Residential Home Inspections

During routine residential home inspections, your licensed inspector will check all of the internal systems of the home and will also check the exterior and structural elements. A major part of the inspection includes a thorough testing of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The climate control in a home, with optimal HVAC operation, proper insulation, and windows and doors free of leaks, factors into the overall efficiency of the home.

In some instances, typically if the HVAC system or the insulation is insufficient, the inspector can note it by a simple sight examination. He also checks the maintenance schedule of these systems and uses traditional ways to evaluate them. However, the most innovative inspectors are now using the technology of thermal imaging for infrared leak detection in these systems.

Thermal imaging is also a useful tool to find areas in the home that have failing or absent insulation. Your infrared certified inspector can note changes in temperature along walls and ceilings in order to "view" the uniformity of the temperature. And when an area is significantly different, there is typically an insulation issue.

Infrared Leak Detection

By using thermal imaging, the inspector can see leaks in the ventilation systems that would otherwise go unnoticed, especially if it has been recently installed - it may look new and good, but may have been improperly installed. In addition to ventilation system gaps, the infrared leak detection can evaluate the insulating qualities of the windows and doors. These are areas of major heating and cooling insufficiencies, and replacement of faulty windows and doors can help your HVAC system run more efficiently and can save the home owner money in the long run.

Residential home inspections that include infrared thermal imaging technology can help a buyer choose a property that is optimally efficient, or can alert them to areas that need improvement. They then have the power to further negotiate or plan for efficiency improvements in their home.

At Torre Real Estate, we are infrared certified inspectors and we stand ready to help you make the most informed decision about your next home purchase. It will be one of your biggest investments - don't leave anything to chance.

Learn more about a certified home inspector.