We personally work on $100 p/hour for thermal imaging inspections… but you don’t tell the client that when they call! You need to work it out in your head as quickly as possible so you can quote over the phone. The $100 starts from the moment you leave home, not just time on site.

For example: 

Leak Detection Work – 30 mins to get to the job (which means 30mins home), 30mins detecting the leak, then another 30mins to write a brief report. There is 2 hrs gone… so charging at least $200 is not out of the question for a job like this.

If you have enough work you won’t be coming home after each job… you’ll be continuing to the next job which might be more valuable (Like a whole house inspection). To make the infrared business viable you need 2 or 3 jobs per day… working at least 3 days per week.

Not sure how to get that many IR inspections each day? Download the free chapter of the thermal imaging quick start guide by clicking the ebook image to the right of this post.

(You can send in your question via the ‘contact us’ link if it’s not already answered below)

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Is there a machine to find underground leaks?

The best way to find water leak under ground is by using pipe tracing and leak detection equipment. You need to find a plumber who offers ultrasonic detection services… it’s a small machine with a ground microphone that can hear the ‘hiss’ sound under the ground where the water is coming out. They use the pipe tracing machine first to determine where on your property the pipes are running.

Determining the source of water leakage and tracing the source of domestic water leaks is an art, so get an expert company in and save yourself some grey hairs!

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(You can send in your question via the ‘contact us’ link if it’s not already answered below)

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What walls do you insulate:

All external walls for heat loss purposes, and any internal wall for noise reduction/heat loss purposes.

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How to read a building inspection report:

If you read through it and are in any doubt, pass it to a lawyer just incase it’s a major issue. Alternatively sit down with the inspector to get a better idea of the scope of any issues found and potential costs to repair. Leave no doubt before making a decision!

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How much it costs to reclad a plaster home?

Allow anywhere up to $1,000 + per square meter. This will vary based on access, condition of timber etc. Get 3 quotes.

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How to fix a leaking cantilever deck?

Cantilever decks normally leak through the waterproofing or where the joists penetrate through the external building envelope. If it’s leaking into the external wall, then get it sealed fast! Your timber framing could be rotting. Otherwise, you may need to re-waterproof the deck depending on the nature of the leak. Could also be window joinery or drain hole leaking?

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Does insulation dry out?

Yes and no. If you have an external wall with no cavity system then the insulation probably won’t dry out any time soon because there is no air circulation in the wall. You could also have a build up of moisture in the wall due to condensation in the wall! A recent study in the USA showed that wet insulation can take up to 10 yrs to dry out properly! If it’s too wet, pull it out and replace it before the framing gets damaged.

(You can send in your question via the ‘contact us’ link if it’s not already answered below)

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Sample thermal imaging roof leak detection report:

The best place to visit for sample infrared photos of roof leaks is howtofindaleak.com

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Thermal camera for finding joists:

Yes, you can find joists with a thermal camera, nogs and wall framing studs quickly with thermal imaging, as long as there is sufficient temperature difference be inside and outside. The reason you can ‘see the stud is because the timber framing is a different temperature to the drywall internal lining. If a wall stud suffers dry rot, you will barely see it in with the IR cameras (Not a good thing for the home owner!

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(You can send in your question via the ‘contact us’ link if it’s not already answered below)

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Suspect Moisture on Ceiling?

The best way to check for moisture on a ceiling is using infrared. Where the moisture is will show a distinctive area on the camera which can then be confirmed with a moisture meter. This is certainly the best way if you have no crawl space in the ceiling, like a flat or mono pitched roof. Instant results with this method!

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 Moisture Test Companies

There are plenty of them in your area… they will either specialize it, or they will be a building inspector who carries a moisture meter. If you have a small patch in the home where you suspect moisture then a local inspector should be fine. If it’s something bigger, get a specialist who also carries an IR camera. Try clicking our ‘contact us’ button also!

