All too often, whether we’re caring for a home, commercial building, or investment unit, we typically only focus on the issues we can see. The problem is, there is a host of potential headaches that aren’t visible to the naked eye. Furthermore, issues such as insulation gaps, air leaks, or moisture intrusion can be costly if not addressed quickly.
Using a thermal imaging camera, commercial property investors, homeowners, and even contractors can discover problems that might be hidden behind walls and in hard-to-see places. To help you learn more about the everyday application of thermal cameras, TherCam, a leading manufacturer of thermal imaging cameras, looks at how people can use these devices to investigate and solve a multitude of issues.
Find Electrical Hotspots
Electrical hotspots in your home or property can be a serious problem. They’re typically a sign that a circuit, wire, or outlet is malfunctioning. If left unresolved, electrical hotspots can lead to fires. However, these hotspots aren’t visible to the naked eye. Therefore, it’s almost impossible to detect these issues without a thermal camera until it’s too late.
Consider investing in a thermal camera to routinely inspect your home and other properties. Not only is thermal imaging helpful for current homeowners, contractors, and investors, but they’re also useful for first-time homebuyers who want to inspect their potential purchase thoroughly.
Get Rid of Pests
Thermal imaging is rapidly emerging as one of the best solutions for pest management. Reason being, significant temperature differentials and moisture in walls or ceilings can indicate insect problems. With a high-quality thermal camera, homeowners and pest managers can find signs of:
- Termites
- Bedbugs
- Mice & rats
- Squirrels & chipmunks
- Wasps
- Other large rodents
Minimize Moisture
If you’re seeing signs of moisture damage such as bubbling paint, pooling water, or even increased utility bills, you might have leaky pipes hidden in your floors, walls, or ceilings. Before grabbing a hammer to blow out the problem area, consider investing in a thermal imaging camera with a moisture meter. A moisture meter helps you quickly locate humidity, temperature differentials, and moisture through a completely non-invasive inspection process.
Simply put: with the right thermal imaging camera, you don’t have to get behind the wall to see behind the wall.
Reduce High Energy Costs
Reducing energy costs is one of the main reasons people invest in thermal technology. Using a thermal imaging camera, you can conduct a thorough, non-destructive inspection of any property. More specifically, you can avoid putting holes in your walls and ceilings and lifting floorboards to check for leaks and missing insulation.
Thermal imaging gives property owners a whole new level of precision. From discovering cold air infiltration caused by poorly sealed doors and windows to seeing heat exfiltration through leaky ventilation systems, thermal technology removes the guesswork from optimizing your property’s energy efficiency.
Resolve Heating & Cooling Issues
If your air conditioning unit or furnace is constantly running and the temperature inside your home isn’t staying steady, it’s probably due to poor insulation. Not only does this create personal discomfort, but it can also rack up massive energy bills.
If left unchecked, large fluctuations in temperature can even cause damage to your home. For instance, condensation can cause mold growth, freezing temperatures can cause pipes to crack, and extremely high heat and humidity can cause wood to warp.
With a thermal imaging camera, you can inspect your home for hot and cold spots. Improperly placed or missing insulation often causes these dramatic shifts in temperature around the house. Be sure to pay extra close attention to:
- Areas around outlets and switches
- Attics
- Chimneys
- Doorways
- The outer edges of your walls and ceiling
- Wall vents
Fixing insulation can be a quick and straightforward way to lower utility costs, saving you considerable money in the long run.
Fight Against Record High Temperatures
With extreme temperatures comes extreme discomfort and high cooling bills. According to research from The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Earth’s temperature has risen by 0.14 degrees Fahrenheit (F) (0.08 degrees Celsius (C)) per decade since 1880. Moreover, the rate of warming over the past 40 years is more than twice that: 0.32 degrees F (0.18 degrees C) per decade since 1981. While the two-degree difference seems almost inconsequential, it’s causing extreme heatwaves, changing weather patterns, and reducing snowfall and ice coverage.
Update & Replace Old Windows
Use your thermal imaging camera to investigate the quality of your windows. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heat gains and losses through windows are responsible for 25-30 percent of residential heating and cooling energy use.
If you find that you’re home or property is hemorrhaging hot or cold air, you have two options:
- Update your existing windows
- Replace your existing windows
If your windows are in good condition, you don’t necessarily need to replace them. However, you’ll want to take steps to improve their efficiency. After checking for leaks with a thermal camera:
- Caulk and weatherstrip windows
- Add energy-efficient window coverings
- Add storm windows
- Apply solar control film
- Use exterior shading (awnings, shutters, overhangs)
- Alternatively, consider planting trees to shade your home
After making updates, use your thermal imaging camera to ensure you found all the air leaks. If updating your existing windows isn’t a viable option, then you may want to consider replacing them.
Your Thermal Imaging Provider
Whether you’re looking for air leaks or hidden pests, TherCam is your go-to leader in thermal solutions. With industry-leading quality and value, we’re here to help ensure safety and efficiency in your home or building. If you’re looking for affordable, best-in-class IR solutions that deliver exceptional performance, please browse our product options and reach out today.