Thermal Imaging on a Water Damage in Lowell

3/20/2017 (Permalink)

This thermal imaging photo shows that the ceiling is cooler where it is wet. The thermal imaging camera helped identify the wet areas.

Water damage restoration has advanced a lot over the course of SERVPRO's history. One tool we use to locate moisture is a thermal imaging camera. On many jobs it is easy to see water damage because water can warp wood, bubble paint and break drywall. On jobs like this water damage from a recent storm the damage was not visible to the naked eye.

The customer called us when a recent storm blew sections of her roof off. She said that she thought a small section of her carpet was wet but was not sure how extensive the water was or how it got onto her carpet since her ceiling looked unaffected. With a thermal imaging camera and moisture meters the crew checked the ceilings, walls and floors throughout the home. They discovered that water made its way through the ceiling in the living room near the light fixture (photo) onto the carpet below. They also confirmed that the master bedroom ceiling was affected.

Thermal imaging cameras work by evaluating the temperature of a given surface compared to the temperature of the surfaces nearby. Usually wet surfaces are colder than the surfaces nearby. Cooler temperatures on a thermal image do not guarantee moisture is present so all suspected wet areas are checked with a moisture meter to confirm if an area is wet. Our technicians are trained on how to use thermal imaging cameras and moisture meters to locate both the water you see and the water you don't. If you need help locating the source of moisture in your home please call SERVPRO of Benton, Jasper, Newton and Southern Lake Counties at 219-779-7577!