Identify roof problems early with an infrared roof moisture survey.

Six Ways You Can Help Your Commercial Roof Survive the Winter

Winter is finally here, which means it’s time to take some precautions to keep your commercial building in top shape. It’s easy to overlook roof maintenance since it’s essentially out of sight, out of mind. However, if a winter storm hits, you’ll wish you had done some preventive maintenance.

General maintenance workers can’t always spot vulnerable areas in a roof. With the help of infrared detection technology, you can rest easy knowing the roof is in good shape. Here are six ways to ensure your commercial roof can survive the harsh winter season.

Inspect the HVAC System

All the ductwork, housings, pipes and condensation lines need to be checked closely. Infrared detection technology can help you see if there are any leaks or holes, which could mean condensation might leak to where it shouldn’t. Since the HVAC system and the roof work in conjunction with each other, inspecting your HVAC ductwork should be at the top of your list this winter.

Remove All Debris

Old autumn leaves need to be removed as quickly as possible. Not only does debris on your roof create unnecessary weight, it can also clog water drainage routes and potentially damage your roof as a result.

Check the Attic Insulation

Since heat rises, you may be unnecessarily heating up your roof if you have poor insulation in your attic. This could cause snow to melt at a quicker pace and also cause a freezing, melting and refreezing phenomenon. This could be potentially serious to the health of your roof. This is just another reasonit’s advised to do infrared testing to avoid costly shutdowns.

Trim Nearby Tree Branches

You should always keep tree branches trimmed away from your commercial roof, but doing so is especially important in the winter. The tree’s limbs could fall off and damage the roof or even rub a hole in it with constant contact. Plus, small animals will be looking for a warm place during the winter so overhanging branches give them easy access to your roof to potentially find holes to get into your building, leading to a new problem altogether.

Ensure Water Can Flow Easily Off the Roof

Any time water flow access is restricted, you’re setting yourself up for commercial roof failure. An infrared roof moisture survey can tell where water has been building up and where obstructions are. The last thing you want to happen is for water to build up on your roof or gutters and then freeze.

Schedule a Professional Inspection

The best thing you can do before the first winter storm is commission a professional infrared roof moisture survey. Peace of mind goes a long way in business, and knowing your commercial roof is in good shape prior to winter will be one less thing you have to worry about.

When you’re ready to have your infrared roof moisture survey completed, give us a call.

Look for energy leaks with thermographic imaging.

Where Are Energy Leaks Most Often Found in Commercial Buildings?

Energy leaks are common in commercial buildings. The bad thing is most business owners don’t even know they are wasting energy and money with each passing day. What business owner or maintenance professional has the time to survey the entire building for energy leaks? Luckily, these leaks tend to collect in a few common areas. It can be difficult to detect these leaks without the help of thermographic imaging so here are the most common places to find them.

HVAC System

You may have the top-of-the-line HVAC system in your commercial building, but without frequent electrical testing and inspection, you could still be wasting energy. HVAC systems with poorly sealed ducts most commonly create energy leaks. However, you also need to frequently check your electrical connections since a corroded or loose connection could cause the system to overheat and use more energy than necessary.

Electrical Systems

Transformers and control circuits are the two main culprits of energy waste when it comes to electrical systems. Most people don’t think electrical systems can waste energy so they don’t check them. However, with the help of thermal imaging services, you can detect any sort of energy leak coming from an electrical system and prevent it from occurring in the future.

Building Envelope

The building envelope is the entire building structure, including the roof, the walls, doors, windows, penetrations and anything else. It’s nearly impossible to have a perfect building envelope so that’s why thermographic imaging is important to detect places where energy could be leaking. Any part of the building envelope is prone to leaking, but frequent maintenance could significantly reduce the amount of energy loss.

Generators and Motors

Electrical motors always waste energy. They frequently malfunction and overheat so monitoring and testing them is critical to reducing energy waste. Be sure to check all of the bearings, electrical connections, airflow and other components to ensure the energy leaks are as minimal as possible.

