The fact that home inspectors are investing thousands of dollars to buy thermal cameras to hopefully generate some extra income from a different source - indicates that they are obviously not very busy. This type of camera is certainly not required to perform ordinary home inspection - where one is only obligated to report what the "naked eye" can see.
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RUDOLF REUSSE - Home Inspector since 1976 - **TORONTO
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Do you own a computer?
Why? It’s not “required” to be a Home Inspector!
Just because you do not elect to participate in this program, there is no reason to downplay the significance of its existence. If you review this bulletin board, I don’t think you will find a single home inspector that has an infrared camera, state that they feel they can do just fine without owning one. Once you realize what it is that you “can’t see”, you won’t leave home without it.
As for a home inspectors purchasing this technology when business is slow, this is the perfect time to do so. The necessary resources to become an adequate thermographer require considerable time for training, absorption of the training material and experimentation in application.
Just maybe, when things pick back up they will have additional expertise to perform in this profession that will lead them ahead of the pack, as any additional education and ancillary service will do for any home inspector.
If you don’t go along with the program, just turn your head and avoid the embarrassment of your lack of technical knowledge.
Sorry, just my humble opinion.
Rudolf you are correct that a home inspection is a limited visuale inspection of the readily accessible aspects of the building. But what happen when you come a cross evidence of moisture leak whether it’s in a finished basement a ceiling, wall or roof, at least with an IR camera the inspector can help his,her client in trying to identify the cause of the problem, and what repairs may be needed to correct the problem before they complete the deal for the house.
I hope to use my camera for air leakage and lack of or missing insulation for the the Eco-engery evaluation and not only home inspection.
I have done home inspections where the shower wall appears to be wet from leaking tiles, tub surround or pipes, and the client wants to know how bad it is before they sign on the dotted line for the property. I had a home inspection not too long ago before I bought my camera and the shower walls showed very wet with my moisture meter, and the client wanted to know just how bad it was. With moisture you can not really tell how bad it is or how far the moistur has traveled in the walls, called an inspector I know who has an IR camera he set up an appoint with my client to do a scan of the bathroom area and he found it to be much worse than we thought. That is one of reason I have bought an IR camera to better serve my clients and to make some extra cash in doing so.
Who are you doing Eco-energy audits for…or for yourself?
Brian work under contract for Amerispec
I am surprised to have unintentionally created an uproar. I certainly was not aware of the fact that the sudden buying spree for thermal cameras has been triggered by some program offered to gullible home inspectors how to operate and interpret this type of equipment to willingly increase their exposure to liabilities.
RUDOLF REUSSE - Home Inspectors since 1976 - TORONTO
Rudolf There is no program offered to gullible home inspectors to buy these cameras. The choice to buy is up to the home inspector as is the training to use them. I personally spent 4 days in Toronto taking a coarse put on by ITC to become a Level One Thermographer which meets ASTM standards, buy taking this training I believe I have lowered my exposure to liabilites more than those who may have bought a camera and are using it with out any training at all.
Here we go with those wives tales about increased liability!
I’ll tell you about liability, it’s when you walk away from the house and say everything is nifty thrifty fine and dandy and then a few weeks/months the client has issues and contacts their lawyer. Everybody thinks a home inspector can see all, know all and do all and will sue you accordingly.
The only time you increase your liability is when you buy a $5000 camera and go out and use it without any earthly idea of what the heck you’re doing. Report something unnecessary and cause the client a loss. Then your not only liable but negligent.
Let’s not bring all this stuff up again. We have already been through this in past posts. If you don’t have anything specific that we all can learn from, just don’t worry about what we do. I for one don’t care how much liability a lawyer can dream up, I bought my camera to reduce my liability and that is exactly what it does.
I don’t believe you are surprised at all, in fact I think the only reason you come here is to cause trouble. Your ego is a definite liability.
IR cameras are part of the growing green movement: www.nachi.org/green.htm
Catch up.
Today…at lunch with another home inspector…we discussed IR technology and concluded that the greatest financial benefit goes to those who sell the training.
It is only logical that those who sell the training would promote the use of the camera, heavily. In fact, marketing the use of camera itself would naturally come hand in hand with marketing their courses to teach it. If no one bought the cameras…no one would buy the training.
