You cannot inspect what you cannot see.Above is a 20' cathedral ceiling with missing insulation around canned light
 

•    There's two reasons I will not inspect another home without a Thermal Imagery camera.
  





• As an inspector I am personally responsible to supply my client the best possible analysis of the building structure, no matter how seasoned you are once you use a tool with this capability there is no turning back , my clients deserve the Best and that is what Infrared thermal imagery provides.  


• As an owner and Inspector I want to know that the job I just performed was done at a level that safeguards me from any legal liability or litigation in court due to missing a defect, thermal imagery provides just that, a means to identify leaks, failures, defects etc into areas of a home that any inspector not using it will miss 95% of the time.      
  

When we set out to purchase a camera for 2014 we wanted a proven winner in the Industry, one that will perform at a level that many feel is overkill for  simple home construction.

At $9.000 it isn't a cheap tool , but it will guarantee the job is done correct.

Thermal imaging assists in detecting many items important in Termite inspections such as termite activity, water leaks and damp areas , it allows us the ability to see areas previously restricted by the naked eye.

Thermal Imaging Technology detects heat patterns, when termites enter and start attacking a building , they emit a heat source and as such change the normal heat patterns of the walls,floors ,roof void etc.

The thermal image camera records these changes in heat patterns ,this allows the trained inspector to interpret and understand the images found rather like a radiographer understands a x ray and determine where the location of the termite activity is.

The images are shown in color with hot spots detected as seen in the examples on thermal photos section.

Thermal termite inspections differs from a standard termite inspection because it gives the inspector the ability to detect thermal anomalies before the signs become visible to the naked eye. Although the standard termite inspection is slightly cheaper, it does not always allow us to view the beginning stages of a termite infestation. 

Termites generate a heat source and as such are detected by Thermal imagery. All objects emit infrared radiation as a function of temperature,infrared energy is generated by the vibration and rotation of atoms and molecules, the higher the temperature the more motion and hence the more infrared energy emitted allowing for the detection of termite activity by the thermal imaging camera..

This video will give you an idea as to the importance of using Thermal imagery for diagnosing a home from an Inspector's viewpoint.

Wood destroying Insects can't hide from a thermal Imagery camera

Mice can destroy a home's engineered insulation as they burrow and tunnel throughout it creating nests and multiplying.

A properly trained Inspector using a high end thermal Imagery camera will identify this in homes easily.

This would of course be absolutely missed by any home inspector not using this type of tool as they inspected the prospective property.

The home owner would unknowingly buy the home with major heat loss and an unsafe environment as many diseases are attributed to the fecal matter and urine of rodents.

If the Governor of Michigan has his way soon all Home Inspectors will be required to provide thermal imagery inspections as part of any home inspection.

It's not very often I feel politicians have a clue about anything and I very rarely will even discuss them, but for once he is right .

Here is the link .      

http://regionalenergyoffice.org/what-the-governors-energy-efficiency-comments-could-mean-for-our-members/

                                         Adding Energy to Home Inspections

“Legislation that would add energy efficiency information to those reports is needed, and I encourage the Legislature to act on a bill in the new year.”
- Governor Rick Snyder