Benefits of Thermal Imaging
Buying a home can have a lot of unknown areas, but a home inspection can help clear up some of that confusion. Even better, having a thermal imaging inspection added onto a traditional home inspection can bring more clarity.
Here is everything you need to know about thermal imaging, and why it is a good idea to get a thermal inspection.
Provides a Deeper Insight
Thermal imaging can provide the home inspector – and the buyer – a deeper insight into the condition of the home. Since home inspections are non-invasive, the inspector can’t always tell if there are hidden problems.
With thermal imaging, the inspector can detect the temperature of different areas in the home and determine if they are normal or not.
Noticing areas that have unusual hot or cold areas is important, because this means that there is a potential problem that the inspector will then further investigate.
What Thermal Imaging Can Reveal
There are a few different defects that the inspector will be looking for signs of when doing a thermal imaging inspection.
Roof Leaks
Roof leaks are a big problem if they are not resolved, and a thermal scan can shed light on this issue without the inspector having to see the roof physically leaking.
If there is a leak in the roof of a home, there will usually be spots in the roof area that show up as either hot or cold, depending on the time of year.
Usually, the roof will be all the same general temperature, and will not have drastic color (heat) differences if there are no leaks. Leaks are hard to spot with the naked eye, because water can be entering through tiny cracks in shingles.
Electrical Faults
Electrical faults are a serious issue in homes and can be dangerous and costly if they are not resolved.
Thermal Imaging Can:
- Identify the source of the fault
- Show up yellow on the scan
- Identify multiple faults
Insulation & Energy Saving Ability
Thermal scans can show the inspector how well-insulated the home is and if it has proper energy-saving features built into it.
Scans can show if walls are retaining heat / cool air – or if they are allowing energy to escape. This means that there is missing insulation or that there is another problem with the walls and seals in the home!
Having a home that is energy-efficient is important for bills, because if the home is not insulated properly you may end up paying more in heating and cooling than you should be.
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