My clients commonly contact me to assess a water stain on their ceiling to tell them where the water is coming from. Thermography can verify that there is water coming through the ceiling, but only when used in conjunction with a high-quality moisture meter. I can go up into the attic above the ceiling and look for signs of a leaking roof, condensation on an HVAC duct, or a leaking pipe, but I may not find the problem solely because of the camera. The camera only gives indications – some more data to be added to a lot of other data that will eventually identify the source of the defect.

 

A thermal imaging camera is not magic; it is just one more tool. And to use this tool properly, I have learned how it works and how to use it properly. I am trained and certified by InterNACHI® to use an infrared camera.

 

A necessary part of the training I have completed includes some training in the developing field of building science. Information about hydrodynamics and thermodynamics – how water and heat move – is essential to the proper use of thermal imaging. I understand the physics of thermal imaging, thermal imaging equipment, the basics of building science, and thermal imaging applications. I am familiar with case histories. 

 

Thermal (infrared) imaging is the temperature differences of an object. The definition is the use of infrared-detecting devices for the evaluation of the building envelope to detect thermal patterns that indicate defects caused by energy loss, latent moisture, electrical problems, or structural details. 

 

Instead of seeing shapes and colors, my infrared camera helps me to visualize heat. Using thermal imaging professionally requires not just having the camera but also having the knowledge necessary to use the camera correctly and to accurately interpret the images it produces. Just owning a trowel does not make you a mason. Just owning an infrared camera does not make you a thermographer. 

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