Energy leaks can come from almost anywhere in a commercial building. No one has the time to check these components on a daily basis as required so contact us at Infrared Consulting Services. Together, we can schedule a thermographic imaging test to help reduce the amount of energy leaks at your business.

Detect small leaks with an infrared roof moisture survey.

What Causes Flat Roofs to Leak?

Just because a roof is flat doesn’t mean it will never leak. In fact, a flat roof will leak just as much as any other roof since the determining factors are mostly the same. Small leaks can cause big problems in the short-term and long-term for many businesses. That’s why most business owners pay for infrared testing to avoid costly shutdowns. Infrared technology can confirm where leaks happen. Here are a few causes you need to be aware of.

Poor Drainage

Flat roofs require some type of drainage system in place. Water sitting on a roof for an extended amount of time can do some major damage to the roof’s structure. Eventually, the pressure from the water could cause the roof to structurally fail, or at the least, start leaking. By conducting a simple infrared roof moisture survey, you can see where your roof is vulnerable and take action to fix it.

Harsh Environments

If your business is located in an area with harsh weather, you need to take proactive steps to ensure your roof is protected. Even something as simple as high winds could cause your roof to start leaking. However, an infrared roof moisture survey can display weak spots in your roof. These weak spots could become faulty during harsh weather so you can then take steps to have those spots repaired.

Faulty Seals Around Roof Penetrations

Air vents and other penetrations may come through a flat roof for ventilation. Sometimes the seals around those penetrations need to be repaired or replaced. The worst thing that can happen is having moisture leak through those areas since electrical equipment could be nearby. In this case, you definitely don’t want to experience what happens with an electric systems failure.

Age of the Roof

An aged flat roof can easily leak, thanks to time, the sun and other elements beating down on its surface. That’s why it’s important to conduct infrared testing to avoid costly shutdowns. By performing these tests and routine maintenance, business owners will be able to determine when it’s time to repair or replace a roof.

At Infrared Consulting Services, we’ve seen it all when it comes to roof leaks. If you think you have a roof leak or just want to have an infrared thermography test conducted, contact us.

Water intrusion can be identified with a thermography inspection.

What Is Water Intrusion and Why Is It a Problem?

Water intrusion is a problem for any building or structure. It could be the result of holes, damaged walls, poor building design or even leaky water pipes. The main problem with water intrusion is it’s not easy to detect with the naked eye until it escalates. When moisture and water get behind walls and inside the building envelope, you could be looking at a lot of money in damages and repairs. With the help of IR thermography, you can prevent major damages by getting ahead of the problem and identifying the water intrusion before it takes over.

Water Intrusion in Walls and Roofs

There are many reasons water can get in walls and through roofs, but sometimes those reasons aren’t easy to identify. If water intrusion happens slowly and gradually in walls and roofs, the damage could get to the point where the entire structure has to be replaced. Mold could develop, making it a dangerous place to live or work in. However, by doing a regular thermography inspection, you can catch the problem before it gets to that point.

Preventing Mold and Other Water Damage

When water gets inside the building envelope, the moisture doesn’t have anywhere to go nor any ventilation to evaporate through. That creates an environment ideal for mold growth and can get worse the longer it’s there. Once the mold is detected, the affected building’s occupants will have to evacuate immediately, causing further problems on a much wider scale. Thermal imaging services can identify areas where moisture could be growing so you can take quick and decisive action.

Why You Should Use Infrared Technology

Sometimes it’s impossible to see a potential leak. Whether it’s in a pipe behind a wall or a pipe that’s clearly visible, any potential sources of water intrusion must be examined frequently. A routine thermography inspection can give you images of areas where moisture is present by examining temperature differences. It’s impossible to see or feel these spots without infrared equipment so having a professional run a survey periodically will help prevent major water intrusion.

Water intrusion can happen in any building, no matter how well it is maintained. As buildings get older, their materials start to wear down and slowly allow water to enter where it shouldn’t. Before you have to deal with the headache that comes with major water intrusion, give us a call to do a quick infrared survey and give you peace of mind.

Steam traps experienced the benefits of infrared inspection.

