A Word Concerning "Thermal - Infrared Imaging Cameras "
It has been asked if we use Thermal Imaging - Infrared cameras during our mold inspection?
Thermal Imaging Cameras - The New Magic Wand
As professional mold inspectors we seek the most sophisticated and reputable tools for all of your inspection needs. It would be most difficult for us to rely on thermal imaging cameras in our everyday mold inspections. That is why we don't. The results are inconclusive and many times confusing especially when dealing with areas of insulation. We can not in all honesty use theses devices and recommend removal of finished walls, floors, ceilings and etc when we cannot even be 50% sure that these areas are indeed affected by moisture instead of the much more likely scenario of insulation defects. There are very few times when we will refer you to mold remediation companies who use thermal imaging if such an unlikely need arises.
In the past 5 years or so thermal imaging cameras have been touted as the magic wand to see moisture behind walls, floors and ceilings. Although, it is true that these cameras have a very small place in potentially identifying problem areas in regards to possible moisture infiltration, there are some issues with relying on results from these devices.
It is a fact that thermal imaging - infrared cameras detect temperature variations behind finished materials. They do not detect moisture per se other than detecting areas of lower temperatures that could possibly be moisture related. When you are dealing with enclosed walls, ceilings and floors, many times these areas are insulated and many times there are insulation defects (missing/displaced insulation) at some point in these locations. Thermal imaging cameras are great for detecting insulation defects in these areas. A problem arises when mold inspectors come up with "cold" spots in their thermal imaging results. But, what are they to say about these results? "Found basement low temperature variation between the basement drywall and foundation recommend removing the entire interior basement wall to inspect for moisture and possible mold"? The fact is that no legitimate mold inspector can say exactly why there is such a temperature variation. More than likely there are insulation defects unless there was visible damage such as a crack in the foundation, moist drywall, evidence of a flooded basement and etc to make the ascertain that there is possible water damage behind the wall. These defects would be reported in your mold inspection report anyway.
There are times when thermal imaging cameras are called into play as a last resort to perform mold remediation services such as when mold tests come back positive for high mold levels and there was no apparent visible defects found at the time of the mold inspection. Again, this will not be able to 100% positively conclude that there is moisture present in the areas scanned by the thermal imaging camera until the finished wall/ceiling/floor materials are removed. This again puts the person using the infrared camera in the precarious position of guess work and ultimately relying on the visible on site conditions (without using the camera) to make a determination. If an infrared camera turns up that there were thermal breaks in several locations behind the basement drywall, what can one say when a basement is completely dry, all the walls are sealed tight and there is no visible evidence of moisture infiltration or mold growth? What can a mold inspector say if there was evidence of moisture on the basement drywall and the thermal imaging camera came back with "cold" spots in that area? Mr & Mrs Client we recommend that you tear down this wall (with a disclaimer used for insulation defects)?
Although, some clients may think it is visually appealing to receive thermal imaging photos of their house in their mold inspection report, they will not be the least bit enthusiastic when they renovate a wall to find that they only have a 6 inch gap in their insulation instead of moisture or mold.