IR- Getting Started

[Thomas M. Hauswirth]

For those of you who have been doing infrared for some time or have been successful at it would you mind answering some questions for someone looking to get started? I am going to take the Level 1 Thermography course at ITC and will likely lease the best cam I can afford.

1. What type of training did you do and with who did you do it?
2. How did you acquire your first camera - financing, direct purchase, leasing?
3. What do you feel are three most important minimal specifications a camera should have?
4. How did you start advertising and who did you advertise to?
5. What type of print media do you use for advertising?
6. What has been the most effective form of advertising?
7. What type(s) of inspection(s) do you get the most demand for?

Answers to one or as many of these questions as you care to answer would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Thomas Hauswirth, Managing Member
Beacon Fine Home Inspections, LLC
860-526-3355
http://www.beaconinspections.net
beaconinspections@sbcglobal.net

[ldapkus]

Tom,
I got interested in IR technology about a year ago. I purchased my BCAM ($5900) outright. IR Building Science training was through the Building Science Institute ( www.buildingscienceinstitute.com ) The basic camera is sufficient for home inspection applications. Print media has not worked for me in the past year. The internet is the most cost effective tool for me. I will be upgrading my site in the new year with more emphasis on IR.
http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...ome+inspection

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...me+inspections

http://www.google.com/search?q=infra...&start=50&sa=N

[Charley L. Bottger]

Originally Posted by thauswirth

For those of you who have been doing infrared for some time or have been successful at it would you mind answering some questions for someone looking to get started? I am going to take the Level 1 Thermography course at ITC and will likely lease the best cam I can afford.

1. What type of training did you do and with who did you do it?
2. How did you acquire your first camera - financing, direct purchase, leasing?
3. What do you feel are three most important minimal specifications a camera should have?
4. How did you start advertising and who did you advertise to?
5. What type of print media do you use for advertising?
6. What has been the most effective form of advertising?
7. What type(s) of inspection(s) do you get the most demand for?

Answers to one or as many of these questions as you care to answer would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Thomas Hauswirth, Managing Member
Beacon Fine Home Inspections, LLC
860-526-3355
http://www.beaconinspections.net
beaconinspections@sbcglobal.net

I also took Level one training with ITC with the reason being because of my background with commercial buildings wanted to learn the camera as my intent is to continue on to Level two.

I purchased the B-cam outright and I feel it is just fine for moisture intrusion and energy type scans but is really not what I want 120X120 resolution is not the level I prefer. The B-cam does not have the capability of Freezing the image which I also prefer and only allows 50 images in storage before download.

Advertising AHHHH
How deep are your pockets. I have been slow in this area and probably am not the person you need to talk to as I am very un-conventional just now got a web page up after 10 years????

Most of my IR type of inspections have been related to water intrustion. I connected up with a mold/water restoration company and most of my business has been provided on a referal basis through that company.

[Kevin A. Richardson]

http://richnspect.com/ITI_BB/index.php

[John McKenna]

I purchased the the BCAM for $4800 from professionalequipment.com.
I took the building science course (FLIR-ITC course by Scott Wood - the best
course out there for an inspector).

BCAM on sale now for $4750.00
http://www.professionalequipment.com...frared-camera/

I advertise on my web site (450 hits a month) with lots of pictures and video.
See video here http://www.nachi.tv/users/jmckenna1/videos/11

Thermal images allow you to charge more and appeal to high end clients.
The BCAM works well for regular home inspection needs. It holds
50 pics and is more than enough to do 4 insections a day. I only
do one a day, for the most part.

[Thomas M. Hauswirth]

Thank you all for the great info. I am looking to make some decisions soon and this will certainly help.

[John McKenna]

BTW... if you need more space on your BCAM, you can simply upload your thermal pictures to your computer. 2 Clicks and your done. The BCAMs 50 picture capacity works fine for doing several inspections in a single day. More than you will ever really need, for the most part.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

What program do most use for their IR reports .
I am using Quick report 1.1 and wonder is there a simpler program to use . I care less about having my reports .
I care less about having my reports PDF protected .

Cookie

[John McKenna]

Originally Posted by rcooke

What program do most use for their IR reports .
I am using Quick report 1.1 and wonder is there a simpler program to use . I care less about having my reports .
I care less about having my reports PDF protected .

Cookie

Cookie, I simply load my thermal image pictures to my computer. They are already in a common jpeg format and ready to use. Use can place them in your report without going through any software. The BCAM connects to your computer... and your computer looks at it as just another storage device with data ready to upload. Simple.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by jmckenna1

Cookie, I simply load my thermal image pictures to my computer. They are already in a common jpeg format and ready to use. Use can place them in your report without going through any software.

I do not have a reporting system of any type.
I use a check list for my home Inspections .


...Cookie

[John McKenna]

Originally Posted by rcooke

I do not have a reporting system of any type.
I use a check list for my home Inspections .


...Cookie

Simply upload the the pictures into your computer and print them, just like any other picture. Contact me with a PM or email and I will send you my phone number. My toll free number does not work from Canada.

[Dale Duffy]

Originally Posted by jmckenna1

BTW... if you need more space on your BCAM, you can simply upload your thermal pictures to your computer. 2 Clicks and your done. The BCAMs 50 picture capacity works fine for doing several inspections in a single day. More than you will ever really need, for the most part.

John,

Is that the only difference between the B and SD?....the pic. capacity, or are the resolutions different?

[Jeffrey R. Pope]

The resolution difference is only in the viewer, not the actual image. . .

[Dale Duffy]

Originally Posted by jpope

The resolution difference is only in the viewer, not the actual image. . .

Ahhh...thanks Jeff...is there is drastic difference?

[ekartal6]

Same resolution, Dale. 120 x 120