What You Need to Know About Infrared Steam Trap Testing

Facility or plant managers always look for ways to save money and be more efficient. Faulty steam traps account for thousands of wasted dollars, which could be prevented with regular maintenance and testing. The maintenance of steam traps is often overlooked due to other priorities, but they still need attention. With the help of thermal imaging services, faulty steam traps can be identified quickly and easily to help them run more efficiently, saving you money and energy. Here are some points you need to know about infrared inspection for steam trap testing.

Temperature Measurements

Measuring the temperature in and around steam traps may not be the best test to perform since its temperature naturally varies. Still, infrared consulting services will likely do a quick temperature analysis just to determine whether there are any extremely noticeable temperature differences.

Infrared testing will measure both the outlet and inlet temperatures to see if there are any significant differences. This is an effective method for simple steam traps, but may not tell the whole story for more complex steam traps.

While infrared testing is important for finding temperature measurements, proper preventive measures should also combine other tests as well, such as sound.

Steam Traps Will Eventually Fail

Like any machinery, steam traps aren’t meant to last forever. When a steam trap begins showing signs of failure, it’s time to either repair or replace it. One of the main benefits of infrared inspection is the ability to identify an issue before it escalates and your steam trap needs replacement. A company definitely doesn’t want to risk inefficient processes because of a faulty steam trap.

When to Test Steam Traps

Since it’s difficult to detect a faulty steam trap with the naked eye, it’s recommended to frequently use thermal imaging services to get ahead of any issues. A simple infrared thermography analysis could help you estimate how much energy is being wasted on a particular steam trap so you can decide whether it’s time to repair or replace it.

With all the moving parts facilities use on a daily basis, steam trap maintenance often gets overlooked. The importance of regular infrared testing on steam traps can’t be understated, contact us to schedule an appointment today!

Let the experts handle electrical testing.

Four Signs You May Have Electrical Problems – and What to Do About Them

Electricity is something you never want to mess with unless you’re trained and experienced. Electrical shock and fires are common in households and businesses across the United States. However, most accidents can be prevented with proper care. Sometimes the average homeowner can diagnose and fix an electrical problem, but other times you have to have specific electrical testing equipment. Here are four signs you may have electrical problems and what you need to do about them.

Electrical Outlet Isn’t Working

If a certain electrical outlet isn’t working, you can do a little electrical testing on your own to see where the problem lies. Try out some of the other outlets and see if they are working. If they are, you know the problem is confined to just that single outlet and can replace it accordingly. If multiple outlets aren’t working, you probably have a tripped breaker and need to reset it.

Sparks from Electrical Outlets

Sometimes an outlet will give off a tiny spark immediately when you plug something in. However, if you see sparks after the device has been plugged in for a few seconds, you have a problem. The outlet could be generating too much heat and melt some of the insulation protecting the wires. When the wires are exposed, the chances for an electrical fire increase. Replace the electrical outlet immediately if you start seeing sparks from it.

Breaker Keeps Tripping

Now we are getting into areas requiring more advanced knowledge and skills. If your breaker continues to trip after you reset it, there’s usually a reason behind it. Don’t continue to reset it because you could cause severe damage to your system. Instead, you may have to call on an expert to do some electrical thermography testing to determine why the breaker won’t reset. When you’re dealing with the main electrical system, you don’t want to risk electrical shock or worse.

Lights Are Too Dim, Too Bright or Flickering

Sometimes the light will dim or brighten when you plug in other appliances. That is completely normal. However, if there’s no real reason they should be dimming, brightening or flickering, you know there’s a problem with your electrical system. While this may seem like a small problem, it could require electrical testing by a professional to see where the problem lies.

Electricity is not something the average homeowner should deal with. Instead, contact us at Infrared Consulting Services for all your electrical testing needs!

Identify moisture issues early with infrared thermography.

How Can Infrared Thermography Help Find Unwanted Moisture?

