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A: Neither one can replace the other. A home inspection is an objective visual analysis of a home's structure and systems. However, a regular inspection is limited by a certain number of things such as: ceilings and drywall, roof coverings, flooring, and anything that can't be seen by the naked eye without destroying or disassembling. An infrared inspection gives the ability to see "through" these obstacles, detecting areas of heat, cold, dampness, and wood infestation. In our experience, we have never detected something that Infrared Thermography missed, aside from poor building practices. In the past, home inspections weren't even done before buying a home. They became the standard in the last 15 years, as will IRT be part of all home inspections in the future. Q: If IRT is such a superior way to inspect a home, why wouldn't realtors suggest it or even insurance companies? A: To answer the first part of the question, some home inspectors are already using IRT in addition to the routine home inspection. As stated previously, Thermography will be a part of home inspections in the future. Realtors suggest a regular home inspection when purchasing a home, which usually picks up on any problems that can be visualized at the time of the inspection, protecting the buyer. An Infrared inspection though, could potentially find problems that may have been fixed to cover up, or are potential problems that haven't shown up yet. Leaks, missing insulation, broken ductwork behind walls, electrical overloads and areas that are not accessible, can be seen by IRT. Infrared Thermography in combination with the standard home inspection, is far better than alone. Secondly, it may be standard practice in the future that insurance companies get an Infrared inspection before writing an insurance policy on a property. Q: Can termite or carpenter ant damage really be seen with IRT? A: The answer is twofold, IRT can detect differences in density of a piece of wood, for example, a stud that is severly damaged by wood destroying insects doesn't show up the same on IRT as an undamaged stud. If the temperature outside is hot or cold, the damaged area will show the temp. difference through the stud, where the damage is. Second, any areas of prolonged moisture or wetness where wood is close to the ground can be a breeding area for termites, since they like moisture and they love wood. IRT can detect areas of moisture and wetness, sometimes incidentally finding termites. An interesting fact is that for every one human on the earth, there are one million termites. Q: How can IRT benefit me or my business? A: First, if you've seen any pictures in this website, you can already see some potential benefits.As a homeowner, one consultation provides photo documented analysis of any problems that may be present in the home. Health hazards such as hidden mold, which can cause breathing problems and allergies, can be seen with IRT in wet or damp areas. Electrical overloads, a potential fire hazard commonly seen in older homes or when additions or finished basements are "tapped in" to existing breakers. Inadequate insulation can easily be detected and fixed, saving hundreds of dollars each year on energy bills. As a business owner, preventive maintenance inspections on electrical systems, roofing, and machinery, reduces downtime and potential income losses. Lastly, a buyer of a home, as mentioned in answer #1, and a seller of a home can benefit by detecting problems before the sale of a home, saving time and money. Q: What is the cost of an Infrared inspection of my home? A: A typical residential home top to bottom inspection is in the same price range that home inspectors charge for a standard home inspection. Visit our rates page for our consultation costs. Q: Aren't the repairs going to be costly if problems are found? A: Insulation: Whether you do it yourself, or choose to hire someone, any money spent on insulating your home, is recouped within one year or less in reduced energy bills and a new IRS tax credit. Also, any missing insulation in walls doesn't mean you have to tear down the walls to fix it, visit here. Electrical and Plumbing: Try hiring either of these contractors after a problem has caused a catastrophe, it's a fortune compared to having them fix a small problem. Q: Only an old home would need an Infrared inspection, right? A: Not so. As you can see on the home page, the home with the missing insulation was built in 2003. It was inspected because the owner complained that the house was too drafty and cold for a newer home. The home was still under warranty, and the builder had to fix it. For the most part though, problems in homes tend to occur as they get older, but any home no matter what age, can benefit from IRT. Q: I own a boat and would like to know if IRT could help me find the source for my bilge (hull) filling up w/ water. A: We do provide a diagnostic boating inspection, where we can check for leaks or cracks in hulls from inside, while the boat is in the water. Also, we check the electrical system, door, window and hatch seals, and perform an interior inspection while hosing down the boat, to check for areas of water leaks. |