People with IR cameras…who are smarter and better than Charley Bottger…do not have to lie to the public and tell them they are getting “less” of a standard home inspection if their inspector is not using that technology in his inspections.
Instead, they sell their IR service as something that goes beyond the normal home inspection and, accordingly, justify the cost at the appropriate level above the standard home inspection.
If Bottger were a foundation contractor instead of a HVAC guy with a new camera, he would be doing a $350 inspection…but would be including mud jacking with it - and claiming that any inspector who doesn’t fix cracked foundations is doing less than a full inspection.
Oh you have a 1k Ir Camera do you I thought you said you did not own one. The inspection I performed yesterday would have paid for your camera. If you need grocery money I can send you some I try to help the needy when ever I can
Seems to me that you have been quite outspoken about your newfound profession!
You didn’t learn too damn much if you can’t see that thermal imaging goes along with what you do!
You sir, are also a fraud. You claim the same. You just feel belittled, I’m sorry for that.
I’m really happy that you’ve changed your rant from “home inspection licensing is futile” to “thermal imaging equipment is useless”! At least were talking about things that can be documented instead of speculating about bull crap theories.
Problem is, Charlie can sit here all night long and show you pictures and documentation to put you in the dirt. You have little to document whether it be home Inspector licensing or your newfound blower door job!
Charlie doesn’t have a blower door and you don’t have a thermal imaging camera. If you would like to spar, I use both.
#1 it is not absolutely necessary that you have either one of these technological equipment advances to perform a specific job.
#2 to say that it is ridiculous to own both pieces of equipment because one or the other is useless, is a farce and a fraud.
Charlie knows a blower door will help. Charlie is a former HVAC contractor and knows many ways to overcome the building pressure issues associated with not only a blower door. However, I really don’t think Charlie worries about air infiltration too much, he is the leaking shower pan king! I know for a fact that he would prefer to do electrical inspections over about anything, and does not claim to be Mr. energy auditor!
Now why don’t you just post how a blower door identifies the exact location of a building envelope leak…
I know you have posted many times that a thermal imaging camera cannot quantify the volume of an air leak. Please enlighten us how the blower door identifies the location of air leaks (I’m still trying to figure this one out).
Yes, I see your Licence thread has been resurrected!
So is this all you can say about that? No great words of wisdom on how to locate air leaks with the blower door? I wouldn’t mind trading in my thermal imaging cameras if you can save me all that money!
Sorry I did not meant to turn this into a Pi** match but James Bushart from Cassville Missouri and I do not see eye to eye on most any topic he prefers substandard SOP inspections and I think the general public deserves more that is my story and I’m sticking to it
Here is a question: sop related kind of. We are to identify the type of heating system in a home.
We identify it as radiant in floor whether it’s electric or hydronic.
Suppose that one that Bill and I were on was a pre-purchase. Without ir we could not see that it was extremely substandard, doesn’t seem fair to me to not be able to do it. Times have changed and we need to change and maybe the sop needs to be brought up to date as well. When a client contacts us and maybe specifically asks how we inspect a radiant floor and our answer is to bring in a specialist, more money out of their pocket and they may just move on to the guy who has the equipment. Just how I see it.
I also agree the ir would be huge asset to a blower door. I have been contemplating the blower door as it would enhance the ir (yes Jim different inspection altogether)
Special needs of clients can continue to be addressed through ancillary services without changing what a basic home inspection entails, IMO.
What do you tell a client that asks if you check for radon? Do you say “yes” and do it with your regular inspection, or do you call it an additional test with an additional fee?
The basic home inspection will require the inspector to normally operate the controls and report as to how the heating system responds to the controls. If he asks for a thermal image of the radiant floor, you explain as would with anything else. It’s an additional service requiring additional equipment for an additional fee.
When I am in the attic and basement, am I looking for WDO/WDI damage along with everything else? Sure I am…but it is not a part of a basic home inspection and when the client requests a termite inspection, I charge more for it (and the increased liability) and provide an additional report for the additional fee.
I don’t “bottger” it and publish on my website that a licensed termite inspection should be a part of every home inspection…anyone not licensed to do a termite inspection is unable to do a complete home inspection…and then add it to every inspection.
Charles, because we have a SOP that defines what a basic home inspection provides, we are not limited to only that service. We can do and charge for more when the situation warrants or the client requests it.
Not to throw another coal on the fire but I check radiant heat with my simple temp gun and that is all I really need to do.
When checking a Furnace I check the flame but cant tell if the exchanger is cracked or where, unless I dismantle the thing correct?
Every aspect of an Inspection could be performed better with one tool or another.
Scott has a tool for video scanning sewer lines that very few others if any have ,yet there is no mention or bragging on his part about the rest of us not doing as through of an Inspection.
I do not see that in this thread but do see that type of bravado on IR websites and this may be where J.B is coming from.
WHAT IS YOUR INSPECTOR MISSING
I HAVE X RAY VISION
ASK YOUR INSPECTOR IF HE CAN SEE BEHIND WALLS
I do agree that the missing ceiling insulation thing is a little silly for spending $10,000
to find.
It is a great tool to have but 99% of us can do fine and write a full report using experience and common sense.
Which inspector would you rather have?
A newbie with IR camera and training or a Crusty old timer with CMI under his belt?
Is it possible to miss a small leak with no camera ?
Hell yes but most leaks are going to appear somewhere that is visible and a experienced inspector is going to see the warning signs.
Is it still possible to miss leaks with a IR camera?
Hell yes as conditions are a factor even with the tool.
Are you better off to have one in general?
Hell yes because whatever the percentage you will find things that you might have missed just as J.B will find things that he could not with no blower door.
The question is why do not all Inspectors use a IR camera?
Cost?
Time?
Risk vs Reward
Just for the same reason we do not all go out and by sewer cameras.
DOES YOUR INSPECTOR USE A SEWER CAM?
IF NOT ASK HIM WHY?
I CAN SEE CRACKS IN DRAIN TILES.(CAN HE)?
The good thing about sewer cams is you do not feel inferior for not upgrading every year.
I agree with you for the most part Jim, I just think that as in floor heat becomes more popular then it becomes part of our job to be prepared to be sure the install is good and there are no leaks. I don’t think it will be an ancillary service at some point, jut expected. I actually don’t do radon so I can’t comment on that. I do visually inspect for mold though on every inspection, if there is a problem or thought to be then the inspection changes and the cost goes up for sure.
Same as most inspectors Bob, hope for the best??
Seriously, as most of us would be looking for clues that may be condusive to mold. Water leaks,stains, no gutters, landscape etc. I did say visual for mold, not intrusive.
I’m simply going to hurtle right over all the arguing and innuendos and show you images of a failed radiant heating system that I had discovered (with my Infrared Camera - which is a great tool) a while back…