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Pictures of Moisture Damage Behind Decks

If you are looking for infrared thermal imaging pictures of deck leaks, visit howtofindaleak.com . If you are simply looking for images where someone has ripped off the drywall then you should be able to google that by going to google.com then click images then type deck leaks.

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How to find or measure the moisture content of wood?

Check out the DIY moisture meter link at the bottom of the page….

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Does a dehumidifier stop window moisture?

Yes… it can stop the moisture on a temporary basis, but if you have single glazed windows then the moisture will re-appear the moment you turn it off. In fact, even with a dehumidifier your windows will probable still condensate. This type of equipment does help to reduce moisture, but fix the source of the moisture first otherwise you’ll chase your tail as long as you live there.

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Moisture reader sales:

They are cheap to buy… visit the DIY link below this post for more info and pricing. Very handy to have in the draw to keep ontop of any leaks that might arise. These moisture machines a generally very reliable water dampness testing! You will also find it’s more beneficial to buy a cheap meter for yourself when compared to moisture meter rental.

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Based on experience, you’ve chosen a profitable business to get involved in… but it can depend on what type of detection you get involved with. The good news is that when a home owner has a leak, they can’t wait around to get it fixed (it’s urgent in most cases), so they tend to make a decision on the spot if you persuade them correctly to use your services.

We offer a guarantee that gets them saying “yes” every time to our services. You can read about this by clicking on the eBook outlined to the right of this message.

For example, we have found the finding leaks underground isn’t as profitable as other application, and very time consuming if you aren’t a plumber. There is more involved then just waving the ultrasonic leak detector equipment over the ground… you need to trace the pipe, possibly dig up the ground etc.

We have been able to command more money by having a thermal imaging camera to detect leaks inside houses such as deck, flat roof, bathroom and behind walls etc. If you have a website that shows infrared images of your work, then people will call you to use your services because they can ‘see’ what you are charging for.

In saying all the above, go with niche that applies most to your background when getting started, then diversify from there.

The good news is that we have been through the ups and downs of getting started in the IR business, and it’s very easy to get ‘deflated’ when you don’t get work right away. Having a business plan for your thermal imaging venture is certainly important, but don’t get too bogged down in the detail because you may take too long to get started and making money!

The #1 key to success in any business is knowing how to market the business, because both you and I could be armed with the exact same thermal camera and training, but whoever out of us has better marketing skills will go ahead in leaps and bounds and start banking money.

My own business plan when I started was this:

Buy cheap camera -> Do level 1 certification -> Build a small website -> Apply some basic marketing ideas -> Learn on the job -> Bank money at the end of the day.

It didn’t take long to work out that if I did 2 inspections per day at $300 a pop, that I would be on some seriously good money. Some days now I do 4 thermal house inspections.

A couple of thousand inspections later I no longer need to use all the marketing ideas I executed because customers come to me. Do yourself a favour and take a read of the web page that describes the manual I’ve put together for people such as yourself who are looking to get started. Click the picture of the manual to the right of this message for more info.

Just get started!

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]]> https://startthermalimagingbusiness.com/business-marketing-plan-for-thermography-business.html/feed 0 https://startthermalimagingbusiness.com/causes-of-leaks-behind-walls.html https://startthermalimagingbusiness.com/causes-of-leaks-behind-walls.html#comments Wed, 06 Jun 2012 02:26:29 +0000 admin https://startthermalimagingbusiness.com/?p=27 Here is a list of the top questions about how water gets behind walls.

(You can send in your question via the ‘contact us’ link if it’s not already answered below)

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How to tell if your home is leaking?

This would be the most common question we get asked, and we must congratulate you on the proactive thought of finding out if your home is indeed letting water into the structure before it’s too late! Most people wait until it’s leaking then react to the problem.

The short answer is to get a thermal scan of all external wall and on internal wall where plumbing is likely to be running i.e. Behind a shower. Make sure the company also has moisture testing equipment.

