Moisture, Mold And Infrared Detection
Mold
Mold is a natural part of the environment and can grow in any place where moisture and oxygen are present. Mold is typically found both indoors and outdoors, entering through windows, vents, heating and cooling systems, even attaching itself to clothing and carried indoors. When excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, mold growth often occurs. Any place moisture collects, mold can grow, including:
- Wood
- Paper
- Carpet
- Insulation
It’s important to inspect buildings regularly for evidence of water damage or visible mold as part of routine building maintenance. It’s especially important to look in areas that lend themselves to moisture, including:
- Leaky roofs, windows and pipes
- Areas that have flooded or are prone to flooding
- Areas used for ventilation: heating, cooling or that have insufficient ventilation
Oftentimes, these places are areas that are often overlooked during a normal inspection process.
Naturally, the best way to control mold growth is to control moisture. Finding new leaks or water damage before mold has a chance to grow and spread can save time and money. That’s why many are turning to Infrared mold inspections to detect moisture.
How Thermal Infrared Cameras Detect Moisture
Infrared technology can help! In addition to heat-source imaging as with solar panels, infrared technology can assist to detect lingering moisture. In low-temperature range, infrared cameras can detect even the slightest presence of moisture, that could eventually lead to mold. In theory, an infrared camera is just a very sensitive moisture sensor. Infrared is very effective in measuring temperature differentials, even as miniscule as 1/10th of a temperature difference, in building interiors, especially those that carry water lines or heating/cooling lines or that might have insufficient insulation.
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Infrared Mold Detection
While infrared imaging is not a mold detection system, an experienced infrared camera operator can easily identify where moisture is present or where temperature differentials predict moisture to be present. Most moisture problems are invisible to the naked eye, or concealed behind walls or in attic spaces not easily accessed. So the insightful eye of an experienced camera operator is invaluable.
How Does It Work?
Surfaces that are wet heat up at a different rate than dry ones, making the temperature differential the driving factor in identifying moisture. During an infrared mold inspection, building surfaces are examined with an infrared camera to identify temperature variations.
Every object with a temperature above absolute zero emits energy and has a temperature reading, even very cold or frozen items. The hotter the item’s temperature, the more infrared the object omits. Infrared technology uses that temperature reading and that of the object’s surroundings to quickly tell how hot or cold an object is compared to the heat signatures of the objects around it. Temperature differences make it easy to spot for the camera operator the areas that are more heated or might have lower temperature readings than the things around any given surface. It might be hard for the naked eye to see damp areas, leaky pipes behind walls or a compromised roof, but it’s easily detected with an infrared camera.
Infrared vs Visual Inspection
- Infrared allows you to detect problems the naked eye cannot see
- Infrared allows you to find issues before they turn into larger problems
- Infrared can save you time and money
- Infrared allows you to pinpoint your problem without the costly exploration
During a mold inspection, the Infrared camera provides non-contact temperature measurements. Meaning a less costly manual inspection, less invasive investigation practices (like cutting open drywall to find the leak), and superior accuracy to pinpoint a moisture location. In addition, most infrared moisture inspections are by far quicker and more complete than a manual inspection, as infrared technology can see well beyond the limitations of the naked eye. Mold related problems can be detected before the mold is visible, saving time and money.