RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESS SERVICE

In both residential and commercial buildings, improper installation, poor workmanship, inferior materials, and aging components may result in high energy consumption. In addition, many problems related to heat leakage can lead to expensive repairs if they are not identified and addressed promptly. Since many of these problems are invisible to the naked eye, they may be missed during a conventional inspection.

When you use the American Testco service, you’ll get a complete thermal audit of every aspect of your home or business. To create the audit, our certified infrared thermographers first use an infrared camera
to scan every accessible exterior wall, window, ceiling, floor, and electrical system in your building. This results in a set of thermographic images that clearly indicate areas where temperature varies markedly in relation to surrounding areas. We then analyze this captured data and create a detailed report of our findings. Either you or a contractor you employ can use the report to make follow-up investigations and undertake necessary repairs or alterations.

 Our thermographic imaging can pinpoint the location of the following problems:

•  Heat loss
•  Mold potential
•  Water damage
•  Cold air infiltration
•  Plumbing blockage
•  Electrical service problems
•  Moisture intrusion or condensation
•  Missing/Damaged/Non-performing insulation

We also offer audit services for IT data centers and server rooms, identifying areas of excessive heat that may be caused by improper airflow or cooling systems issues. Addressing these hot spots promptly can reduce the risk of electronic failures. 

WHY USE THIS SERVICE?

• You want to conserve energy and reduce utility costs
• You need a survey to reveal structural defects before your
  warranty expires
• You are worried about overheating your IT servers and hardware
• You want to make a new structure as efficient as possible

HOW DOES IT WORK?

• Creating digital thermographic image files for a typical home or small business takes about 1 to 2½ hours. Thermal image photos are then made available for you or for contracting crews to print out as a guide for repairs and/or structural plan changes.
   

• These photos provide a clear image of the exact area and problem using a non-destructive analysis, thus minimizing the time and cost of alterations and repairs. There’s no guesswork!

 PREPARING FOR A THERMOGRAPHIC INSPECTION

To prepare for an interior thermal scan, you should take steps to ensure an accurate result. This may include moving furniture away from exterior walls and removing drapes.

The most accurate thermographic images are generated when there is a large temperature difference (at least 20°F [14°C]) between inside and outside air temperatures. Thermographic scans are generally done in winter or fall, in the morning or late evenings. In the summer, scans are usually conducted during warm weather with the air conditioner on.

Examples:  

If you keep your house/ business temperature around 68°F, then:

•  In winter or fall, the outside temperature should be 48°F or colder

•  In summer, the outside temperature should be 88°F or warmer