Once only the domain of military, science and space programs, Infrared Thermal Imaging (ITI) has made its way into the industrial and commercial sector. Founded on the exact same technologies as used by advanced military aircraft, weather satellites and even the space shuttle, ITI technology for home inspections provide our inspectors with a view of your property like no other. With ITI technology, we can see beyond the spectrum of “natural light” (which is the light that bounces off all object we can see under the sun or under a light bulb), and see the thermal patterns associated with temperature variances of any surface to determine where heat, cold, and moisture can be occurring in undesirable places. Because everything has a surface temperature, ITI technology allows us to see the variances in those surface temperatures. The variances are represented by different color tones with the color black representing the coldest temperatures and the color white representing the hottest temperatures. Any color in the red, orange and yellow hues represents warmth while color in the green, purple and blue hues represents cooler temperatures.
About Infrared Thermal Imaging
Infrared Thermography is the technique that uses an infrared imaging and measurement camera to “see” and “measure” invisible infrared energy being emitted from an object.
Thermal, or infrared energy, is energy not visible because its wavelength is too long for the sensors in our eyes to detect. It is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we perceive as heat. Unlike visible light, in the infrared spectrum, everything with a temperature above absolute zero emits infrared electromagnetic energy. Even cold objects such as ice cubes, emit infrared radiation. The higher the temperature of the object, the greater the infrared radiation emitted. An Infrared camera allows us to see what our eyes cannot!
All objects, cold or hot, radiate heat in the form of infrared energy. As an object increases in temperature, it radiates more energy, and the wavelength gets shorter. Infrared radiation, visible light and ultraviolet light are all forms of energy in the electromagnetic spectrum. The only difference is their wavelength or frequency.
The human eye can only see a narrow range of wavelength in the electromagnetic spectrum. These wavelengths range in length from 0.4 to 0.7 microns, a micron is one millionth of a meter. Most of what the eye sees is reflections from objects that high energy from the sun or an incandescent light bulb is striking. If the temperature of an object gets hot enough however, above 525°C, the energy from that object will radiate energy in the visible spectrum and we will see it. This is when we see an object like the burner on an electric stove “glowing” red. In fact, any time an object will emit or reflect energy in the same frequency of our eyes we will see it. Mostly, however we see reflections!
Infrared Surveys are Simple, Right?
Taking thermal images and gathering thermal information is quite easy these days, just push the auto button and there is an image! However, this may seem simple on the surface, but it is not as easy as it sounds. The real work — and value — is what the Thermographer understands about the object of interest, how it operates, the heat transfer within and to the surface of the object, how to adjust the camera to enhance the thermal details necessary to evaluate the image once it is stored and downloaded onto the computer. Then prepare a report that is accurate, clearly presented and is easy to read by the customer, who generally does not know anything about infrared Thermography.
Limited General ITI Scan
Fewer than five percent of home inspectors even use ITI technology, yet what the inspector can find using ITI can help you save hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars per year by identifying moisture, insulation and electrical issues before they pose a bigger risk to your fiscal or physical well-being.
Usually a home inspector offers a Limited General ITI Scan that can be included with a standard visual home inspection. Here are just some of the areas where this technology can be beneficial:
- Detecting latent moisture
- Identifying missing or mis-applied insulation
- Pinpointing significant air infiltration/exfiltration
- Identifying leaky or poorly insulated ducts
- Detecting overheated or overloaded electrical components
- Identifying structural defects
What’s should be included in a Limited General ITI Scan?
Home inspectors will perform a non-invasive infrared thermal imaging scan to measure the surface temperature and the temperature differences or variations of the visible, safely accessible, and readily accessible portions of the following:
- Interior and exterior walls
- Interior ceilings and floors
- Doors and windows
- HVAC equipment and distribution systems
- Main electrical and sub panels
- Representative number of outlets and switches
All of the atypical thermal anomalies will be documented in the Limited General ITI Section of your Inspection Report and will be accompanied by both natural (visible light) and infrared photographs where applicable.