A good article from our friends over at Redfin. Check it out.
Everything you Need to Know About a Home Inspection
Missing Insulation Found with Infrared Camera
Missing Insulation Found with Infrared Camera
Digital image view of area with missing insulation
Missing Insulation Found with Infrared Camera
Clogged Sewer Drain
Clogged Sewer Drain
While scoping out an old cast iron drain line in a brick ranch in-town Atlanta, we found that ~75′ of the pipe was filled with water, indicating blockage. The photo shows the camera submerged in water with, let’s just say, particulates, visible. When further evaluated by a plumbing company, the drain piping had to be replaced, saving our clients thousands of dollars in costly repairs.
Clogged Sewer Drain
Drones in (above) the house!!
Drones in (above) the house
We have unofficially incorporated drones into our roof inspections. And this is exactly the kind of thing we can find that you would otherwise not see from the ground (rust on the chimney cap). It also makes it safer for us inspectors to not have to get on these steep (re: unsafe) roofs.
New Construction Roof Leak
New Construction Roof Leak
We love it when it rains as it allows our infrared camera to find leaks we might not otherwise find. And don’t be fooled that new construction houses are perfect. This rather sizeable roof leak was found in a brand new house in Dallas, GA.
Leak Once, Leak Twice
We found a leaking bathtub at this house in Cumming using our infrared camera (see thermal image #1). The sellers hired a plumber who claimed to have fixed the issue. We were then brought back out to reinspect, and guess what? It was still leaking (thermal image 2).
The best way a plumber should troubleshoot similar leaks is to cut out the drywall and see where the water is coming from. Beyond that, they are just guessing.
Leak Once, Leak Twice
Poor insulation caught by IR camera
Poor insulation caught by IR camera
I noticed signs of previous condensation on the underside of a front porch ceiling in this new construction house in Cumming. This seemed unusual, so I got out my infrared camera. The thermal image shows a solid cold spot on the ceiling that corresponded to a finished area directly above this ceiling. And since the interior was cold from running the A/C, the cold air appeared to be spilling out above the exterior ceiling area where the condensation had formed. I suspected missing or poorly installed insulation and called it out for the builder to investigate.
Termites Anyone?
Now, we don’t do termite inspections (we leave that to the expert termite companies), but of course if we see something we say something. This one was hard not to miss: 6 separate termite tunnels going up the edge of the foundation in this Loganville house.
Termites Anyone?
You Saw A Snake Where?
Hard to believe but it’s true: snakes can climb very high, and I’ve been told they can actually scale vertical brick walls. That seems to be what this little guy did as he was way up in the attic of this tradition style house in Dunwoody. Where’s Samuel L. Jackson when you need him?
You Saw A Snake Where?
IR camera finds missing hole for vent
Our infrared camera discovered the builder forgot to have the hole cut out for the supply vent from the HVAC system. We were running the cooling mode and then saw in the thermal image that there was an unusual cold spot (blue) that should not otherwise be there. Whoops!