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Leaks around windows

The likely cause is either failure in the mitres, head flashings no sealed correctly or in some cases, condensation running down the inside of the window and not being able to escape (It runs into your window sill mitres and down onto the timber framing below). If you see ants crawling out around the window frame, then further investigation is required to see if there is a leaking problem… ants like warm moisture areas!

The most common area where water drips through is around the top of the window frame… this can indicate ingress issues behind the cladding!

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How to find and locate a water leak in the wall?

If you have a leaking pipe behind a wall, thermal imaging of your house to check for the water source is the quickest method to detecting the source. In conjunction with using infrared, some of the best moisture meters for detecting leaks that are cheap and affordable can be found at the DIY link at the bottom of this page.

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Leaks behind bathroom wall:

Is there plumbing in the area? Water leaking behind shower when running? Window in the area?

There are so many causes for leaks and one day they just appear out of no-where. Contact a thermographer to find out the cost of a thermal imaging inspection and moisture test.

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Bricks house water leaks:

Yes, you can get leaks in brick houses, but the cause is normally obvious… and it’s not normally the brick itself. Look for window joinery failures, ground levels outside to high and covering vent holes… or maybe the gutter/soffit/eve is leaking and running down the walls? Again, thermal imaging will help solve the problem.

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CAUSE OF SHOWER LEAKING IN WALL:

Most likely a slow drip on the shower plumbing behind the wall, or the drain hole isn’t sealed and the water is finding its way under waterproofing or through grouting etc. The elbow join in the plumbing on the back of the shower head is a common source. If the showerhead is on an internal wall, the easiest way to fix it is buy cutting away the internal lining directly behind the area.

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How to find water leak in apartment building:

This one can be tricky without the right equipment, especially when the apartment where the leak is appearing isn’t on the top floor. You need to get a professional to track the water back up from where it’s appearing. If it leaks all the time, then it’s plumbing. If it only leaks when it rains then it would be either a roof leak or around a penetration into the building envelope… such as windows, fixings, deck joists etc.

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How to find a roof leak on a flat roof?

Isolate the area where you suspect the issue is, and flood it with a hose. This is very hit an miss… but you are better to have someone come in with a thermal camera when it’s leaking to get a trace on the path of the water. It may be coming from a totally different place than first thought! Water will track to a low point and sometimes come out light fittings many meters away from the source.

If you see your ceiling bulging under a flat roof, then it can only be a leak!

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Water leak detection coming through gutters?

Internal gutters or external? If water is coming through an internal gutter then take drastic action because your wall is about to take a serious hit with water. This could cause dangerous black mold to grow in the wall. Get a roofer up there asap! If the leak is coming through normal external gutters then it’s probably rusted out at the joins.
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How can i dry a wet wall from a leak?

This is open ended because it depends on how wet the wall is. If it’s saturated, then you would be best to remove the drywall and dry it that way (pull the insulation out while you are there and replace it). This will also allow you to confirm the leak source is fixed before closing the wall back up.

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Water leaking between window frame and wall?

You have water either getting in around the head flashing of that window, or possibly coming down from the floor above (or roof above). Get someone with a thermal imaging camera and moisture meter to assess the area, as it may save you ‘attacking’  the wrong area only to find it leaks again.

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Smell in house – possible water leak:

Most likely you have an issue with moisture if the smell is new… and the house is old. Smells don’t suddenly appear for no reason… and quite often that reason is because water has tracked down the wall and found its way onto the carpet etc. Get a moisture testing company in to scan the home before the issue gets away from you.

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Internal guttering leaks:

Ugly… internal gutters are usually directly above an external load bearing wall, and they can funnel plenty of water into the wall at a rapid rate. Get this fixed immediately, especially if your wooden moisture meter tracks the leak back up to the top of the wall!

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How do you know if your dux quest pipes are leaking?

Turn the main incoming water feed off to the house and see if the water meter keeps turning!

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