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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    2

    Question How long is too long to IR scan for a roof leak?

    I live in New England and we had a ton of ice damming this past winter. While I usually find that ice damming was the cause of water infiltration there are a few that I suspect other culprits. My questions is simple; how long is to long to use an IR camera to scan for a roof leak that appeared 2 months ago? Keeping in mind it has not been above 40F. And would it be better to scan at dawn instead of dusk?

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
    Posts
    5,851

    Default Re: How long is too long to IR scan for a roof leak?

    No set time frame....

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    869

    Default Re: How long is too long to IR scan for a roof leak?

    As Scott stated there is no set time frame. This is due to the fact that it is possible that water was trapped in the layers of the roof and may still be present. So it can not hurt anything (other than your wallet) to scan, although I think there is a likelihood of water dissipation and a higher possibility of false negatives.

    So I will add that in my opinion it is better to scan as soon after an incident as possible.

    Discuss the inspection with your themographer. Bear in mind that in most cases the optimal time to inspect a roof (or any exterior) is approx 2 hours (or so) after sunset or 1-2 hours after sunrise.

    The ircam measures temperatures. Different substances/materials change temperature at different rates (water being the slowest), but at some point they equalize. The delay give the roof surface a chance to cool down (or warm up), and provides the opportunity to detect the temperature differences in areas where the water beneath the surface is effecting the surface of the roof.

    Steven Turetsky, UID #16000002314
    homeinspectionsnewyork.com
    eifsinspectionsnewyork.com

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Idaho
    Posts
    4

    Default Re: How long is too long to IR scan for a roof leak?

    After doing hundreds of IR scans, at University Campus , I always found that a couple of hours before dawn seemed to be the best. the buildings were in the wake up mode preparing for the day use, this means the air handlers were starting and the building was in warm up or cool down either one the IR will detect leaks and "HOT" or Cold spots. where your in a cold area 40' I would scan before any sun was on the roof and the heat is on full , you will see where the problem is. good luck


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    869

    Default Re: How long is too long to IR scan for a roof leak?

    Quote Originally Posted by JIm Douglass View Post
    After doing hundreds of IR scans, at University Campus , I always found that a couple of hours before dawn seemed to be the best. the buildings were in the wake up mode preparing for the day use, this means the air handlers were starting and the building was in warm up or cool down either one the IR will detect leaks and "HOT" or Cold spots. where your in a cold area 40' I would scan before any sun was on the roof and the heat is on full , you will see where the problem is. good luck
    Jim, were you testing from the inside out?

    Steven Turetsky, UID #16000002314
    homeinspectionsnewyork.com
    eifsinspectionsnewyork.com

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