Why Thermal Imaging is Important for a Home Inspection

Thermal Imaging is important to have during a home inspection, for many reasons. Thermal imaging is precise and advanced technology that puts inspectors who use it leaps ahead of those who don’t. 

Let’s find out: what is thermal imaging and why is it important?

What is Thermal Imaging?

Thermal imaging is when an infrared detector is used to scan a home to look for heat waves traveling through the home. 

It can detect cold and hot, and everything in between, and shows these temperatures on the screen through colors. Red is hot and blue is cold. Everything in between is the variance of temperature. 

Why is it Important?

Thermal imaging can show the inspector areas of the home that have water damage or other issues by looking at the temperature. 

Homes with mold problems can be found because the moisture is typically colder than the rest of the home. Then, the inspector can look at the areas where the temperature is cooler and search for mold. 

Another thing that can be found with thermal imaging is pests. Pests will show up hot on thermal scans and can be seen easily. 

What if I Don’t Get a Thermal Inspection? 

Thermal imaging is like an x-ray of a home. Without a thermal scan, the only thing that you can use to see defects in a home is the naked eye. 

While this is sufficient – especially with the carefully trained eye of a certified home inspector – often you cannot see things without ripping the house apart to look at the inside of the home. 

A thermal inspection gives you the ability to see everything, so that you are able to purchase the home without worrying about any hidden secrets.