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How Does Wall Moisture Develop?

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Moisture problems in a building can be a huge issue for businesses. The problem with moisture is you sometimes don’t even know it’s present until it’s too late. Once mold and mildew start forming, you could be dealing with significant repairs and potential health issues for yourself and your employees.

The good news is regular thermographic scanning can detect areas where wall moisture is present. This allows you to address the area before it gets worse and causes significant issues. How does wall moisture really develop and what can you do to prevent it? Here are some facts and points to consider.

Poor Construction or Drainage

Many infrared inspection services realize wall moisture is simply a result of poor construction, especially in the drainage system. Some structures simply aren’t built to handle water drainage, no matter how structurally sound they are. This is one of the reasons why infrared thermography testing is critical before purchasing or leasing a new office space. When water sets in certain areas, especially on the roof of a building, wall moisture is inevitable. Thermographic scanning plays a large role in identifying large-scale issues that could lead to wall moisture at some point.

Cracks or Holes in the Wall

Any time you have cracks or holes in your wall, there’s a huge risk of moisture intruding. Moisture could hide in between the walls for a long time before you ever notice an issue. However, when you do an infrared thermography scan, thermographers will be able to detect the presence of moisture because of the temperature difference in certain areas. When these areas are identified, you can address the crack or hole immediately to prevent mold growth or other larger issues.

Humidity and Heat

If your building is in an extremely hot and humid environment, you always have to be concerned about moisture developing where it shouldn’t be. When you combine moisture with heat and small spaces, you’re sure to develop mold and other issues requiring extensive repairs.

The good thing about infrared inspection services is the IR technology can quickly and easily identify areas where moisture is present. This could be on a roof, in walls, in a basement, HVAC systems or anywhere else you normally don’t look. Humidity and heat are uncomfortable to begin with, but the combination can also lead to tough consequences for your business if it leads to wall moisture.

Infrared Consulting Services is the leader in providing the best thermographic scanning services in the industry. Our certified thermographers can not only detect wall moisture, but can also help you identify the root of the issue so it won’t occur again. Be sure to contact us to set up an appointment or to learn more about our services and how we can help your business.

Infrared Consulting Services roof moisture

Five Reasons You Should Get Your Roof Inspected… Before It’s Too Late!

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A leaky roof can cause some serious damage to a building. Not only will the building be affected, but businesses sometimes have to shut down temporarily if the leaking is bad enough. The bad thing is once you notice a leaking roof, it’s too little too late. It usually takes a long time for roof moisture to become visible to the naked eye, which is why a frequent commercial roof inspection is critical. Not convinced? Here are several things that could happen if you don’t get your roof inspected often enough.

1. Mold and Mildew Health Concerns

When you have roof moisture, mold and mildew will begin to grow. As the temperature heats up and cools down, it will only continue to grow and become more harmful. The worst possible scenario is the mold moving toward air ducts where everyone will be breathing it in. Infrared roof inspections can detect areas where mold and mildew are susceptible to growing. This way you can fix the issue before the growth occurs.

2. Wasted Energy

If your roof is leaking, chances are there are holes in the insulation, drywall and everywhere in between. This gives your interior hot or cool air the chance to escape, leading to higher energy bills. An infrared thermography inspection can see weak spots in a roof where air could be leaking out.

3. Fire Hazards

Everyone knows electricity and water don’t mix. If nothing else, a commercial roof inspection needs to be done often enough so you can rest easy knowing water won’t be entering your building and dripping on electrical equipment.

4. Interior Damage Potential

Even the smallest leak in your roof could cause some serious damage. You could experience ceiling tiles or drywall peeling off and falling if a water leak doesn’t get fixed soon enough. Not only will you be putting your inventory at risk, but you’ll also be putting your employees and potential customers in danger as well. You can avoid all this possible damage by simply scheduling a commercial roof inspection on a regular basis.

5. Roof Deterioration

From a cost perspective, there’s nothing that can hurt a business’ finances than having to replace a roof unexpectedly. Roofs aren’t going to last forever, but with a regular infrared thermography inspection, you can extend its lifespan. Standing water is the biggest reason why a roof fails, but there are plenty of other reasons as well.

At Infrared Consulting Services, we have over 30 years of experience providing commercial customers with the highest quality roof inspections. You never know when disaster can strike your business, but we are here to help make it a little more predictable. Don’t wait to get your roof inspected. Be sure to contact us today.

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What Affects Cost of an IR Low-Scope Roof Scan

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The cost of maintaining a commercial low-slope roof can be quite expensive over its lifetime. The exact cost depends on a variety of factors, including preventative maintenance practices, weather elements, and others. You can always reach out to infrared consulting services to get a better idea of the cost of getting an infrared thermography scan, but it is must cheaper than replacing the entire roof.