What all business and property owners need to understand is moisture could be present behind walls, ceilings and floors and you may not even know it. Most of the time, you won’t know there’s a problem until you can actually see the moisture. With the help of infrared thermography, unwanted moisture can be detected before it becomes a larger and costlier issue. Not only will this save money, but it will also keep everyone safe from mold risks.

Understanding the Technology

Infrared detection technology can create images using infrared lighting based on an object’s thermal condition. Some infrared cameras will actually tell the temperature of any given object and can provide infrared images to determine temperature differences.

The key to infrared problem prevention is locating areas of temperature differences. These temperature differences could be the sign of existing moisture. Most of the time, no one can see this moisture or feel the temperature differences with the naked eye or with normal senses, but infrared cameras can detect it and bring the issue to light.

When Should Infrared Technology Be Used?

Regular infrared thermography testing is highly recommended because you never know when moisture could be present. Sometimes it is the tiniest of leaks or cracks that cause the largest issues, and you wouldn’t know it without using infrared technology. When an expert provides you with the testing results, they will also recommend a course of action to take. Most of the time the repairs won’t take long and won’t be costly, but the longer you wait, the more potential damage could occur.

Advantages of Using Infrared Technology for Unwanted Moisture

You could walk around your property looking and feeling for moisture and temperature differences or you could hire an infrared thermography professional. Testing will prove more effective since most moisture isn’t detectable with the naked eye. Plus, it will save a great deal of time since infrared technology can be used to survey large areas quickly. Once the testing is done, you will have clear images of where potential problems are rather than having to guess.

The advantages of using infrared thermography testing for unwanted moisture speak for themselves. To learn more about the process or to schedule a survey, contact us.

Infrared Consulting Services infrared roof moisture survey

A Brief Guide to Roof Leaks: What Causes Them and What Can Be Done About Them Pt. 2

If you only examine the surface of your roof to determine if there are any leaks, you may be overlooking some important factors. Sometimes a roof leak isn’t evident until you go deeper and get an infrared roof moisture survey completed. Many times these surveys can detect a leak before they even occur, saving your business a lot of time, money and unnecessary headaches. Part two of this two-part series discusses the infrared inspection process.

Infrared Scanning Process

The average person will struggle when trying to learn the science behind the infrared thermography process. Instead, business owners just need to look at it as a more in-depth way of seeing what’s going on with their commercial roof.

Infrared cameras and equipment measure temperatures of the roof to determine the presence of moisture. Discrepancies with the temperature of one area compared to adjacent areas could determine the presence of moisture and a possible leak.

The infrared scanning process usually occurs in the evening hours when the roof has been exposed to sunlight for an extended amount of time. Sunlight causes the roof to heat up, making the temperature rise in areas with trapped moisture. Without the use of infrared cameras, it’s impossible to see or feel the temperature differences in most cases.

When to Use Infrared

You can certainly use infrared consulting services to conduct a roof survey when you’ve discovered a leak on your own. However, you would be better off having an infrared expert come out before it gets to that point. Doing so will help you save some money and prevent major damage.

The average business owner may think they can’t detect a roof leak until it rains. However, with the technology of infrared thermography, roof moisture can be detected at any time. There’s never a bad time to get an infrared roof inspection.

Preventative Maintenance

Having an infrared roof moisture survey completed frequently will help prevent major damage from roof leaks. The infrared inspection process can take a little bit of time, but it rarely interrupts your day-to-day business operations. Once you have the results of the inspection in your hands, you can determine whether the roof needs to be repaired immediately or not. Preventative maintenance goes a long way in protecting the integrity of your roof, but you may not know what needs attention unless you have an infrared test conducted.

It’s difficult to predict when a roof will begin leaking, so that’s why infrared technology should be used on a regular basis. Even the experts at Infrared Consulting Services have a difficult time identifying problem areas with the naked eye. That’s why the importance of infrared can’t be understated.

If you need to schedule a roof inspection, or would like more information about the inspection process, be sure to contact us today.

