Serving all of North Alabama including Huntsville, Madison, Athens, Decatur, Scottsboro and the surrounding counties

The images captured with our infrared camera are so detailed that many believe the infrared camera can "see" through walls. While this is not the case, by detecting small variations in the surface of a wall, floor or ceiling it is possible to identify certain hidden characteristics such as the location of wall framing members, the presence or absence of insulation and even the location of water pipes. It is also possible to find where rodents and snakes have made their winter homes burroughed deep inside your ceiling insulation in the attic. Large termite infestations inside walls can often be detected.

Thermal images taken with our advanced camera, the Fluke IR2 Fusion Thermal Camera can depict moisture in walls, ceilings and floors, identifying leaks and areas where hidden mold is growing inside a building. Insulation problems are epidemic in new houses and our camera quickly pinpoints the problem areas so repairs can stop the heat (and money) from leaking from your house. Electrical anomalies can also be found by scanning electrical panels, receptacles, switches and connections.

About our infrared camera

The Fluke IR2 Fusion Thermal Camera represents the state of the art leading edge technology with capabilities well beyond previously used cameras. What makes it unique? In additions to its remarkable sensitivity that allows it to detect temperature variations as small as 0.07 deg. C., the camera couples high quality visual images with each thermal image. This allows the thermographer to accurately define the location of the defects.

Examples of what our camera can find

Below are some examples of thermal and visual images taken during the course of inspections performed by Insight Building Inspection on properties in North Alabama.

The above photo shows a room in a two year old home. The owners complained that the room was hard to heat in the winter and cool in the summer and suspected they had drafting up the chimney flue. Examination of the room with the Fluke IR2 reveals high temperatures represented by red all around the wall structure encasing the fireplace. The problem - the builder had failed to install building code required fire blocking to close off the open wall around the prefabricated fireplace from the attic. With this opening at the ceiling into the attic the uninsulated walls around the fireplace were open to the attic and the high temperatures of summer and the cold temperatures of winter. This type of hidden problem will push your energy use up every day of the year, year in and year out.

Above is a visual image of the stairwell wall of a newly constructed 7,000+ SF house. Nothing unusual... until you start blending the thermal image and you will see anomalies appear. On this color scale, cold to hot is blue to red. As you can see, there are numerous red areas along this wall. Further investigation reveals that this wall is open to the second floor attic. The insulating contractor has placed the fiberglass batt insulation between the wall's stud framing but failed to secure it in place. If not secured the insulation will sag and fall out of the walls leaving the walls exposed to the heat and cold, again causing increased heating and cooling bills year round.

The ceiling of this 10 year old home (above) appears normal to the naked eye, but a closer look with the Fluke IR2 Fusion Thermal Camera shows some unusual indications. Further investigation in the attic shows significant rodent activity in the attic. Every fall when the temperatures outside drop, mice start looking for a winter home. Since they can't catch a ride to Florida, moving into your attic and burrowing down through the insulation to the ceiling is the next best thing. Sometimes I find snake skins in attics also as the snakes may follow the mice into the house.

In this five year old house, water stains from an "old" plumbing leak were found. Scanning the ceiling shows that the old leak wasn't so old. The ceiling contained hidden water. Water problems left unattended can lead to serious and costly repairs, especially if mold and fungus are present.

1996-2006 Insight Home Inspection

2007 Insight Building Inspection
(256) 464-7060