The worst thing any business owner can do is wait until there is a problem with the roof before addressing any issues. Getting ahead of the game by detecting issues before they become larger problems will help reduce maintenance costs on your low-slope roof in the long-term.

Early Intervention Can Reduce Maintenance Costs

You can’t intervene on commercial roof issues without the help of IR thermography, in most cases. Very rarely do people spend a significant amount of time inspecting a roof on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis. Inspecting your roof daily isn’t necessary, but having the proper equipment to identify issues is critical.

That’s why IR thermography is used. This technology can identify a potential problem before the human eye can see it. When small problems become a large problem, the cost of the maintenance will rise. Infrared technology helps reduce the overall cost of roof maintenance since the issues identified can be fixed at an earlier stage.

Neglected Issues Can Make Cost Rise

If you don’t use infrared thermography on your roof, then you could be neglecting potential problems and not even know it. You may notice the water isn’t draining very well off of the roof during a rainstorm, or you may see water stains on the ceiling inside the building. Failure to address these issues right away will only lead to higher repair costs. Sometimes the issue is an easy fix, but many times it’s just getting worse by the day. Neglecting roof issues is the number one way to make the overall cost of your roof rise.

Schedule Regular Infrared Inspections

The best way to keep a budget on your commercial roof repairs is to conduct regular and frequent IR thermography inspections. This preventative maintenance strategy will essentially pay for itself when you compare it to the potential cost of roof repairs or a replacement.

Plus, a healthy roof can help reduce energy bills since the insulation will remain intact longer. There are many benefits a business owner will gain out of having a well-maintained roof, but those benefits may be non-existent without the proper use of infrared technology.

Infrared Consulting Services has been in business since 1988 and has helped thousands of businesses save money on their commercial roofs in the process. With the best-certified thermographers in the industry, you can ensure you’ll receive quality service to extend the life of your low-slope roof. Be sure to contact us for an evaluation and to start managing the cost of your commercial roof.

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4 Types of IR Roof Moisture Surveys

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Identifying roof moisture in a commercial property’s roof system is vital to protecting a business owner’s investments and securing the safety of workers, visitors, residents and anyone else who has cause to be inside the facility. Thanks to today’s infrared detection technology, even the largest roofs can be inspected without destruction and in a timely manner.

IR thermography technicians use four types of surveys to detect moisture on commercial roofing:

  1. On-the-roof (also called on-roof or walking the roof) moisture survey

Most roof moisture surveys done with infrared thermography are performed by technicians using their equipment while standing on a business’ roof. A visual inspection by trained individuals can identify tears and poor seals around equipment and pipes on the roof where water is draining inside the facility, as well as detect places where unseen leaks may be wreaking havoc on the roof’s structure and underlying insulation.

  1. Under-the-roof (or under-roof) moisture survey

IR detection can be done from underneath the roof, between the interior ceiling and the roof structure. By using infrared thermography, IR Test technicians can find specific spots where moisture is being trapped under the roof so that you can repair only those areas.

  1. Elevated roof moisture survey

From an elevated position above the roof, IR thermographers can create a highly accurate roof moisture map of even the largest commercial roof. Few signs of leaks are missed from this perspective. Naturally, an elevated roof moisture survey is best done on a clear day.

  1. Aerial roof moisture survey

This is the most efficient way to conduct a commercial infrared roof moisture survey. Every nook and cranny of the roofing is exposed, so nothing prevents the IR thermography from detecting even the smallest signs of a leak.

Keeping a commercial building’s roofing insulation dry will help the roof last longer, keep electrical systems from malfunctioning, prevent the interior ceiling from falling in and eliminate mold growth. Infrared thermography identifies specific areas in need of repair, which means owners and contractors know exactly where to concentrate their work. Spot repair is significantly less expensive than replacing an entire roof.

Before any business owner or manager makes the decision to repair or replace the roof of a commercial building, an IR thermography roofing moisture survey is vital to saving time and unnecessary expense. Don’t assume your new roof is leak-proof, either! Get it inspected now for peace of mind (and safety) the rest of the year.

Identify moisture issues early with infrared thermography.

How Can Infrared Thermography Help Find Unwanted Moisture?

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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

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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

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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.

Identify gas leaks with infrared thermography.

Infrared Thermography Can Even Detect Gas Leaks

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When companies think of infrared thermography, they generally think about moisture detection. However, with today’s technology, specialists can also detect gas leaks. This is a huge deal in terms of safety, cost savings and overall productivity in the workplace. Gas leaks can be dangerous in any industry, but especially so if you’re a part of the oil and gas industry. We’ve seen plants explode before as a result of a gas leak so it’s better to be safe than sorry when dealing with such a dangerous chemical.

Cost Saving Benefits of Gas Leak Detection

Not only will hiring infrared problem prevention experts keep you and your employees safe, but it will also help your bottom line. Any time gas is leaking out of a chamber, dollars might as well be pouring out instead. Infrared inspections can detect even the slightest holes or cracks where gas could exit. As a result, you know exactly where to focus your maintenance efforts to help save on the costs of wasted gas.

