Water & Sewage Damage Inspection Tools: FLIR
A couple months ago, we had a client reach out to us who was in a really difficult situation. Amanda just recently weathered today’s tough housing market to become a first-time homebuyer. Sadly, she had to experience one of the major challenges of home ownership just one month after buying her new house. Amanda noticed that her floor was starting to buckle and immediately knew that something was wrong. A family friend directed her to us, so we came in for a free water damage inspection and consultation. Part of our inspection included using our Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) devices to quickly and precisely locate the leak without causing unnecessary damage to her walls and flooring in order to find it. Amanda was really grateful for our efficiency, as we were able to begin the drying process same-day thanks to the accuracy and speed of our hi-tech inspection process with FLIR and other devices.
At Provision, our team specializes in premier property damage restoration with highly-trained and certified technicians, a comprehensive and time-tested process, industry-leading standards, and state-of-the-art tools and techniques like FLIR. It’s a staple in our water and sewage damage inspection process for many reasons, so we’ll share some detailed information on what it is, how it works, and why you can trust us to employ it to your benefit.
What is FLIR?
Forward-Looking Infrared is a cutting-edge thermal imaging technology that can detect temperature differences in various surfaces and materials. Our devices create detailed images based on heat signatures, allowing our mitigation experts to see what’s happening behind walls, ceilings, and floors without using invasive measures like drilling or cutting into your home. By capturing these thermal images, our technicians can precisely detect where the moisture is trapped and where structural elements are too compromised by the water or sewage damage.
To be more technical, when water or moisture is present in building materials, the thermal properties of those materials changes and creates a readable difference in temperature that the camera can easily detect. For example, if a section of drywall has absorbed water, the FLIR camera will exhibit a cooler temperature in that region compared to the surrounding dry areas. This allows our team to quickly pinpoint the problem areas without tearing down your walls or removing flooring. A free inspection that’s as non-invasive as ours is a huge benefit, as it gives you detailed information about the current condition of your home without creating any damage that would force you to move forward with us. In this way, our free inspections and consultations can truly be a no-strings-attached benefit for your family!
The Benefits of FLIR for Water and Sewage Damage Inspections
1. Non-Invasive Detection
We just went over this benefit, but we believe it can’t be overstated. The key advantage of using FLIR technology is that it’s completely non-invasive. Traditional methods of detecting water damage often involve drilling holes in walls, pulling up floors, or cutting into ceilings to locate moisture. Our use of FLIR negates the need to dig around for the moisture, instead allowing us to leave your home the same way we found it pre-inspection. In fact, even the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors calls FLIR an “advanced, non-invasive technology that allows the inspector to show homeowners things about their homes that can’t be revealed using conventional inspection methods.”
2. Thorough Inspections
Water and sewage damage can often be difficult to see with the naked eye, but FLIR technology enables a thorough and complete review of any hidden moisture. It allows us to locate water trapped in walls, floors, or ceilings and create an accurate moisture map, ensuring that we address all the affected areas during the restoration process. These maps also let us develop tailored plans for each specific case, as water migration across multiple levels of a home can complicate traditional mitigation techniques.
This is particularly crucial for sewage damage, as undetected contaminated water poses a massive risk to the property and the health of its occupants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that water from sewage backups can contain harmful bacteria and pathogens with the potential for serious health risks, so we always go above and beyond to make sure no stone is left unturned.
3. Efficient and Cost-Effective
Our FLIR devices speed up the inspection process while still enabling an incredibly accurate assessment of the damage. Like in Amanda’s case, the added efficiency translates into cost savings for homeowners by expediting the restoration process to minimize the spread of damage and cost of temporarily vacating the home, if necessary. These cameras eliminate the need for exploratory demolition, which can end up costing even more time and money if the homeowners aren't aware of these alternative non-invasive methods.
Industry-Leading Technology
FLIR represents the pinnacle of innovation in water and sewage damage inspections. At Provision Property Restoration, we’re committed to constant innovation to be a leader in damage mitigation. The benefits of FLIR aren’t just scientific mumbo-jumbo or theoretical hooplah. We’ve used it ourselves countless times and have incorporated it into our standard process to create a fast, accurate, and non-invasive experience for homeowners. It also enables our team to provide complete transparency to homeowners by showing them the actual heat maps of data of their home’s condition following water or sewage damage. We don’t deal in “just trust me.” Our goal is to empower homeowners in the midst of stressful situations with the facts and figures to make their own informed decisions. In that way, we can earn your trust instead of demanding it.
FLIR thermal imaging is a leading tool cross-industry and used daily by all sorts of professionals from fire departments to plumbers. Its ability to detect even the smallest changes in temperature makes it one of the most valuable tools in any expert’s arsenal.
How Provision Uses FLIR
We’ve mentioned our comprehensive process multiple times, but haven’t really explained what all goes into it. With years of experience and continual innovation, we’ve worked hard to streamline our “How” into an efficient and effective game plan that can be tailored to each home and family’s needs. Here’s a quick look at how our FLIR devices play a crucial role in our water and sewage damage restoration process:
Free Inspection: As soon as we arrive at the site, we conduct a thorough inspection using our FLIR cameras and other hi-tech devices. We locate every area of concern, even those that might not show any visible signs of water or sewage damage.
Moisture Mapping: Once we’ve identified the areas affected by water or sewage, we create detailed moisture maps to assess the extent of the damage and present it to the homeowner. This enables us to empower you with relevant information and ensures that we restore every spot affected by moisture on our map.
Planning: Using the data gathered from our FLIR cameras, we develop a tailored restoration plan that addresses your home’s specific needs. This ensures an efficient and transparent restoration process that minimizes disruptions to your daily life.
Monitoring: Throughout the drying and sterilizing process, we continue to use FLIR technology to monitor moisture levels and ensure that the drying process is effective with no moisture left behind.
The Top Water and Sewage Restoration Experts
Provision stands apart from the pack as a team of professionals with the right experience, tools, and attitude to manage your crisis like it was our own. That’s why we’re proud to offer free, no-strings-attached consultations using the most advanced tools in the industry for fast, accurate, and non-invasive inspections. All across the greater Atlanta area, our process can save you time, money, and something that’s truly priceless: peace of mind.
Whether you’re dealing with a water leak or a sewage backup, contact our team today for a free inspection and consultation backed by state-of-the-art equipment like FLIR.
