Pictures above show missing insulation in ceiling and adjacent wall to cathedral ceiling in bright yellow (hot spots) that would not have been detected without the Technology of Thermal Imaging
Pictures above show areas of water under the wood laminate floor, wall tile and sheet rock in dark purple (cooler) that is not visible to the naked eye but detected with the Technology of Thermal Imaging
Pictures above show what looks to be a typical living room ceiling. With Thermal Imaging Technology a high concentration of moisture was detected as a purple "puddle". With further investigation the ceiling was saturated with water and a leak in the roof was pin pointed.
Thermal Imaging is a technology that measures the level of energy that is emitted from objects and/or materials. It is not 100% accurate but greatly assists the Inspector in detecting issues that are not visible with the naked eye. The difference in temperatures alerts a Home Inspector that there may be a potential issue and needs to be investigated further. The qualified Home Inspector takes the information from the Imagery and along with his experiences in Building Construction, Manufacturing and Inspection to determine what the images mean. It is imperative that all issues be validated by additional means such as moisture, temperature or electrical meters along with further visual Inspection to come to a conclusion.