Productivity and Maintenance Prevention

When certified thermographers come out to your work site to inspect the property frequently, you’ll be able to boost the productivity of your workers since they won’t have to inspect the equipment themselves. It’s impossible for your employees to record every minor detail with your equipment so infrared cameras can record and compare the changes over time. Most employers agree doing a full in-depth infrared inspection for gas leaks is better than having employees spot-check equipment occasionally.

Health Advantages

Any time you can reduce the amount of natural gas emitting into the air, you’re helping out the environment. Companies don’t want the negative attention of being known for creating an unhealthy environment because of poor maintenance practices so infrared thermography is the way to go from that aspect. Also, frequent infrared inspections help prevent explosions caused by gas leaks, which we all know can be devastating for the company and surrounding patrons.

Gas leaks may not seem like a big deal on a small scale, but you never want to ignore them. Your employees likely don’t have the time or the equipment to properly detect and fix a gas leak. Hiring certified thermographers is the best and safest route to take. Contact us if you have any questions or if you’d like us to come out for an inspection.

Find mold problems early with infrared thermography.

How Can Infrared Thermography Help Detect Mold Growth?

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Mold growth can happen anywhere in commercial buildings, no matter how well you take care of the daily maintenance and cleaning. All it takes is a leaky water pipe or a slight hole in a roof and mold could be present within a day or two. The best way to ensure you don’t have a major mold problem in your building is to detect mold growth early on. With the help of infrared thermography, you can detect where mold could potentially grow and get ahead of the problem before it takes over.

Frequent Building Inspections Help

Mold grows in the most inconvenient locations, making it difficult for the average person to see. It’s always best to hire infrared consulting services to do an infrared inspection on your building frequently. The process of infrared inspection is quick and can easily detect conditions promoting mold growth.

With the use of an infrared camera, experts can detect slight temperature differences in parts of walls and roofs, which are usually indications of favorable conditions for mold. Since the temperature differences aren’t noticeable by just touching the area, professionals must use infrared thermography.

Detecting and Preventing Mold Growth

When your company uses infrared problem prevention services for your building, you save a lot of money in the long run. Having an infrared inspection done on a regular basis will not only detect the presence of possible mold, but can also help you determine what maintenance needs to be done.

The problem may be as simple as patching a hole where moisture can enter, or you could detect a larger issue that could have been detrimental to your business. It’s a scary reality when you don’t know what is growing behind the walls of your building. The best thing to do is get ahead of the problem, and the only way to do that is with infrared thermography.

As a business owner, one of your main priorities should be keeping your employees safe. The presence of mold could have lasting negative effects on your company. When you’re looking for infrared consulting services, give us a call and we will be happy to come out to take a look. Whether you want to schedule regular testing or just want a thorough inspection first, we are here to help.

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How and Why to Utilize Infrared Technology With Your Construction Project

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Infrared technology isn’t a new technology by any means, but it is fairly new to the construction industry. Detecting gas leaks, moisture leaks, mold and structural integrity are all ways infrared thermography can be beneficial for construction. Every company has safety procedures and protocols to follow, but it’s nearly impossible to detect every minor issue. That’s where the help of infrared cameras comes in. Not only will a company save their own man-hours, but they will also help increase productivity and prevent a potential disaster from occurring.

Uses For Infrared Technology in Construction

Infrared inspection services can detect problems before they occur. The technology can look at machines, electrical components, faulty materials and even the actual foundation of the project once it’s set. When the infrared cameras detect a potential problem, it’s better to fix the issue right then rather than waiting until a larger problem occurs. Since one issue could lead to bigger problems with construction, infrared technology has saved some projects.

Prevent Maintenance and Potential Disasters

With an infrared electrical inspection, you can more easily identify an issue before it becomes a costly repair. This could range from the machinery being used to the actual wiring of the building being constructed. As far as the machinery goes, there’s nothing worse than working on a big project and having a machine break down. Infrared inspections can sometimes prevent that from happening if conducted in a timely manner.

Re-Evaluate Procedures and Protocols

When you undergo infrared thermography inspections, you may be surprised at the results. The inspections can help companies identify problems that may be systemic rather than just an isolated issue. Of course, you won’t be able to tell the difference unless you conduct multiple inspections consistently.

When you have these inspections completed, you can more easily re-evaluate your procedures and protocols and target the issue more directly. You may need to focus on the preparation of the machinery and other equipment before you even get started. Preventing breakdowns and keeping the production moving are the two things infrared inspection services provide to help keep your business booming.

Whether you’ve considered hiring a professional to do infrared testing with your construction project or not, be sure to get in touch with us to learn about your options. Many companies are surprised at the results of the testing, but are appreciative since they generally identify issues before they become problematic and costly.