Infrared Moisture Detection Performed By Roofer 911

We Locate Leaks From The Roof, Siding, Gutters and More

When you notice a water stain that is evidence of a leak in your house, as the homeowner, you should consider this a high priority repair. The longer a water leak continues to flow or accumulate untended, the more damage that leak causes. An excessive amount of moisture can destroy the roof, stain and soften ceiling drywall panels, or weaken the structural integrity of your home. It can even create huge, expensive problems like mold, mildew, and black mold that can eventually cause serious health concerns. Often, the problems that can occur are not obvious until it is too late; by discovering them early through infrared technology, homeowners can save a lot of money and increase the lifespan of a home's infrastructure dramatically.

Locating the initial spot where the roof is leaking is difficult, because water can enter into the roof at any place and journey down to another point before it starts soaking into the ceiling. It can take a while for a homeowner to recognize that a leaking roof needs repair; and by that time there may have already been extensive damage done. Professionals use infrared scanning technology, because it is the most effective, fail-proof method of locating the source of a leak, and the path the water has taken in a house.

Who Will Pay For This Mess?

A home insurance policy would generally pay for water damages caused from rain coming in through the roof or a broken window if it was caused by wind-driven rain. Most likely, if the water damage was due to you not keeping your house properly maintained, then your insurance would not cover it or any of the unforeseen damage that may be attributed to past water damage.

Home insurance companies will only cover water damage and roof leak repairs that are visible. This means that any damage hidden behind walls is not covered. Traditional methods of inspection, photographs, and water moisture meters have not always revealed all of the damage. Infrared thermography is a non-destructive scan that makes hidden water damage visible so now the homeowner can claim it. 

What Is Infrared Scanning?

Infrared thermography is by far the most reliable method for identifying water intrusion into a structure. An infrared scan looks like an x-ray, but it is not an x-ray - it actually shows temperature variations. Thermal patterns created by light and moisture become readily apparent. The temperature differences created by the presence of moisture on the inside of a wall, under the floor, around the windows, doors and ceiling, will appear differently than the surrounding areas that are not affected. An Infrared Inspection provides you with colorized information and documentation to evaluate the moisture condition of the infrastructure of your house. 

How Infrared Scanners Work

Scanners can distinguish between wet and dry by measuring the thermal variations of materials and translates each temperature to a color. This provides a clear picture of moisture damage along walls, beneath the floors, including heat and other variances in the structure's integrity. The scanner shows where there is moisture right now and also where previous water damage has dried up. 

A qualified roofer using thermography can find the actual source of a leak because the scanner gives them the ability to see problems that a visual inspection is unable to detect. Infrared scanned images can document a home’s thermal anomalies from moisture, water damage, roof leaks, and window leakage, verifying the energy efficiency of the home. The scan can even show where there is mold, mildew, and black mold. 

Thermography Used to Improve Energy Efficiency

By showing energy differences, infrared scans also show energy leaks. When there is not enough insulation and heat or cool air is escaping, your furnace or air conditioner are working overtime to maintain a consistent temperature. This reduced efficiency causes higher utility bills for homeowners. Although most common sources of leaks are around doors and windows, they could be in unexpected places. Locating points of heat and cooling loss can be a difficult process. An infrared scanning inspection can readily identify energy leaks. Homeowners can perform appropriate repairs and add extra insulation. Over time, these improvements pay for themselves in reduced utility bills. 

Infrared scanners are now considered one of the most advanced and accurate tools that can be used for determining and documenting the moisture damage in a home. The results are immediate and the color oriented thermal images they produce are easy for a homeowner to understand.

Thermal infrared scanning has helped save hundreds or thousands of dollars for residential homeowners by discovering problems before they become major renovation or repair issues. Infrared scanning has the additional benefits of indicating the heating and cooling efficiency of the home, allowing homeowners to make improvements and save money.

Infrared camera detects a leak from a skyght and hidden water damage on top of the door.	Overflowing gutter as seen in infrared that has caused water damage to the ceiling below	Water trapped inside the wall due to hairline fractures at the inside corners on the window.
Bumpout window leak seen by infrared.	Flat roof leak as seen in infrared.	Hidden roof leaks and missing insulation.
Missing insulation inside the attic is causing this homeowner to spend excess money on energy expenses.	Infrared camera sees a hidden leak from the outside gutter which can lead to mold if not corrected.	This homeowner is getting ready to paint over wet damaged drywall which can lead to mold if not removed and replaced with new.
A fallen tree limb caused a hole in the roof above this bedroom.  All the drywall and wet insualtion had to be removed and replaced.	Roof nails exposed in roof stack pipe flashing caused this bedroom to develop a leak only during heavy rains or melting snow.	A roof valley leak just above the homeowners left hand and a second leak where her roof meets the adjoining neighbors exterior wall.
Infrared photo shows a hidden leak inside the walls from a sagging gutter and improper installation of the step flashing outside where the roof and wall meet.	Our highly sensitive infrared camera sees condensation buildup inside the air duct behind the drywall that was being mistaken for a roof leak by other roofers.	Hidden dryer vent leak seen in infrared on the basement celing of a 3 story townhouse with no signs of damage on the levels above.
Second level window leaking from top window above and ridge vent during wind driving rain. 18% percent moisture detected in drywall.	Infrared see cold air infiltration in bathroom and roof leak because of aluminum ridge vent not being sealed properly underneath.	Multiple hidden roof leaks as seen in infrared. Improper positioning of roof nails on an architectural shingle roof.
Infrared image reveals wet plywood in the attic and hidden wet drywall and insulation due to melting snow and ice dam on the roof.