Thermal imaging and basement leak detection
Example of the use of thermal imaging technology to detect the source of a leak in a finished basement
The following pictures were taken on June 30th, 2010 when a return client called us to diagnose the cause of a leak near the top of the back wall in her finished basement.
When faced with the destruction of a fully finished basement wall, many homeowners would prefer “non-destructive” methods of detecting the degree to which, and/or the locations where, there are water problems in their basement, particularly where concrete block or cinderblock foundations are involved. If there is moisture on the surface of a foundation wall or in drywall or framing, a thermal imaging inspection, using advanced infrared technology, and a high precision moisture meter can assist greatly. 911 Foundation & Roofing offers this inspection service for precisely this reason.
Note: The presence of water in a basement doesn’t always mean that there is a basement leak, in fact, a wet basement can originate from anywhere in the building envelope, from a leaking roof to an improperly caulked patio door frame, or even a plumbing leak. These hard to find leak sources require the use of advanced diagnostic equipment such as thermal imaging cameras and moisture meters.
The skill required to find the actual source of a water leak in your basement is the reason why 911 Foundation & Roofing only sends experienced technicians to provide estimates for basement waterproofing and leak detection inspections, as the determination of the leak source is of paramount importance. Over the years, we have located many leaks which originated from locations other than the foundation, and in many cases, our competitors provided quotes for external waterproofing! If you believe in the adage “You get what you pay for” discriminating homeowners will call 911 Foundation & Roofing to correctly detect the source of their basement leak. Who would want a free estimate if, in the end, they spent money waterproofing a basement that didn’t need waterproofing to begin with, or spent more money than they had to?
Contact us to learn more about how water can leak into your basement when you don’t have a basement leak. By using thermal imaging technology, as well as other testing methods, we were able to confirm that the source of the leak was a lag bolt hole through the brick veneer immediately above the visible damage in the basement wall. Lag bolts are commonly used to fasten above ground decks to the brick veneer of a home and must be sealed properly to prevent water from entering through the lag bolt holes.
To quickly check a finished basement for basement leaks a moisture meter is a very handy tool.
Moisture meter used to scan behind basement drywall
An infrared camera helps for hard to find leaks
If you are looking for truly professional waterproofing services, contact 911 Foundation & Roofing today!