image needs to be evaluated for what exactly it is showing.
IR Cameras: Electrical Inspections
When I was first introduced to the IR camera it looked like a great tool for finding moisture problems. After taking both the online classes it has also become evident that it can be a great tool for the electrical portion of the inspection. I really like that it will be able to provide a high degree of inspection while also being non-intrusive.
Writing assignment:
This thermal image of a 125 amp sub panel had three AFCI breakers in the upper left corner. They had the green test buttons. I have read that some of the early AFCI breakers have been recalled, especially those with “blue” test buttons. Regardless, when manually tested (test button pressed), one of the AFCI didn’t trip. Nothing happened. I then shot this thermal image. By itself, it shouldn’t be too alarming since AFCI breakers will be slightly warmer then there neighboring, not loaded, basic breaker. However, if you look closely, you can see that the thermal image clearly shows two hots spots, not three. Or at least, two of the AFCI’s are warmer than the third. Considering the inconsistency of the image, the fact that one of the breakers had a “false test”, and that early units have been recalled, I decided to call this out as something that should be furthered evaluated by a qualified electrician for the potential of a defect, not a definitive defect. Although, clearly one AFCI is a defect since it would not trip.
This is for the research assignment: EPA guidelines for radon.
Radon is an odorless gas and byproduct–radioactive decay-- of uranium in the soil and rock substrate, usually associated with igneous rock. Sometimes it can find itself into ground water, and as such, is not a concern for municipal water supplies that come from surface water. Radon is carcinogenic and has become more of a concern as buildings have been built to tighter standards to improve energy efficiency. Radon should be more of a concern to those that have living spaces with two or more walls below grade. Radon is atomically heavier than almost all other elements in our atmosphere but it will dissipate with convection. National average outdoor ground level exposure is ~.04 pCi/L and it can be as much as twice that. The EPA recommends that all houses being sold or bought be tested. They state that no regional, local, or neighborhood pattern can predict what the levels might be in any individual home, however, clearly there are regional and local trends based on the geology (academically trained Environmental Scientist and retired paramedic here). The EPA recommends that new construction employ inexpensive radon mitigation treatment or existing buildings with a concentration of 4.0 pCi/L or higher be corrected. This can usually be done for a few hundred dollars to as much as $2.5k (I sold a house that needed a $1.5k mitigation strategy because the buyer was having an uneducated panic). No level is safe but one does have to weigh the risk against all other lifestyle associated risks. Smoking is considered a synergistic risk factor when combined with radon for lung cancer and considerably raises your odds. If you have never smoked, don’t have or live in a basement, then statistically, your risk of radon induced lung cancer from a building that has a concentration of 4.0 pCi/L is equal to or less than many other actions or behaviors that you participate in on a daily basis (including that very dangerous commute to work)–and that is only if you have a “lifetime exposure” to those levels. Does anyone spend their lifetime in a basement of the same house? In short, don’t smoke, don’t panic, and consider mitigation if you are literally living over a hotspot. And then consider how much your exposure is all day at work or school, where, so far, the testing is rarely talked about or conducted.
Attached photo of exterior faucet. Faucet was not properly caulked. This can lead to water intrusion, thus causing rot or material decay. Advise to caulk all items that penetrate the exterior surface of the house. This will decrease potential water intrusion and/or energy loss.
<img src=“https://www.nachi.org/gallery/images/infrared/infrared/breaker__after_.jpg” alt=“Breaker (IR camera)”/>
Thermal imaging in electrical inspections.
Looking into a breaker box with a thermal camera can be deceptive if you don’t know exactly what you are looking for. Because of the characteristics of bakelite, the material used to make breakers, they tend to display higher temperatures than the surrounding areas.
Just because they display a higher temperature doesn’t necessarily mean there is a problem. When breakers are under a load they will display a spike in temperature. According to Will Decker temperatures as high as 100 to 110 degrees fahrenheit are acceptable for breakers.
Through experience, you will begin to notice temperature ranges and be able to identify what is acceptable.
Ive read the Drones and inspections article. Its quite interesting and falls under what should be a common sense clause, fly responsibly. However thats not always the case as the popularity increases. New FAA guidelines have been passed essentially requiring a license needed to fly them.
The homeowner of this acreage had done a magnificent job landscaping his 4 acre property in order for proper water drainage to occur. The grade was such that it seemed the house was sitting on small hill. He also placed tar paper underneath a row of limestone around the perimeter of the house not only lending a very aesthetically pleasing look but a very effective approach to stopping water from accumulating near the foundation wall. After going inside and looking at the basement, realizing the main sewer discharge was located approximately 2ft above the slab, and having no sump pump or pit to deal with ground water, it was easy to see the home owner made the connection of having very effective site drainage around the property to mitigate the possibility of water intrusion into the basement with no means of escape.
Going over the Inspecting a Deck article, I realized as a new inspector the importance and value of reviewing certain courses that may pertain to an upcoming inspection. I have just finished completing an inspection for a buyer, which is looking at a home that has a very nice deck wrapping around two sides of the home. While catching a few things such as missing metal hangers, and deck screws used as fasteners to the ledger board, I did however breeze over the need to have the posts attached to the concrete footings. Thinking back, I remember noticing the untreated wood posts correctly being kept up and away from any ground soil by sitting on large concrete footings, however, I missed confirming if there was a proper connection to those footings. Hopefully reflecting and learning from those types of mistakes makes me a better inspector over time.
Hello Everyone. I am starting this course to better my skill sets and become inspection savvy with my new thermal camera. Best of luck to all.
Doyle
http://https://www.nachi.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=144871&stc=1&d=1468438478
The image below is of a window I inspected. The window appears to be in good condition, the seal is still intact, and it is caulked properly. Other than the small hole in the screen no other problems were discovered. A thermal imaging scan showed no problems and the windows appear efficient
The article I chose to study was about ants, mainly carpenter ants. It described the damage they cause, how they’re social structure worked, etc. It showed the difference between carpenter ants and termites. It described how to find and deal with ant nests as well. I found this article to be important because in the area I work in carpenter ants are a huge problem and it helps to know more about them
I took this image with my IR Imager at my home. The bright colour in the heat supply duct shows that the hot air is moving in the room. The surrounding area is dark in the image means relatively colder temperature.
This is an image of a new home that I inspected. The contractor was painting the exterior of the home and pushed the secondary A/C drain line back into the wall and caulked and painted over the hole. The painter also sprayed paint over the filter clogging it. The primary A/C line failed and the secondary line stated leaking down the walls. Without my thermal camera this could have went unnoticed.