A thermal camera can "see" HVAC air flow - you and I can't!
This was an inspection of a new property, prior to the buyer's final walk through.
Months ago I did the pre-drywall inspection.
A final walk through inspection typically follows that, and comes near to the settlement but with enough time to get any inspected things done prior to settlement.
One important thing is to determine if the HVAC system is blowing sufficient air through each register.
That can be done by hand, feeling the air flow. If it feels weak I have an anemometer to measure the air flow. But, if it feels good I move on to the next register.
The day was raining and about 55F. So the heat was tested. How was it working?
This register is in the kitchen eating space, beside the end of a long counter top and cabinets.
How hard is the air blowing? Very well! You can see the air pattern extend all the way to the ceiling!
That little red dot in the upper left is the security system motion sensor, which always carries a small electric charge and therefore is slightly warm.
When I am doing a Mighty Mo sweep of the house I can investigate the HVAC registers in this way, in addition to the feel test!
My recommendation: even though a house is brand new, never discount the idea that it should be inspected. This house had a number of things questioned or pointed out on the inspection report. So when my client walks through with the supervisor he will have a list from my report to discuss or add to the supervisor's final walk through list of things to be done. And when a thermal camera finds insulation issues, as it did here, it never hurts! Thermal images of poorly-insulated spots are definitive!
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 
Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.
Office (703) 330-6388 Cell (703) 585-7560
Wow! This is intersting. Looks like something out of Ghostbusters! Haha!
I think you shoul have a thermal gallery Jay Markanich with a little more blur to the focus...or lack thereof...it's a work of art !
At least that's what I said in a tongue-in-cheek blog post.
And people believed it!
One guy wrote a magazine article about it saying that I was incorrect!
I had a lot of fun with that one!
S&D - depending on the palette chosen, some of them can get really colorful.
this is really great information for a buyer and any agent selling a home - thanks!
Lise - a thermal camera can be used for many things. And all useful.
Well, excpet maybe for creating artistic avatars for my AR profile.
Good morning Jay. Seems like more inspectors should be using a thermal camera as normal routine. Enjoy your day!
Wayne - for years I have said that all home inspections would come with them. But I have been wrong. Thermal imaging is expensive, to say the least.
Really impressive image. Really gives a good visual to what is happening with the HVAC system.
Thanks Stephen.
I actually had a ghost peek around the corner today and tell me that I was doing a good job.
Mighty Mo snapped an image.
Mo loves that.
Jay- I'd love to have a Mighty Mo. Just not sure I'd know what to do with it, except to turn it over to a pro like yourself.
Kathy - if you were still in River Creek, I'd let you touch him.
Really.
Thank you Jay Markanich for my ah-ha moment.
Kathy - where did I get the name "Mighty Mo?"
As a kid, the Marriott family was local, I knew them at church, and their first foray into business was a drive-up restaurant called The Hot Shoppes. You ordered from a menu near your parking stall via a microphone connection, and a young lady on roller skates brought the meal.
Their signature meal was a Mighty Mo hamburger. This was before the Big Mac and Whopper. It came with a gallon of fries and a root beer. I always got the chocolate shake.
The A & W on the root beer stood for Alice and Willard, the Marriott family parents and company founders.
It was a great family dinner! And memories.
Thanks for the feature!
Here is the image in a different palette.
There are many palettes to choose from.
I can sometimes describe a condition better with a different way of displaying it with colors.
It can be fun!
This palette is called "Lava."
Jay- your explanation could be a whole post! (Really) so A&W. Root beer is from the Marriotts? Your meal you described is a favorite of mine and I treat myself to it once a year!
The Hot Shoppes are long gone, Kathy. The last one was at Wheaton Plaza in Wheaton, but closed years ago. They still served the Mighty Mo!
The A&W thing is the urban legend.
Thank you for the reminder to get a home inspection. Have a good day.
Great post! I can see Kathy chose to feature it this week!
Fascinating to see how the air flows like that. I wouldn't think it would go all the way up to the ceiling.
Glad you enjoyed it, Gita.
Thanks Kristin. Subscribe and read for yourself!
Rob - many studies say a good air flow per ton is 400cfm. That is an air speed of 4.5 mph. It should blow to the ceiling!
The pressure drop from intake vent and out is an indication how much air is coming out. Using latex bubble one can observe the flow. On exisiting homes many have so much heat leakage or broken ducts most heat is completely wasted.....
Hi Jay - I love those thermal images. I had one done for heat loss. Fortunately, everything ok.
Sam - the air flow would necessarily be different at the returns and registers due to many things, but I measure air flow with an anemometer. Different duct sizes have different air flow characteristics.
I had a post a while ago on air leakage from ducts. Enjoy!
http://activerain.com/blogsview/4535353/hvac-ducts-should-not-have-holes-inside-the-walls
Well, Grant, you did good!
Jay Markanich - Question - how did you get the profile picture as thermal image...
?
And yes, new construction does not mean no inspection. In fact now it should be with thermal camera..
I just wanted everyone to realize that I'm a hot guy, Praful. And still on this side of the dirt.
On new construction I can determine if the insulation was done properly. I often find large areas where it was not and builders do not like that. One builder said home inspectors should "not be allowed to have thermal cameras."
Very cool, Jay - that's certainly one way to see just how much warmth is coming out!
It's a very fun way, John. One can always just stick a hand in there to feel how the air is blowing!