Technology is constantly evolving to make life easier.
Sometimes, it makes our long commute a little more entertaining. Other times, it helps us gain access to critical information. Thermal imaging is one example of technology designed to do what ordinary human senses can’t: see behind walls and under floors to diagnose potential problems in your home.
A thermal camera is an incredible tool for attic and crawl space inspection. Since these spaces often contain hard-to-reach or hard-to-see areas, it’s possible for problems to fly under the radar of homeowners or even attic experts.
Here’s how thermal imaging is changing the maintenance and inspection game for property owners everywhere.
How Thermal Imaging Works
Thermal imaging devices read the temperature of your surroundings and color-code them based on heat levels. Naturally, warmer tones signify warmer temperatures, while cooler tones indicate cooler temperatures.
Thermal cameras are growing in popularity with attic professionals and property owners alike for their ability to scope out a problem that would be otherwise difficult to see.
Other standard infrared devices like spot radiometers and thermal line scanners also help inspectors acquire information about attics and crawl spaces. However, thermal cameras are the only infrared imaging devices sensitive enough for home energy assessments, according to the Department of Energy.
While the concept is straightforward enough, attic professionals must be trained and officially certified to perform thermal imaging inspections.
What a Thermal Camera Shows
While thermal cameras aren’t always as great as an experienced pair of eyes, they can pinpoint sections of a home that need further, in-depth investigation.
For example, a draft coming from an opening in the ceiling may be hard to notice if you aren’t right up next to it. In situations like this, a thermal camera can bypass the need for extra effort, showing the cold spot as a blue or purple blip against an orange background.
Using these tools to perform routine maintenance makes for greater efficiency, as they allow you to quickly sweep an area without having to do much up-close examination, guesswork, or destruction. Thermal cameras work on everything from walls to insulation to pipes, and they’re extraordinarily good at finding even minuscule leaks and cracks that could be letting air out and making your property less energy efficient.
How You Can Benefit from Thermal Imaging Inspections
Thermal images can help professionals and homeowners learn more about the state of their attics and crawl spaces. The images are often used to determine a course of action for maintenance or repairs and can help identify small issues before they become big problems.
You might think finding leaks is the primary use of thermal imaging, but there are many other ways an attic expert can employ a thermal camera to help you better understand the hidden issues in your building.
For example, thermal imaging can identify issues with insulation. If a section of insulation is depleted or missing, the camera will pick it up. You can then work with your attic professional to solve the problem.
Since these cameras pick up heat signals, pests won’t be able to hide from them, either. Sneakier critters might make their nests in spots that are just beyond the reach of your eyes and hands, but the camera will show you exactly where they’re located and how bad the infestation is.
In addition to showing air leaks, a thermal camera can also find bits of trapped moisture. It’s difficult to know if some parts of your attic or crawl space suffer water damage unless you demolish sections of the walls or ceiling. Thermal cameras make such destruction unnecessary — as with leaks, moisture will appear as purple or blue spots.
Preparing for Your Inspection
The best time to do a thermographic inspection is when there’s a significant difference between the temperatures inside and outside your building, as the disparity allows the resulting images to show up more clearly. As such, it’s a good idea to schedule your inspection for either the summer or winter for the best results.
It’s also best to close your windows and doors before your inspection to ensure the exterior temperature doesn’t influence the readings. Feel free to move any furniture or appliances to make walls and other surfaces easier to access during the inspection.
Are you ready to see what lies beyond the readily visible sections of your attic or crawl space? The Attic Projects team is fully certified to perform comprehensive thermal imaging inspections and decipher where you’re running into problems within these spaces, and we’re always ready with tailored solutions.
Call us today to learn more and schedule your free inspection.
