Helping you cut costs
Since 2020 (and the surprises, new experiences and lockdowns we’ve all gone through), a lot of people have taken to doing home improvements or projects that they just kept putting off. And we’re here to help with some of those home improvements.
So how can thermal imaging help when buying, selling or improving your home?
Electrical Faults
Being able to detect electrical faults can be a massive help when moving home as they prevent both injuries to yourself and damage to the property, making Thermal Imaging a more cost-effective way of detecting electrical faults within the home.
Thermal image, electrical fault detection
Here are a few safety checks to follow during your survey:
Ensure that the environment is well-lit and clear of any obstacles.
Areas you are inspecting need to be under load, this makes the likelihood of finding faults higher.
Keep space between you and the area you’re inspecting, you don’t need to be close to detect faults
Look out for hot spots, these are a great indicator of any faults.
Choosing the correct camera will make it easier to detect any potential faults and will allow these to be seen visibly on the screen.
If potential faults are found, we recommend you get a qualified electrician to look at areas of concern.
Infestation
Thermal imaging is becoming popular when it comes to detecting pests in hidden places, due to its brilliant ability to detect surface temperatures of objects.
If you have or suspect you have a nest in your home, the thermal cameras can detect the heat produced by that nest if it has caused the outer walls or surface to warm up, allowing a thermal camera to detect any temperature anomalies on the surface temperature.
When it comes to finding insects, it can be just as easy, even though they are cold-blooded creatures, they still generate heat that can be detected with your camera due to them gathering in large clusters.
Rodents detected with thermal imaging
Rodent infestations work similarly as they also create nests that can be detected with thermography. Rodents also leave other clues as to their whereabouts such as damaging insulation which then creates cold spots for infrared cameras to detect.
Another thing to consider with animals like rats, is they tend to only come out at night this means you can track them using thermal cameras so no matter what time it is, you can always find where they are lurking.
Security
As the rise in homes and offices empty or occupied being targeted it’s important to make sure your house is protected against any possible intruders.
Thermal imaging surveillance
With security cameras acting as a deterrent the risk of being targeted by an unwanted intruder is lower than that without – Thermal Security cameras help keep your home protected against all sorts of threats.
The latest technology in thermography makes it easier to detect heat signatures meaning any unwanted intruders are easier to detect.
Plumbing Issues
Many of us know the problems plumbing can cause us, little things like moving into a new home and finding out your shower leaks or that the new underfloor heating doesn’t actually work are just small examples of the issues we as homeowners come across.
One of the best things about using thermal imaging to find leaks is that it can save you a lot of money in the long term by giving you a complete view of the pipe run without having to tear out holes in the wall or rip up that nicely new-laid parquet flooring. This can be brilliant when finding faults within radiators where blockages might be or to see how efficient your central heating is.
What should you remember when conducting plumbing surveys?
Thermal image of hot water through pipework
For water leaks, ensure the heating has been on for as long as possible beforehand to allow any pipework to get hot.
With the right thermal camera, you are more likely to detect heat from pipework 1-2 meters under the screed.
Infrared cameras cannot see through the carpet as it acts as an insulator, so ensure the carpet is lifted before conducting the survey.
The cameras are designed to detect heat through the wooden, laminate and tiled surfaces, this is not always guaranteed but has a higher rate of success with the right camera.
Contact your insurance company and Plumber if you plan on conducting a survey.
Infrared Building Inspections
The last thing you want to find out is that the home you are buying is riddled with construction faults, leaks in roofing or problems with damp.
One of the most popular uses for building surveys is to check the energy efficiency of your home by surveying the property for air leakage where the building isn’t fully insulated or has building defects which could be costing you more money on energy bills in the long run. This is done during the colder months by taking interior and exterior images of the property at night, so that there is a clear 10˚c temperature difference to highlight any clear air leakage taking place from the property.
What to consider when carrying out a building survey:
If there are winds present at speeds above 18 kph the survey cannot take place as it can distort readings on the thermal camera.
The property must be dry during the survey as any moisture can provide the camera with false readings due to the evaporation process.
Surveys must take place in the evening, 2 hours after solar radiation is no longer present so the building isn’t warmed by the sun.
The building is fully heated during and prior to the survey being conducted.
Contact your insurance company if you plan on conducting a survey as they sometimes recommend them before claims can be made.
By purchasing or hiring a thermal imaging camera for your home, you can protect your home from any faults that may be within in as well as keeping it protected from the outside world.
If you would like to find out more about what services, we offer and how thermal imaging can help you.