Free infrared inspection clinics for NACHI members.

[Nick Gromicko]

http://www.nachi.org/flirclinic2006.htm

[gbeaumont]

Hi to all,

this is without doubt the future of the inspection business, here is the link to FLIR's seminars BOOK NOW!

http://www.flirthermography.com/openhouse/schedule.asp

Regards

Gerry

[Ted Allen]

Oh heck, just what I need, a new toy!

Jerry P. and Robert Z. saw it coming.

[gporter]

How many hour class is it? 8 to 5 or what?

[jmichalski]

OK - so you guys who are in the know on IR technology. What are the key features to look for in a camera? I am sure that Flir will be hawking their camera, and I would like to compare and contrast to others, but I do not know the key and most critical features in perferming these types of tests. (distance, range, field of view, sensitivity, clarity of image, etc?)

I would like to have some independent input before getting their (probably biased) version of what I need.

Finally, can any IR camera help find moisture leaking and areas of heat loss, or are there specfic features that are needed for this?

Thanks for any help/opinions!

[David P. Valley]

I'll be attending the Flir Seminar this Thursday in Boston.

I'll give you all some feedback on this type of inspection when I return.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by jmichalski

OK - so you guys who are in the know on IR technology. What are the key features to look for in a camera? I am sure that Flir will be hawking their camera, and I would like to compare and contrast to others, but I do not know the key and most critical features in perferming these types of tests. (distance, range, field of view, sensitivity, clarity of image, etc?)

I would like to have some independent input before getting their (probably biased) version of what I need.

Finally, can any IR camera help find moisture leaking and areas of heat loss, or are there specfic features that are needed for this?

Thanks for any help/opinions!

Joe,

This is an interesting post that Rob Z. posted several months ago. It may answer some of your questions.

Attachment 1251

[jmichalski]

Thanks!

[David C. Macy]

I have seen Steve Ramos use this technology on the house detective show He uses two different ones and the cost is about 10-12K each.

Steve is a fellow Nachi member and I have emailed him a few times and one was about all the tools he uses.

He stated that he receives more per inspection and has justified the price for utilizing these tools.

I bet the inferred technology detectes hidden problems that may be hidden.

I wonder if they can be used on drain tiles?

Any way I signed up for the Cleveland course.

Dave

[jmichalski]

David V. - I will be very interested to hear your feedback on the Flir seminar. I am particularly interested in what they can do and what limitations they (and other cameras) have.

Dave M. - I am sure that you can charge more if you are giving more value (by offering this technology), but I don't want to bet that it detects hidden problems - I want to know it does, and at what range, in what temperatures (outdoors) and to what degreee of accuracy.

For example, if it can only work between say 50-80 degrees, I can only use it 6-8 months a year. That seriously cuts into the cost effectiveness of the technology.

Also, if it can only rarely find hidden moisture problems or if it is only good at distances of less than 10 feet (where I would have to hold it against nearly every part of the house) then that also makes it less useful than I would hope.

I hope to learn a good deal more and then (ideally) I will know what are the imp[ortant questions to ask when I go to buy one.

[Jay Moge]

we had an inspection co. come out to some of our buildings and do a heat efficiancy test. he used an i.r. camara and had to shut all the windows, set up a box fan sealed all the way around in the door, run the fan with meters on the in and out (for air movement) and then look at all the window, outlets, switches, and plumbing access holes for thermal leaks. in a 2 bedroom 750sq' apt. it took about 30 min. to set up and 30 min. to test. then he took all the info back to his "lab" for calculations and printed a report. cost: $150 pr unit. he did 3 units and one building (common areas). $600 for about 3.4hrs work. not bad i guess. but he had about $25,000 worth of gear set up for it. i guess it would depend on the need for this service to justify the cost. but his was not an "inspection" business, it was stricly heat serveys.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by jmichalski

I am sure that you can charge more if you are giving more value (by offering this technology), but I don't want to bet that it detects hidden problems - I want to know it does, and at what range, in what temperatures (outdoors) and to what degreee of accuracy.

For example, if it can only work between say 50-80 degrees, I can only use it 6-8 months a year. That seriously cuts into the cost effectiveness of the technology.

Also, if it can only rarely find hidden moisture problems or if it is only good at distances of less than 10 feet (where I would have to hold it against nearly every part of the house) then that also makes it less useful than I would hope.

I hope to learn a good deal more and then (ideally) I will know what are the imp[ortant questions to ask when I go to buy one.

Joe,

Here are a couple of sites (in no particular order or manufacturer) that contain a lot of information pertaining to infrared thermography, that you may be interested in.

http://www.flirthermography.com/medi...ll%202002s.pdf



http://www.metrisinst.com/infrared_tutorial.php

[phinsperger]

I know of two guys up here that are having a hard go of it. Demand compared to cost of equipment I guess just isn't there in some areas

[tneumann]

Check out this guys presentation...makes me wonder how good of a job someone w/out XRAY VISION CAN DO????

http://www.homesafeinspectionco.com/

[jmichalski]

They claim to hear termites.....hmmmm. I have to think that this guy cannot afford to EVER miss an item. If anything ever goes wring with a home he inspects, he seems to be opening the door to huge liability by claiming to find hidden problems.

I am also not wild about the black and white images....for that much cash, I was expecting color. And the items he found seem really easy to find with the naked eye and a little experience. If that is the standard for the IR cameras, I am not impressed....at least not more than $10,000 worth.