Moisture is great at hiding. It likes to gather in hard to reach places like behind walls or under floorboards. If it was harmless we could just ignore it, but unfortunately, it’s not. Not only can moisture rot wood, but it also leads to damp and mould, and this can cause serious health issues.
It may be difficult to find hidden moisture, but it’s not impossible. Using special thermal imaging cameras, HS Building Inspections can search your home and discover any areas affected by damp or mould – especially important if you’re considering buying or selling a new house.
What is damp?
Damp or mould is an actual organism, part of the fungus family. It only has one job in nature - to break down organic matter. This is why it’s so dangerous to live with. Constantly breathing in mould spores can create very serious medical problems, including allergic reactions, respiratory problems and toxic symptoms.
Usually our bodies react to these spores by coughing or sneezing to try and get rid of them, but constant exposure will wear your body down eventually. Children and the Elderly are particularly susceptible. If these spores germinate inside the lungs, they can cause inflammation, leading to sinusitis, bronchitis and other serious respiratory conditions.
How we find moisture in your home
Ultra violet light kills mould, so it needs moisture and darkness to thrive. Unfortunately, this describes the inside of every wall in your home. As wood is organic, mould will grow on the inside of walls, eating away at the drywall or the insulation, and you’ll never know it’s there.
This is where we come in. Using the latest thermal camera technology, we can literally see through the wall and what lies behind it. Our cameras not only find and prevent mould from forming, but they show us where all the heat in your home is escaping from. This can not only save your health, but save you money too by cutting down on heating bills.
How does a thermal camera work?
The human eye can only see a very small section of the Electromagnetic Spectrum; what we call visible light. Just above this visible light is infrared light, what we would typically call “heat”. A thermal infrared camera can see this part of the spectrum, and so can show us the heat pattern behind a wall. If there’s a significant drop in temperature at a certain point, then we can safely assume it’s moisture.
Why call HS Building Inspections?
With 30 years in the business, HS Building Inspections owner and operator Graham Walton, an NZiBi Registered Building Inspector and ITC Certified Thermographer, has the experience and a keen understanding of the industry.
Any building inspection we carry out is completed in the utmost professional manner, with every step of the process explained both verbally and in writing. The HS Building Inspection team has been handpicked due to their commitment to quality, safety and professionalism.
Moisture can be a serious health threat, and if damp and mould are growing in your home, it’s hard to know without actually ripping your walls apart. A thermal imaging inspection from HS Building Inspections is the best way to detect it. Contact us today if you have any questions about our moisture detection services or if you’d like to know more about what we do. Our friendly and experienced staff will be happy to help.