Thermography — Water Damage Structures

Thermal Imaging is a highly efficient way to visually document areas of elevated moisture within a water damaged structure. Thermal Imaging measures temperature differences, not moisture. In water damaged buildings, wet and dry building materials often have temperature differences caused by evaporative cooling, which decreases the surface temperature.

TIC’s are extremely beneficial on large water losses (i.e. hotels, condominiums, office buildings, etc), because rooms can be quickly scanned to determine affected and non-affected areas. In less than five minutes, a TIC can scan a room’s walls, ceiling, and floors. To monitor the same room with moisture meters alone can take ten times as long and affected areas can be easily missed.

When the water loss occurs, ZWS performs an initial Thermal Imaging scan and documents all areas of excess moisture. The structural drying company can then efficiently monitor these areas during the drying process. After the structure is dry, ZWS returns to the property to do a final Thermal Imaging scan to determine if any areas of elevated moisture remain. Thermal Imaging can drastically cut down structural drying time, by increasing efficiency. Drying the building in an efficient manner also reduces the potential for mold growth.

Thermal Imaging Pictures

Thermal imaging can be used to protect against future moisture problems by finding condensation points within a building. This is done by first calculating the dew point temperature; any surface temperature below the dew point temperature will be an area where condensation can form. Condensation causes elevated moisture, which could potentially lead to mold growth and structural deterioration.