Thread: What to look for

I have been looking for termites with the IR camera for a few years now.
Sometimes things just jump off the walls at you.

Can you see the evidence of a Sub-termite infestation in these IR images?

This is the kind of images you should always be on the look out for.

feel free to use these images in any way you may need.

Best

Ron Bibler
Termite Inspection | Pest Control | Fumigation | California - Santa Rosa - Sonoma County
www.santacahomeinspection.com

That is pretty interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by Ron Bibler

Can you see the evidence of a Sub-termite infestation in these IR images?

This is the kind of images you should always be on the look out for.

Actually, no.

Ron, from reading you past posts, I have no doubt that you know of what you speak, however, we don't have the same termite issues up here as experienced in other parts so please educate me on what you're seeing in those images. All I see is some mild discolorations.

Hey Joe... I bet you do have these little guys up your way.
Just not as open mush as Calif.

Joe see the attachment. I have out lined the area. hope this helps.

Carpenter ant should have an IR image signature like this...

Best

Ron

Thanks Ron. I did see that discoloration in your original image but not having any IR experience, I would not have concluded it to be a bug infestation.

We're fairly damp up here (very much like Seattle) so I would probably have interpreted that as possible moisture.

I makes sense I guess, all their bodies huddled together creating a temperature differential.

Would they then just spray into the wall cavity or have you seen them tear the wall open to confirm ?

Is there any IR guys up in this part of the world who have seen anything like this, and it was confirmed to be bugs ?

Hey Joe i lived and did pest control in Vancouver Wash back in 1989. When I see something this big in a walls. that wall needs to be open up. I would bet some big bucks that Wall and window header is gone From these termites. Carpenter ants will do a like kind of damage to the framing. You should contact a pest inspector in your are and ask him to help you under stand your neck of the woods. You do have termites and carpenter and in your area and they can do some big damage to homes.

What you are looking at in these images is not the termites but the damage or voids they did to the Sheetrock.

Best

Ron

BTW, Ron's first two images are a excellent illustration of the fact that certain kinds of anomalies are more easily see in "black-and-white" IR images than in their false-color counterparts.

Ron
What brand and model of camera do you have?

I am now looking at the feasibility of buying an IR so have no ability to read. Some responses indicate they "see" the infestation but for the absolute novice perhaps someone can "interpret"?

Ron looks like the man for this job.... It appears to me that he has a lot of experience in this.

Ron, Nice find.

Please take some photos after the wall is opened up to confirm your suspicions.

If it hasn't already been repaired.

Thanks

Originally Posted by Mike Gault

Ron, Nice find.

Please take some photos after the wall is opened up to confirm your suspicions.

If it hasn't already been repaired.

Thanks

Check out these images of Sub-termites working inside this wall...

Ron Bibler
Excellence Exterminating
Excellence Exterminating Company Inc. Termite Inspection | Pest Control | Fumigation | Sonoma County - Marin County - Napa County - California

SANTA ROSA TERMITES, PEST CONTROL

Definitely interesting. We see very little termite damage here. I too will be interested in the confirmation of your photos when the wall is opened up.

Originally Posted by Ron Bibler

Hey Joe i lived and did pest control in Vancouver Wash back in 1989. When I see something this big in a walls. that wall needs to be open up. I would bet some big bucks that Wall and window header is gone From these termites. Carpenter ants will do a like kind of damage to the framing. You should contact a pest inspector in your are and ask him to help you under stand your neck of the woods. You do have termites and carpenter and in your area and they can do some big damage to homes.

What you are looking at in these images is not the termites but the damage or voids they did to the Sheetrock.

Best

Ron

This is an excellent point. (and great photo too.) You can see from Ron's photo's that the temperature "differential" range is quite low. What you are seeing is the difference in heat loss through the sheet rock with paper backing, vs the sheet rock without paper backing (chewed off by insects)

I doubt there is no other sign besides this IR pic if the infestation is so badly.

- - - Updated - - -

I doubt there is no other sign besides this IR pic if the infestation is so badly.

- - - Updated - - -

I doubt there is no other sign besides this IR pic if the infestation is so badly.

Help me out here Ron.
What level of certification do you have to verify a condition?
What type of camera are you utilizing to verify your findings?
Do you have any Scalable or mixed images.

I cannot see a header myself.
That looks like 100% object/material.
I can faintly make out a floor joist to the right of that protruding object above he valance for the vertical venetian blinds but the wall looks solid..

If there was a wall assemble I would observe a king and jack studs along with a header.

I am trying to upload an image but seem to behaving trouble.