Thermal Imaging for Exterior Home Inspections: See What the Eye Misses

Today’s chosen theme: Thermal Imaging for Exterior Home Inspections. Step outside with us and discover how infrared cameras reveal hidden heat loss, moisture paths, and air leaks across siding, windows, roofs, and foundations. Join the conversation, subscribe for field-proven tips, and tell us what you want scanned next.

Why Thermal Imaging Elevates Exterior Home Inspections

Fresh paint looks flawless, but infrared often shows colder streaks tracing missing insulation, damp sheathing, or leaky seams. On one windy evening scan, a perfect façade revealed heat bleeding along studs where insulation had settled, saving the owners from winter drafts.

How Exterior Thermal Imaging Really Works

Different exteriors radiate heat differently. Matte-painted fiber cement reads more reliably than shiny metal flashing or glass, which reflect the sky. Calibrating emissivity and using reference tape help turn pretty colors into trustworthy numbers you can act on confidently.

How Exterior Thermal Imaging Really Works

Aim for a strong indoor–outdoor temperature difference, low wind, and minimal solar loading. Dusk or dawn often works best for exteriors. After sunny afternoons, residual heat can mask issues, while gusts smear patterns, making small leaks harder to recognize accurately.

Exterior Problems Thermal Cameras Commonly Reveal

Repeated hot-cold stripes on cladding often trace studs, headers, and rim joists. Where insulation is thin or missing, exterior surfaces glow warmer in winter. We’ve seen garage bonus rooms leak heat like lanterns, all visible as bright ladders along framing lines.

Preparing Your Home for an Exterior Thermal Scan

If safe and reasonable, run heating or cooling to increase the indoor–outdoor temperature difference by at least ten degrees. Bigger deltas sharpen contrast, making leaks pop. Keep interior doors open to reduce uneven zones that can complicate exterior patterns.

Preparing Your Home for an Exterior Thermal Scan

Plan for early morning or evening when walls are not sun-heated. Pick a calm period to avoid wind-driven cooling that smears readings. If the day is gusty, favor the leeward sides first, then verify findings from multiple angles for confidence.

Iron or rainbow palettes are helpful, but absolute temperatures and deltas matter more. Compare like-for-like surfaces under similar conditions. A warm window frame might be normal, while a warmer streak above suggests attic bypasses warming the exterior sheathing unexpectedly.

Interpreting Exterior Thermal Images with Confidence

Field Stories: Quick Wins from Exterior Thermography

A ranch home showed bright bands along soffits on a chilly, calm evening. The attic lacked baffles, short-circuiting airflow and warming exterior edges. Adding proper ventilation chutes and sealing top plates cooled the soffits and trimmed summer cooling costs.