Personally, I have no problem with inspectors who want to add to their offerings (and fees) an additional service.
The laughable part, as demonstrated by the recent video on this subject, is that this technology is essential to a quality home inspection. This is where the understandable marketing hyperbole becomes false and misleading BS.
IR technology will never replace the inspector’s need for his most essential tool…his flashlight. If only someone could create some expensive training classes to show inspectors how to use it…we would never hear about IR cameras, IMO.
There is some truth to that, but by the same token, if inspectors couldn’t use the tool to make money, we’d probably never hear about them either.
Is a tool useful only if no one is making any money with it?
I’m not sure anyone is suggesting that an IR camera is a replacement for a flashligh but don’t flashlight companies make money?
Who is giving training on flashlights ? 
Nick, do you know the member numbers by country and there progression/ decrease over the last 2 years. Just curious.
Actually there is training for flashlights!
But can you imagine the hell I’d get trying to sell that?!
IR Cams and training do go hand-in-hand, that is the most important part!
Now your going to bitch about having to be trained?
For all you’s opposed, just let it lay.
But then our being here screws up your comfort zone, no?
No!! Understand spin when you see it. A good tool in the right hands and places but a bit of a stretch, Nick!!
In case you didn’t catch the thread in June, a quote on IR from Joe Farsetta:
It’s not that I dont agree that IR is good technology, because I do. I have a problem with whiz-kids and new toys. If everyone would take a deep breath and step back a bit, they should research more about this technology and its origins…
*My point is that this trend in the HI industry is artificial and is being pushed by those tho manufacture the equipment or train in the art. Prior to this “trend” in our industry, few IR cameras were sold as compared to what has happened in the last 3-12 months. *
I also believe that training in the use of this equipment should be included in subject-specific modules dealing with the HI industry specifically. The practical application of the equipment and technology should include mis-perceptions and limitations, as with any other piece of equipment we choose to use.
*Far too often, inspectors get sucked into the next best thing, *forgetting that our senses, training, experience, and intelligence are the very best tools we already bring to the inspection.
Go back to thread #1 in the IR section, we covered that long ago!
Again, it’s not the camera but the inspectors ability to use it.
The camera is useless if you don’t know the subject matter being scanned! etc…
********[http://texas-inspection.com/thermal.jpg
http://texas-inspection.com/FireHazard.jpg
http://texas-inspection.com/CeilingMoisture.jpg](http://texas-inspection.com/thermal/thermal.html)****Click - See What Thermal Imaging Can Reveal
THERMAL IMAGING NEWS:
(http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/energy_audits/index.cfm/mytopic=11200)
Realtors Pushing Infrared & Energy Inspection
Chigago Sun-Times: Newest Technology
For Home Inspections Is Thermal Imaging ********
**************************[http://texas-inspection.com/thermtv.jpg
[COLOR=#ff0000]** Watch TV Report**](http://www.nachi.tv/episode33)
The Facts Are Hard To Deny…
Thermal cameras ?8/21/08 6:25 PMYour a jerk and always will be! Mario Was that really you Mario, that gave me this Red?
You know it wasn’t me Ken, here is a green to make up for it!
Heres the quote from this thread…
It’s no wives tail my friend. Please read your E&O policy and speak with the underwriters regarding exceeding the SOP. There is a good reason for the carriers to be leery. In the proper hands, and when used in the proper context, the technology is great. Often, its not what we are seeing.
My friend Mario and I were speaking about PROCESS last week; specific to usng this technology on roof inspections. I was green with envy at the $$ I was told could be made. What impressed me even more was the descriptiopn of the PROCESS. It was thorough… right down to having someone present to help ensure he didnt walk off the roof. Mario has obviously taken the time and made the investment to take this technology and adapt HIS BUSINESS MODEL to capitalize on his training, equipment, and experience. He aint an instant wunderkind. I admire that.
This is true, but let’s not dismiss the bozos out there who are advertising things like “See through walls” or other such nonsense. The science of thermography has certain parameters which must be met in order to see anything. Even then, a smart inspector will use more conventional inspection tools and techniques to help confirm what the camers “sees”. What is more perturbing, and what WILL get you in a lawsuit is inconsistency in the process by which the instruments are used. Technology wont save you. Process will.
Yes, yes, and… yes.