Essential Inspections LLC.

Home Inspections - Energy Audits

Essential Inspections & Energy Audits
Essential Inspections LLC.- Ryan B. Grimm
Providing Home Inspections & Energy Audits
Serving: Lawrence KS, Topeka KS, Kansas City MO/KS,
ph: 785-550-8104
ryan@essentialinspectionsllc.com

Infrared Inspection / Survey

Add an Infrared Survey to your inspection to get the most thorough inspection available!

An infrared inspection or audit uses a state of the art infrared camera or thermal imager to scan the components of the house (walls, roofs, floors, ducts, windows, electrical items, etc.) to identify temperature differences and moisture intrusion. Essentially, the camera converts heat energy into a visible picture.

Using thermal imaging, an Infrared Survey can help detect:

Missing insulation
Air leaks in the house or HVAC system
Structural defects
Poor workmanship
Moisture intrusion
Roof damage
Electrical hot spots
HVAC/Mechanical defects

As with any visual home inspection or energy audit, there may be hidden defects that can normally go undetected in the course of the inspection. Infrared cameras are the latest technology that is being used today for fast, reliable, and accurate building diagnosis covering the entire range of building problems. It is now recognized as the most effective and least intrusive of all building diagnostic procedures. Thermal imaging (or Thermography) allows Essential Inspections LLC. to easily locate a wide variety of hidden building conditions with speed and accuracy. Take a look at our other services & Rates, or give us a call.

Water Intrusion and Mold

Infrared Stucco and EIFS Testing

EIFS is a siding system used for exterior walls in both residential and commercial construction. EIFS is different than traditional hard coat stucco. EIFS utilizes a thick insulation board installed on top of your plywood wall sheathing before the surface finish is applied. Most problems are a result of moisture getting behind or trapped in the EIFS. The foam insulation board acts like a sponge and traps water against your plywood sheathing. Eventually, with enough moisture you can experience thousands of dollars in dry-rot and structural damage. One type of system which has been widely used on residential homes is called "Barrier" EIFS. Barrier EIFS typically is designed to resist water penetration at the outer surface but not water that gets behind it. There are some newer drainable EIFS systems on the market which are designed to allow the escape of such water.

Water intrusion into commercial and residential buildings can come from many different locations and sources. From bad roofing, to poor workmanship, ice damming issues, siding and window problems, caulking breakdowns, to inferior materials.

Infrared can see your water intrusion problems by the thermal signature the water produces on building surfaces. Infrared quickly and accurately locates wet areas for identification by seeing it so you don't waste time and money tracking it down using conventional inspection methods. If you have, or ever had, a flooding issue infrared will tell you if it has been successfully dried and the issue remediated. We’ll visually show you with documented infrared images that your problem has been corrected. Infrared also gives you the ability to show your contractor exactly where a problem is located, and what it looks like so they don’t waste time and materials in making unnecessary repairs.

Use an Infrared Survey of water intrusion for:

Determining the cause and origin of the water
Determining the extent of hidden water damage
Determining the exact location of hidden damage
Documenting water damage claims for insurance
Getting the most money possible for your insurance claim since infrared will show you, visually, more than your claims adjuster will be able to determine using their conventional inspection methods.
Verify that your claim has been successfully remediated to your satisfaction.

A post infrared water intrusion inspection will verify your repair and you should strongly consider this option when contracting this infrared services application. Obtain the infrared knowledge available to you so that you will be able to deal effectively with your insurance claims adjuster. The infrared inspection you receive will locate your problem and we will document it in a printed and bound report for you. Your report will contain digital pictures and infrared images with an interpreted analysis. A CD is included for viewing your report and images on a PC.

Mold Detection

Mold... the building damage and health issues it creates are real concerns for today’s home and commercial building owners, property managers and anyone whose health has been affected by it. Water intrusion into homes and commercial buildings, on building materials, and the moisture problems created from other inside sources can cause significant microbiological contamination to your property. And, this can lead to potential health problems for children and adults susceptible to an allergic reaction due to exposure from mold spores.

The purpose of an infrared inspection to detect for possible mold issues is to:

Locate the moisture sources, if present, which can lead to mold growth if left uncorrected
Identify the areas where mold contamination is most likely to occur, or is occurring

And here are the benefits of using infrared in detecting possible mold contamination areas of your home or commercial property:

Infrared quickly and accurately locates where the moisture problems actually are on the materials that will generate mold growth
Infrared is a non-destructive detection method
Infrared is an advanced technology application for detecting the possible presence of mold or infrared gives you the visual documentation that will reveal the possibility of molds potential threat to your property and/or peoples health

Stay healthy, prevent building damage, inspect for moisture with infrared!

Thank you for chosing Essential Inspections LLC. a Lawrence based business for your Home Inspection and Energy Service needs!