Dave K. -
I bought my camera in March 2005. It is the RAZ-IR. I got it because it has video capability. It uses 160x120 pixels for photos, and 640x480 for videos. It sees 16,777,216 colors - 2 to the 24th. It's the size of a hamster. It was very advanced I thought - cost $11k then I think, I don't remember, and don't know what it costs now. I was the first in my area to use one. It was a big decision because of the expense. I borrowed from my emergency fund to buy it, MUCH to the chagrin of my wife. It paid for itself quickly. She is happy now...
Problems (Disclaimer: this is Markanich doctrine and may or may not apply to you) --
1. Consumer mindsets - homeowners and realtors. It is "new" stuff. People have not completely responded to it, at least in my area. Once they see what I can do they are amazed and impressed. I have gotten a lot of business from doing one inspection in an area and the people passing my report around to others in the neighborhood. One year inspections are good because the builder is yet responsible for problems discovered - like falling insulation. People have been very happy, but the mindset has yet to come around generally. I think, again, Markanich doctrine, that home inspections in a couple of years will not be performed WITHOUT an IR camera. It will be as necessary to have one as are moisture meters are now. I remember when moisture meters came out and they were invasive. I bought the first non-invasive one and people said that it could not work.
Technology changes, and so must we.
2. Cost. I would shy away from cheaper cameras if they don't give good resolution. In my book cheap is not better. I understand that 120x120 pixel resolution is relevant, but I think that as a minimum is CRUCIAL. Be sure what you buy has at least that. Also, a used one no longer has any warranty protection, which I have not had a problem with but think it could be. I am sure the cameras are not cheap to repair.
3. Getting training and/or certification. This is important. Nachi's John McKenna is world champeen in my book and anything you can learn from him is good stuff. He is also very generous, at least was to me, with his website and any info there you can use. His website is different than most - it is one page! Look how he sets it up. People do not usually read website info that much. He set his up banking on the fact that people scroll down. Look at the order he has things presented. People see what they see and then call him. BUT, he has a wealth of info there. Ask and you shall receive...
4. Contact John also for an addendum or agreement for people to sign if you think you need one. I have not had a problem to date, and also have not had anyone sign anything either. It is clear on my report that I am looking at insulation and not plumbing for instance. I do that so I can't get tagged with something other than is being inspected. I also charge for additional services - my basic fee is $400, and anything additional is $150 more. So, if I am looking at the roof, if they also want insulation I tack on the additional charge. This is clear in the reporting.
5. Get a good report. It is essential. My camera came with good reporting software. Your training will tell you how to state things - like not saying that you can "see" inside walls. All you can "see" are temperature, or density, differences. It does appear like you are looking inside the walls though.
6. Pricing - I have no idea what to charge for this service. I started with $400 and have stuck with that. I think I could get more. I do reduce the price to $300 if they couple it with something else - energy or a general home inspection. Customers have not balked - they seem to understand that an MRI costs more than an X-ray for a reason.
7. Blower doors - big controversy. I have never used a blower door. My understanding is that they create the same indoor pressure as would 80-90mph winds. It's because of this that I don't think that is an accurate test of windows and doors, or insulation for that matter. Not many people live on top of Mt. Washington. And, without using one, I have never had a problem detecting where air leaks or weak insulation spots are located...
I did one today. The client found me on the web. He said my site "kept popping up." He lives in DC, far from me. His condo is the center apartment, one level, in a renovated 3-level 1920's row house. It is totally upgraded, new stuff throughout. They have cold rooms. I found no insulation around windows, the two doors, inside the frieze boards both below and above the unit and in a bulk head chase in the rear room, and weak insulation in a couple of spots on the walls, particularly behind the shower tiles in the bath. Temperatures at the floor molding, on exterior walls, was 31-38 degrees F - it was 27 outside at the time of the inspection. Around the windows about 40-43 degrees F. The bath wall was 48 degrees F. The unit is about 700 square feet. That is enough lack of insulation to influence the whole house. You can feel air coming in around the door bottoms, outlets and switches, but there is only one way to "see" (better word detect) cold spots or lack of insulation - IR. The client was very happy. I emailed his report right away because he had a condo meeting that night with people in his building and other buildings nearby. I bet I get some more business... dats how it woiks!
So, there's my 2 cents. If you have specific questions, you may ask. But John M is king in that regard... I have learned that he does not mind questions. He is respected on many IR sites and venues.
