Real Life Experiences
The following images were taken from actual home inspections


This image shows a view from the house exterior.  This is a basement bathroom window and the space to the right of the window is where the shower stall is located.

This panel box looks problem free to the naked eye...


...but the thermal image clearly shows that the range circuits are overheating.


Note: If an electrician is hired for repairs such as this, the thermal images can be used to help him pin point the problem quickly, which saves you money.

This image demonstrates another invaluable way in which thermal imaging can be used.  This bathtub faucet ran for 10 minutes, but no leakage was viewed from the bathtub area.


However, the thermal image revealed a large leak behind the shower stall wall
(below the cold water faucet valve).  Needless to say, this is a problem that is in need of repair.

This picture shows another ceiling / wall area that appears to be problem free.


The thermal image shows cold areas above the window.  This indicates that leakage had occurred at one time.  The exact cause was not identified, but the gaps at the window / siding joints above this area was the suspected source.


To the left side of this window, it was obvious that insulation was missing between one of the stud bays.

This image shows a dining room ceiling area that appears fine.  According to the homeowner, the water softener (which is located on the second floor - above this area) had leaked a few months ago.  The ceiling texture was stripped and re-applied and everything was looking great.


However, the thermal image revealed large dark areas, which indicated that the sheetrock was still wet.  This raises two immediate concerns: 1) The ceiling paint may fail 2) Mold and mildew may be growing on the back side of the sheetrock.  In cases like this where large volumes of water have leaked, it is best to replace the wet areas of sheetrock, rather than simply re-painting them.

This image shows a tiled bathroom floor.  Radiant, electric heat was installed below the tiles.  For most inspectors, testing radiant floor heat means turning up the thermostat and feeling for heat.



But with the thermal imaging camera, we can now see exactly where the coils are.  This allows us to look for even distribution of heat, signs of overheating, or areas where the coil placement was omitted.  The result is a much more thorough evaluation.



Radiant floor heat should be at least 6" away from toilet wax seals to prevent the seal from melting.



Radiant floor heat should spaced at least 2" apart to prevent overheating.



This is an insulated garage ceiling.




Here we see where one batt is missing.



This wall also appears normal


but thermal scanning found many large voids in the insulation.  This is a big energy waster.

• Moisture Detection in Walls and Ceilings - As demonstrated above, thermal scanning helps to identify water damage in walls, floors, and ceilings. It is also great at identifying areas that are inadequately insulated.
• Electrical Inspections - Thermal scanning can detect hot spots in the electrical system not visible to the naked eye (i.e. overheating circuit breakers, or circuits), which may be a precursor to a larger issue.  The thermal images allow licensed electricians to quickly identify the problem areas and make repairs, which saves your clients money. 
• Plumbing Inspections - Water leaks from the plumbing system often leak undetected until major damage has occurred. Now, we can scan in, under, and around plumbing fixtures in the home to determine if there is active leaking going on.
• Flat Roof Inspections - Thermal scanning can be used to detect the precise location of flat roof leaks.  The afected areas can then be marked so that repairs can be made to only the leaking areas. This obviously is much cheaper than replacng the entire roof.  Of course, complete replacement is always recommended when the roof is old.
• Stucco & EIFS Inspections - While we do not perform stucco / EIFS moisture tests, we can now scan these materials and look for problems in areas where we suspect damage may exist.  If there is rot behind the stucco it is often visible with thermal scanning in the form of heat anomalies.

Services Offered

Pre-Purchase Thermal Scan
Pre-purchase Thermal Scans are purchased by home buyers, and are added to their standard home inspections.  The cost for this service is noticeably less than a pre-sale thermal scan because the findings are easily incorporated into the home inspection report and there is no additional travel needed.  You still receive a very detailed scan of the home, but there is no separate thermal scan report produced.
The fee for this service varies and is based on the listing price of the home ($65 and up).
For a detailed fee schedule, Click Here