Infrared Consulting Services infrared thermography

A Brief Guide to Roof Leaks: What Causes Them and What Can Be Done About Them Pt. 1

The best way to prevent roof leaks is to know what causes them in the first place. Sometimes a roof leak can be a quick and easy fix, but other times it can take a significant amount of effort, even for professionals. It’s always advisable to commission infrared consulting services to conduct a routine survey of your commercial roof, just as a preventative maintenance measure. Some problems with your roof may be easy to identify, but some may not be. In this first part of our two-part guide, we will look at some of the causes of commercial roof leaks.

Standing Water

Many commercial buildings, especially older ones, have flat roofs. Unless the proper drainage system is in place, those roofs are prone to standing water. It’s easy to guess what standing water can do to a roof. The sheer weight of the water alone can compromise the integrity of the roof. If that’s your main problem, you don’t even need an infrared thermography test to determine what needs to be fixed.

Roof Penetrations

Objects like drains, pipes, vents, gas lines and HVAC units could penetrate through the roof membrane. Any object cutting through the roof could cause a roof leak. When you have an infrared roof moisture survey, many times the source of the leak is identified near a penetration object. These objects require frequent maintenance to ensure the water seal is strong and effective.

Membrane Damage

A roof membrane’s main function is to prevent water from coming into the interior of the building. Membrane damage generally isn’t a problem until the building begins to age. After the sun and weather beat down on the roof for many years, it eventually will begin to crack or split. When this happens, it’s probably time to get in touch with an infrared consulting services professional to determine the severity of the damage and how to fix the roof most efficiently.

Old Age

When you have an infrared roof moisture survey completed, the professional will likely ask how old the roof is. A roof isn’t going to last forever, so any kind of water leak or moisture penetration could simply be because the roof is old. If the roof as a whole doesn’t look structurally sound enough to prevent water from entering, it may be time to replace it completely rather than just patch up current problem areas.

These are just a few common causes to roof leaks, but there are many others as well. Part two of this guide will discuss the inspection process, but feel free to get in touch with us if you would like more information about the causes of commercial roof leaks.

Motor systems can improve with infrared consulting services.

How Infrared Consulting Services Can Help Improve Your Motor Systems

Having a motor maintenance program in place is one of the most overlooked aspects in companies today. By doing a circuit analysis and thermography inspection, you can predict when to perform maintenance rather than waiting until it’s too late. Many people underestimate the value of infrared testing. However, the cost savings in the long run are significant enough to give infrared testing a serious look. Here are some ways infrared services can help improve your motor systems.

Identify Any Potential Repairs Needed

Infrared problem prevention methods will provide you with results you wouldn’t otherwise see. It’s difficult for anyone to see or feel when the temperature of any part of a motor is warmer or cooler than the other. With infrared testing, you can easily identify hot spots, which could cause problems in the short-term or long-term. Performing a test to identify potential repairs before a problem occurs is a big cost saver.

Makes Motors More Reliable

Any infrared consulting services will look at your motor from the standpoint it should be running perfectly. It’s much easier to diagnose a problem if you are looking at the motor in general, rather than just a specific component or two. When you have a professional do routine infrared testing on your motors, they will be able to compare how the motor looked the previous time versus during the current test. As long as routine testing is completed, you’ll have a better chance of having a more reliable and efficient motor.

Predictive Maintenance

When you do a thermography inspection, you are essentially conducting preventive maintenance. Whether or not you think there is a current issue with a motor, it’s still a good idea to get infrared testing done regularly. Since it is impossible to detect some problems with the naked eye, IR testing can help you see a potential problem before it escalates and becomes costly.

Infrared testing is an essential part of any predictive maintenance program for motors. When it’s completed correctly and routinely, companies will experience much lower maintenance costs, as well as higher productivity, more reliability and increased uptime. Without a solid predictive maintenance program, you’re leaving the health of your motor to chance. The money you spend for routine motor maintenance upfront will pay for itself in the long run.

Many companies are beginning to see the benefits of having an infrared problem prevention program in place. Our consultants at Infrared Consulting Services can identify problems at any workplace, even if there doesn’t appear to be an issue at all. If you need to schedule an infrared test for your motors, contact us today to set up an appointment or to get more information about the procedure.