Nondestructive Residential Inspection Method

Abstract

This invention provides an apparatus for nondestructive residential inspection and various methods for using a thermal imaging apparatus to inspect residential building components. More specifically, this invention provided a method to rapidly inspect a residential building for moisture in basement walls, uninsulated building components, misaligned structural members or small animal intestation.

1 . A method to rapidly inspect residential building basement walls comprising the steps of:
 preparing a residential building for inspection by creating a temperature differential of greater than 10° F. between the inside and the outside of said residential building and creating sufficient air flow in said basement to facilitate contrast in the temperature profiles; and then   obtaining temperature profiles of the basement walls; and   assessing each of said temperature profiles to detect a thermal anomaly indicative of moisture; wherein said steps up to the step of assessing each of said profiles occur within 4 hours.   
   
   
       2 . A method to rapidly inspect interior residential building components for uninsulated interior building components comprising of the steps of:
 preparing a residential building for inspection by creating a temperature differential of greater than 10° F. between the inside and the outside of said residential building; and then   obtaining temperature profiles of said interior building components;   wherein said interior building components are selected from the group consisting of wall and ceiling and said thermal anomaly is indicative of an uninsulated interior building components.   
   
   
       3 . A method to rapidly inspect residential building components for damage to insulation by small animals comprising of the steps of:
 preparing a residential building for inspection by creating a temperature differential of greater than 10° F. between the inside and the outside of said residential building; and then   obtaining temperature profiles of said and the interior building components   wherein said interior building components is selected from the group consisting of a wall and a ceiling and said thermal anomaly is indicative of damage to insulation by small animals.   
   
   
       4 . A method to rapidly inspect interior residential building components for misaligned structural members comprising of the steps of:
 preparing a residential building for inspection by creating a temperature differential of greater than 10° F. between the inside and the outside of said residential building; and then   obtaining temperature profiles of said interior building components;   wherein said interior building components is selected from the group consisting of a wall and a ceiling and said thermal anomaly is indicative of misaligned structural member.