Recently I've heard Agents discussing the latest and greatest tool to be introduced into home inspection use since the hand held moisture meter - - the infrared (IR) thermographic camera. Like computers, the advance of technology has placed IR cameras within financial reach (between $7,000 and $25,000 ) of the professional home inspector. BUT, do the marketing claims meet the technical capability of the tool? Beach to Bayou recently purchased a mid level camera from the leading manufacturer (about $12,000 for a Flir B-2 model) and spent another $2,000 on training and certification (to become a certified Building Science Thermographer from the Building Science Institute), so I am proud to announce that I am qualified to discuss the capabilities of thermographic camera applications in building science / home inspection applications, and over the next couple of weeks I'll share my education.

True or False? Infrared (IR) cameras can see through walls.

FALSE - One of the largest misconceptions about Infrared (IR) cameras is that they can "see through walls". The MOST IMPORTANT thing to remember about IR cameras is they only see surface temperature. Please repeat that..."IR cameras can only see surface temperature." BUT, you will say - - "I saw an IR photograph and I could see the wall studs." Right - so why could you see the wall studs? Because when the camera was surveying the wall surface, the studs were a different temperature than the cavity between them. So the surface temperature was different and it "LOOKED" like you could see through walls - but you were seeing a image of the surface temperature of the walls. Remember - anything beyond the visible surface is beyond the range of the IR camera. I had an Agent tell me that an Inspector, using an IR camera, informed her that the plywood sheathing below obviously wet siding was dry. The siding was a hard-board siding like Masonite or L-P, that showed wood rot, and when the contractors began replacing the damaged siding, they found the plywood below to be rotted out and infested with termites. If the Inspector was educated in the technology he should have been able to explain the limitations and recommend further investigation using invasive techniques. The only way to see below the surface is to use invasive techniques, such as probes or cutting access - the IR camera can only see surface temperatures.

Mary E. Kenyon of SeaTown Properties, Inc.