case study: Thermal imaging inspection of houses and apartments

Inspecting your home with a thermal imager is an effective way to find problems with the thermal insulation of your living space. The inspection helps to detect heat leaks that can lead to increased heating costs and decreased comfort in your home or apartment.

The device is needed for technical inspections of equipment, cars, checking the tightness of connections, and identifying problems with insulation.

Why is it necessary to conduct a thermal inspection of a residential premises?

Why do you need a thermal imaging test?

1. Allows you to find heat leaks in windows, doors, seams, joints, etc.
2. Will help to identify problems with underfloor heating and heating system. The inspection will find heat loss and help to reduce utility bills.
3. It will allow you to evaluate the thermal characteristics of the building and identify defects in thermal insulation. This is important for saving energy and reducing the cost of heating the building.
4. Improves living conditions. Good insulation ensures a comfortable temperature inside the house, which is especially important during the cold winter months. An inspection will help identify any deficiencies in the thermal insulation of the house.
5. Prevent possible damage. Poor insulation leads to condensation and mold, which can damage walls and ceilings and cause illnesses in residents. An inspection will help find any shortcomings.

In this article we will tell you what defects an inspection can help to detect and how the inspection is carried out.

It is recommended to carry out an inspection annually to maintain an optimal level of thermal insulation.

The difference in air temperature in the building and outside should be within 15°C, so it is better to perform the test during the cold season.

What problems are there?

The main errors that can be seen during such an examination are:

1. Insufficient insulation of walls and roof. A thermal imager can identify areas where heat is escaping through walls and roofs, resulting in increased heating costs.
2. Heating system faults. The device can be used to find anomalies in the heating system, such as in pipe connection areas, insulated floors or in radiators. This leads to uneven heating inside the building.
3. Ventilation problems: A thermal imager can identify areas where air is not circulating properly, leading to mold and moisture buildup in your home.
4. Thermal imbalances. A thermal imager can help you find points where heat accumulates or escapes, leading to uneven heat distribution in your home.
5. Inefficient use of the heating system. The check allows you to see areas where heat is not used efficiently, for example due to improper installation or worn-out equipment.
6. Violations in the thermal regime of the building. The inspection will show how heat is distributed inside the building and will identify areas where it accumulates or escapes.

In the windows

One of the most common problems that can be found during a thermal imaging inspection is leaks in windows. Faulty windows lead to increased heating costs. An inspection can identify such anomalies and fix them.

In the doorway

When inspecting a residential building, leaks in doors are often found. Such problems arise due to wear of the door leaf or its poor quality installation.

In the seams

Leaks in seams are also detected during thermal imaging testing. Faulty seams lead to significant heat loss and increased heating costs. The test will reveal violations.

In the joints of the walls of the room

Leaks at the edges of walls lead to serious consequences: damage to the structure, increased heating and air conditioning costs. To avoid this, it is recommended to check the joints of the walls. The camera built into the device will determine where the problems are.

After detecting problem areas, you can take measures to eliminate anomalies and improve joint insulation. Do not forget to inspect joints to avoid unpleasant surprises and maintain a comfortable temperature in your home.

How is the examination carried out?

Thermal diagnostics is a research method based on the use of infrared radiation to detect heat loss. The examination is carried out using a thermal imager, which allows you to see thermal radiation and find violations.

Stages of examination:

1. Preparing the equipment. First, you need to make sure that the thermal imager is in good working order and that you have the necessary accessories: charger, spare batteries.
2. Familiarization with the property. For a more effective inspection of apartments, it is necessary to know the features of the property, its design, and technical specifications.
3. Selecting the equipment operating mode. Depending on the purpose of the survey and the characteristics of the object, you need to select the appropriate equipment operating mode.
4. Scanning the object. It is necessary to scan the surface of the object to detect violations.
5. Analysis of the received data. It is necessary to analyze the received data, identify thermal anomalies that indicate the presence of defects or malfunctions.
6. Preparation of the report. Based on the inspection results, it is necessary to prepare a report indicating the anomalies detected and recommendations for their elimination.

Who checks the thermal insulation?

Inspection can only be carried out by trained, certified personnel. Usually, this is done by heat diagnostics specialists who have the necessary knowledge and experience to carry out the inspection and identify deficiencies.

Causes of heat loss during the heating season

Heat leaks from a house during the heating season can occur due to various reasons:

1. Insufficient thermal insulation of walls, roof. One of the main reasons for heat loss from a house is poor thermal insulation of its structures. If the walls and roof do not have a sufficient layer of insulation or are damaged, then the heat will go outside and cold air will penetrate inside.
2. Malfunctions in the heating system. Incorrectly adjusted or faulty heating devices in the house lead to disturbances in the heat balance. For example, if radiators do not heat up evenly or have leaks, then the heat will be spent inefficiently.
3. Suboptimal operation of the heating system. If the room temperature is too high, this can lead to increased heat loss. Also, if the system operates intermittently or at maximum power, this leads to inefficient heat consumption.
4. Poor condition of windows and doors. Old or incorrectly installed windows and doors can cause significant heat loss. Well-insulated, airtight windows and doors help keep the heat inside the room.
5. Violation of the integrity of heat pipes. If heat pipes are damaged or leaking, this leads to heat loss. Also, if the pipes are not insulated, energy will be spent on heating them, not on heating.
6. Poor ventilation of premises. If there is insufficient ventilation, moisture can accumulate in a warm room, which then leads to the formation of condensation on the walls and ceiling.

To reduce heating costs, it is necessary to conduct thermal imaging inspections regularly.

The main benefit of the survey is the ability to directly see all areas through which heat is lost in the building. The analysis helps to identify all points where insulation is missing, damaged insulation materials, as well as design and construction issues that affect the cooling of the entire building. This means that the building owner or tenant can demand that the defects be corrected or compensated by the contractor, or they can fix the problems themselves.

Conducting such an inspection is useful when buying real estate, as it allows you to assess the quality of the building, anticipate future costs for repairs and heating the premises. As a rule, the inspection is carried out before the building is put into operation.