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What is Infrared Diagnostic Testing?

One of the key components of an effective Home Energy Audit is infrared thermography. Infrared thermography (or infrared imaging, infrared diagnostics - a rose by any other name...) consists of a thorough visual inspection of a home, including the basement, attic, and all the nooks and crannies, with an infrared camera or another infrared assessment device.
It essentially takes the guess-work out of pinpointing the drafts and the leaky spots within a home — registering the exact temperature of various spots within the home, and, depending on the device used, providing the homeowner (you) a precise visual representation of the imperfections in your home's thermal envelope.

If a picture is, as they say, worth a thousand words, then an infrared picture could very well be worth a thousand bucks! It reveals the spots where your house is wasting energy (and money), and it gives you clear directions for fixing them.

Some of the imperfections in your home's thermal envelope will be obvious: around windows and doors, for example. But chances are, there will be some big surprises, too. That's part of what makes infrared imaging so valuable - you might discover that the constant draft in your living room could be taken care of with a simple bead of caulk along the baseboard, or that your persistent ice dam could be forever prevented by insulating a hot water pipe in the attic.

One last thing to keep in mind when scheduling an infrared audit:
For best results, there needs to be a temperature differential (ΔT) between indoors and outdoors. Recommendations for precise numbers differ, but you should talk to your auditor about an ideal differential for your region, climate, and house.

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